Assistant Director of Media Relations

Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Media Relations works to implement the university's central media relations strategy, with a focus on elevating Virginia Tech’s leadership, faculty expertise, research discoveries, and student achievements. The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Media Relations and collaborates with other members of the Media Relations team and colleagues across the university to find and facilitate national, international, trade, and high-impact regional and local media opportunities. The Assistant Director is responsible for developing and implementing the regional media strategy. He/she regularly interviews faculty members; writes and edits tip sheets, news releases, and advisories; develops targeted media lists, pitches stories, and schedules interviews. He/she works across all of Virginia Tech’s campuses to engage in message preparation and training for faculty and leadership, and to facilitate the needs of visiting media on campus. The Assistant Director works with campus marketing and communications professionals to build media amplification plans and help them achieve media relations goals. He/she will work with the Associate Director of Media Relations and the central metrics team to assess and show the impact of media efforts. The Assistant Director also assists with managing news conferences, editorial meetings, and other media events and opportunities as needed. He/she may be requested by the Associate Director of Media Relations to represent Media Relations interests in strategic messaging and crisis communications meetings.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a job-related field; or Bachelor's degree with professional experience equating to an advanced degree.
• Professional experience working in media relations or journalism.
• Knowledge of media and media trends.
• Familiarity with media and target audience performance metrics.
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and editing.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Proven ability to foster and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with the news media and university community.
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends, responding to news and media requests for interviews, and/or participation in college or university programs.
• Criminal conviction check.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working in a print, online, or broadcast newsroom.
• Prior experience working in higher education marketing or communications.
• Knowledge of AP Style.
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with appropriate discretion.
• Proficient in technology, social media platforms, and current industry digital applications and platforms.

Responsibilities

• Implement the university's central media relations strategy.
• Elevate Virginia Tech’s leadership, faculty expertise, research discoveries, and student achievements.
• Find and facilitate national, international, trade, and high-impact regional and local media opportunities.
• Develop and implement the regional media strategy.
• Interview faculty members.
• Write and edit tip sheets, news releases, and advisories.
• Develop targeted media lists, pitch stories, and schedule interviews.
• Engage in message preparation and training for faculty and leadership.
• Facilitate the needs of visiting media on campus.
• Build media amplification plans with campus marketing and communications professionals.
• Help campus marketing and communications professionals achieve media relations goals.
• Assess and show the impact of media efforts with the Associate Director and central metrics team.
• Assist with managing news conferences, editorial meetings, and other media events and opportunities.
• Represent Media Relations interests in strategic messaging and crisis communications meetings as requested.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule, responsive to the needs of media outlets and broadcast schedules.
• Respond to news and media requests for interviews, and/or participation in college or university programs.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• University shared governance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level