Director for Media Relations and Strategic Communications

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

1d•$115,956 - $120,012•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Washington's University Marketing & Communications (UMAC) department is seeking a Director for Media Relations and Strategic Communications. This full-time permanent position is crucial for leading branding, marketing, and communications efforts that enhance the University's reputation, resources, and relationships. The role involves providing high-level support for strategic communications and media relations, including serving on the Crisis Communications Team and acting as a backup spokesperson. The Director will shape the University's public image through strong judgment, analytical thinking, and effective operation in high-visibility, time-sensitive situations. This leadership role involves advising administrators and communications partners, managing reputation, shaping media relations strategy, coordinating digital storytelling, and delivering media training. The position directly supervises the Assistant Director and Associate Director of Strategic Communications and collaborates with the Assistant VP for Communications/Spokesperson to ensure strategic execution of UW's priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field.
Five years of experience in media relations, strategic communications, journalism, public affairs, or related field.
Ability to work evening and weekend hours and adjust in-office days as necessary, on short or limited notice.
Must have regular and reliable transportation for local travel and be willing to travel when necessary.
Cover letter explaining interest in the role and the University of Washington, and outlining how skills and experience align with leading media relations and strategic communications for a complex, public-facing organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, health care, government, or another large public or mission-driven institution.
Demonstrated experience leading media relations and strategic communications for a complex, public-facing organization.
Demonstrated success supporting reputation management and crisis communications.
Experience providing media training or coaching for faculty, executives, or other subject-matter experts.
Familiarity with digital analytics, audience engagement metrics, and media intelligence tools.
Experience coordinating communications across multiple units, campuses, or partner organizations.
Background working with local, regional, and national media outlets on a wide range of topics.
Demonstrated ability to balance individual workload with supervision, leadership, guidance, and oversight of others’ work.

Responsibilities

Support the Assistant Vice President for Communications/Spokesperson in managing day-to-day media relations activities, including responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and developing key messages for external audiences.
Serve as a university spokesperson on specific topics, issues, or situations, as assigned.
Build and maintain productive relationships with local, regional, and national media representatives.
Provide expert guidance on media strategy, pitch development, and message framing in support of institutional priorities and reputation management.
Use media monitoring tools and coverage analysis to assess trends, identify emerging issues, and inform proactive and reactive media relations strategies.
Serve as a member and backup lead of the Crisis Communications Team, assisting in decisions regarding UW Alert and UW Advisory notifications.
Edit and write news releases, arrange interviews, develop and provide media training, and facilitate contact between students, faculty, and reporters.
Develop and oversee strategic communications plans for complex, high-profile, or long-term institutional initiatives.
Lead or coordinate communications strategies related to major University priorities, emerging issues, or sensitive topics at the administration level.
Incorporate qualitative and quantitative data into the development and refinement of strategic communications plans.
Evaluate the effectiveness of strategic communications initiatives using data and insights and adjust approaches as needed.
Ensure alignment between strategic communications initiatives and the University’s mission, values, and leadership priorities.
Play a key role in issues monitoring, risk assessment, and crisis communications planning.
Monitor issues and reputational risks using media intelligence, digital listening, and other analytic tools.
Coordinate closely with campus communicators and leadership during crises or emerging situations.
Help develop internal frameworks, protocols, and messaging tools for issues management and crisis response.
Provide media relations training, preparation, and one-on-one coaching for faculty, staff, and selected University leaders.
Advise academic and administrative leaders to communicate effectively with external audiences and navigate media engagement.
Use data, examples, and analytics-informed insights to support media coaching, preparation, and guidance.
Serve as a trusted communications resource for leaders preparing for high-stakes public visibility.
Perform other duties as assigned.