Manager, Media Relations

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

About The Position

The media relations manager advances and protects MUSC’s reputation by contributing to proactive public relations strategy and executing high-level reactive media relations across clinical, academic, research and enterprise priorities. The role serves as a primary contact for journalists, identifies and develops earned media opportunities, leads day-to-day media engagement, prepares spokespeople and subject matter experts, supports issues and crisis response, and uses media intelligence and performance data to inform decisions and strengthen results. The manager works with the ownership, pace and judgment expected of an experienced public relations professional. They manage multiple priorities and internal stakeholder relationships, develop and execute proactive media approaches, and provide counsel and execution for reactive inquiries and emerging issues. The role works within processes established by senior communications leadership and collaborates with communications, marketing, content, regional, clinical, academic, research, legal and operational partners. The position includes leading media engagement and stakeholder coordination; developing proactive public relations strategies and story opportunities; supporting issues and crisis communications; and monitoring, measuring and reporting media activity. It may involve occasional travel to off-site MUSC locations, statewide travel as needed, and participation in an on-call rotation that includes after-hours and weekend coverage.

Requirements

Proven experience in public relations and media relations, including demonstrated success managing proactive and reactive assignments in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.
Ability to contribute to strategy while independently driving execution across multiple concurrent priorities.
Expertise in media inquiry management, message development, pitching, interview coordination and spokesperson preparation.
Strong news judgment and initiative to monitor the media environment, recognize opportunities and risks, and recommend timely action.
Ability to build trusted relationships with journalists, leaders, subject matter experts and cross-functional partners.
Excellent writing and editing skills, with a strong command of grammar and AP style.
Strong project management, organization and follow-through, including management of deadlines, approvals and stakeholder expectations.
Ability to remain composed, responsive and accurate during breaking news, sensitive issues and crisis situations.
Proficiency with media monitoring, database, analytics and reporting tools, such as Meltwater, Muckrack, Talkwalker and Google Alerts.
Working knowledge of AI tools such as Copilot, Claude and ChatGPT, and initiative to use and further develop these capabilities while maintaining accuracy, consistency and professional discernment.
Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with strong judgment, curiosity, adaptability and attention to detail.
Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications or a related field.
A minimum of seven years of related work experience is required.

Nice To Haves

Seven years of related work experience is preferred.
Agency, health care, higher education or similarly complex organizational experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary media relations representative and designated spokesperson as appropriate, providing responsive, accurate and professional service to journalists and internal partners.
Manage media inquiries from intake through resolution, including assessing requests, preparing subject matter experts, coordinating logistics, facilitating interviews and managing follow-up.
Write and distribute press releases, media alerts, pitches, responses, statements, talking points, Q&A documents and other media-facing materials aligned with MUSC core messages and AP style.
Cultivate relationships with local, statewide and targeted national media, maintaining knowledge of reporters, outlets, beats and current interests.
Prepare media briefings and provide interview preparation or media refreshers for leaders, spokespeople and subject matter experts.
Receive and escort media on campus and at off-site MUSC events; supervise in-person and virtual interviews.
Manage assignments, deadlines and stakeholder expectations with strong follow-through, judgment and attention to detail.
Participate in the on-call rotation, including after-hours and weekend coverage, for urgent or breaking media inquiries.
Coordinate media relations activities with regional health network leaders and enterprise partners.
Lead external communications related to Board of Trustees activity, including agenda distribution, message preparation, press releases, media attendance coordination, issues support and on-site media management.
Contribute to annual and initiative-specific public relations and media relations strategies, including goals, audiences, story platforms, tactics and key performance indicators.
Translate organizational priorities into proactive earned media opportunities and executable pitch plans.
Monitor the news cycle, media landscape, industry trends and cultural conversations to identify opportunities, emerging risks and ways MUSC expertise may add value.
Develop story angles and targeted pitches; recommend outlets, reporters, spokespeople and timing.
Collaborate with communications, marketing, content, social media and regional partners on integrated approaches and identification of stories and subject matter experts.
Prepare for planning meetings with ideas and recommendations to build a forward-looking pipeline of proactive opportunities.
Manage reactive media response during crises, sensitive matters and emerging issues in collaboration with communications leadership, legal, clinical, academic and operational partners.
Provide media relations counsel, assess reputational implications and recommend response approaches within established protocols.
Draft and coordinate timely, accurate and transparent media and public-facing messages, statements, talking points and Q&A materials.
Monitor media and the environment during issues and crises; synthesize developments, coverage and stakeholder questions for communications leadership.
Monitor and report on crisis communications activity and resulting coverage during and after a crisis.
Maintain crisis response documentation, message archives and scenario-based materials; support updates to crisis protocols, scenarios and workflows.
Coordinate FOIA-related media response activities with legal and communications leadership.
Conduct daily media, topical and environmental monitoring; elevate significant findings with context and recommended actions.
Maintain accurate media lists, pitch trackers, inquiry logs and other working records.
Contribute to daily, weekly, quarterly and annual reporting, including media coverage reports and dashboards.
Analyze coverage and media relations results, identify patterns and lessons, and recommend improvements to strategy and execution.
Communicate concise, decision-useful insights to communications leadership and relevant partners.
Perform other duties as assigned.