Media Relations Lead

The MITRE Corporation•McLean, VA

7d•$127,200 - $190,800•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE is a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. The Communications and External Affairs (CXA) department tells the story of MITRE’s research, scientific breakthroughs, and public impact. The department brings together a team of 30+ writers, editors, multimedia and social media professionals, designers, public and government relations experts, and event strategists who shape and amplify the company’s voice across internal and external stakeholders. The Media Relations Lead is part of a small team of senior communications professionals responsible for developing and executing MITRE’s enterprise media relations strategy. Working as a collaborative team, the Media Relations Leads partner to build relationships with national, regional, trade, and technical media; identify opportunities to showcase MITRE’s research and thought leadership; and translate complex technical work into compelling stories that resonate with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public. Each lead manages a portfolio of technical domains and business priorities while partnering closely to ensure coordinated, consistent, and enterprise-wide media engagement. The Media Relations Lead also serves as a strategic communications advisor to MITRE leadership, providing counsel on media engagement, reputation management, and external communications strategies that advance corporate priorities while reinforcing MITRE’s public-interest mission. Working across business sectors, corporate functions, and the broader Communications and External Affairs team, this individual will help ensure MITRE’s external presence is coordinated, credible, and aligned with the company’s role as a leader of federally funded research and development centers. Success in this role requires exceptional judgment, strong instincts, and the ability to navigate a large, matrixed organization with competing priorities. The ideal candidate can quickly assess opportunities and risks, provide sound communications counsel, and build alignment among diverse stakeholders while protecting and advancing MITRE's reputation. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable developing long-term media strategies, responding to breaking news, preparing executives for interviews, and identifying opportunities to increase awareness of MITRE’s research, innovation, and national impact.

Requirements

Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic media relations or public relations programs for complex organizations, including proactive media engagement, executive visibility, and reputation management.
Experience building and maintaining strong relationships with national, regional, trade, business, technology, or policy media.
Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage and developing integrated media strategies that advance organizational priorities and increase visibility.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate highly technical, scientific, engineering, or policy topics into clear, compelling, and accurate messaging for diverse audiences.
Experience advising senior executives and subject matter experts on media engagement, messaging, interview preparation, and public positioning.
Demonstrated ability to manage time-sensitive media engagements by coordinating executive and subject matter expert responses, establishing clear expectations and timelines, and driving timely, accurate, and strategically aligned outcomes under tight deadlines.
Experience collaborating across communications disciplines—including executive communications, digital, social media, marketing, government relations, and creative teams—to deliver coordinated, enterprise-wide communications.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Government security clearance within one year of hire. Per U.S. Government requirements, applicants selected for this position must be U.S. citizens.
This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, English, political science, or a related field.
Experience supporting media relations for organizations focused on national security, defense, cybersecurity, aviation, healthcare, public policy, critical infrastructure, artificial intelligence, or other complex technical domains.
Experience serving as a spokesperson or leading media response during high-profile or rapidly evolving news events, including issues management or crisis communications.
Experience developing executive thought leadership strategies, including media outreach, bylined articles, speaking engagements, and podcasts.
Knowledge of the media landscape covering national security, technology, science, innovation, government, or public policy.
Experience working in or supporting a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), government agency, elected or appointed government official, nonprofit research organization, or other mission-driven organization.
Familiarity with media monitoring, measurement, and analytics tools, and experience using performance metrics to evaluate and strengthen communications strategies.
Experience leading cross-functional communications initiatives and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build trust across all levels of an organization.
Comfortable working with technical experts and developing an understanding of complex technologies, scientific research, and public policy issues.
Active Secret or Top Secret U.S. Government security clearance.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment while independently managing a portfolio of responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Media Relations Leads and Communications and External Affairs leadership to develop and execute MITRE’s enterprise media relations strategy, leading media engagement for an assigned portfolio of technical domains, research priorities, and business initiatives while ensuring consistent enterprise messaging.
Advise MITRE leadership on media engagement, public positioning, reputation management, and communications strategies related to corporate priorities, emerging issues, and high-profile initiatives.
Build and maintain strong relationships with national, regional, trade, defense, technology, business, and policy media.
Identify, develop, and execute proactive media opportunities that elevate MITRE’s visibility and demonstrate the impact of its research, technical leadership, and public-interest mission across an assigned portfolio of technical domains and business priorities.
Partner closely with technical leaders, researchers, executives, and communications colleagues to translate complex scientific, engineering, cybersecurity, and policy topics into clear, accurate, and compelling stories for external audiences.
Draft and edit core media materials, including press releases, statements, talking points, and Q&As.
Prepare executives and subject matter experts for media interviews, podcasts, conferences, and other public engagements through strategic messaging, media coaching, and issue preparation.
Monitor the evolving media landscape, emerging news, and issues relevant to MITRE’s mission, providing timely strategic counsel, risk assessment, and recommendations to leadership on opportunities and potential reputational implications.
Partner across Communications and External Affairs—including government relations, executive communications, digital, social media, creative services, and content teams—to develop integrated communications campaigns that advance enterprise priorities and maximize external impact.
Support crisis communications and rapid-response activities by developing messaging, coordinating media responses, and advising leadership during sensitive or high-profile situations.
Develop and maintain media engagement metrics, evaluate earned media performance, identify emerging trends and opportunities, and recommend strategies that strengthen MITRE’s reputation, expand awareness of its work, and continuously improve enterprise media engagement.