Media Relations Manager 3

Northrop Grumman•McLean, VA

2d•$159,500 - $239,300•Hybrid

About The Position

Northrop Grumman is looking for a Media Relations Manager 3 to support the company’s Space Systems Sector. In this role, the Media Relations Manager serves as a leader on the company’s Media Strategy & Engagement team responsible for strategizing, planning, executing, and measuring earned media strategies in partnership with Space Systems and enterprise communicators and in alignment with the company’s business priorities and thought leadership objectives. This position location is flexible as long as it’s located near a major Northrop Grumman Space Systems office to meet the needs of the business. (Major locations include DC Metro area, including Baltimore, MD and Falls Church/Dulles/McLean, VA; Promontory, UT, Colorado Springs, CO and Huntsville, AL. This position requires travel to various Space Sector sites and other locations 25% of the time in support of business and functional needs. The Media Relations Manager is responsible for ensuring all Space Systems media engagements align and support the company’s overall media strategy, reflecting priorities at both the business and enterprise level. In this position, you work in constant collaboration with other communicators across the company to help inform your media strategy on behalf of the Space Systems businesses. As part of that responsibility, you support business communicators to identity and implement media strategies that will influence stakeholder decision making in favor of Northrop Grumman, including opportunities to promote important milestones, enhance customer engagement events and more. The Media Relations Manager is also responsible for ensuring company spokespeople are prepared for media engagements and all logistics are secured in addition to engaging with reporters and public affairs officers, when necessary, and ensuring those engagements are properly planned, prepped, tracked, measured, and reported. Relatedly, in this role, the Manger leads the media monitoring, metrics and reporting requirements associated with the business and enterprise priorities for which the Space Systems sector is aligned. The Media Relations Manager is also responsible for writing and editing news content material, media prep materials, and other content as required. This person will correct inaccuracies and act as a company spokesperson, developing and maintaining relationships with key reporters to help shape and manage coverage for Space Systems priorities. This leader will thrive in a fast-paced environment, embrace change and spread knowledge and sound strategy throughout the organization. And they should like space, too.

Requirements

Proven success in leading people as direct reports and when matrixed for projects.
Experience demonstrating strategic thinking, planning and decision-making.
Experience developing and executing strategic media relations communications plans to achieve business objectives and advance thought leadership.
An ability to interact with executive leadership confidently and independently.
An ability to identify and leverage news cycles to advance company thought leadership in priority focus areas; execute press events from conference calls to media interviews, site visits and other press events and support internal media training, messaging sessions and external media engagements.
Effective AP writing and editing skills, with an ability to draft all types of news content from news releases and news features to long form op-eds for placement in target publications.
Comfort with change in a fast-paced, empowered work environment with strong collaboration and alignment to company priorities.
High level of attention to detail and risk conscious mindset.
A commitment to quality work and accountability fo results
Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 10 years of experience; or master’s degree and minimum or 8 years of experience in media relations, communications, public relations, or public affairs for a medium-to large-sized organization.
Experience leading people.
Demonstrated knowledge in the developing, deploying and activating strategic media & communication campaigns with measurable business impact.
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time; travel may include intra-office within the DC metro area, as well as other sites and locations, in support of the business, as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a large, matrixed and/or geographically dispersed organization.
Experience developing productive relationships with colleagues, executives, and reporters.
Experience in technology, aerospace, defense or other science-related business or government field.
Sound judgement in decision making and leadership actions with capabilities to drive storytelling through creative and/or other disruptive methods, ideas & approaches.
Experience Zignal and MuckRack reporter database tools.
Familiarity with defense, space, and aerospace industry reporters.

Responsibilities

Lead an earned media portfolio designed to elevate company thought leadership on priority technology focus areas that support an enterprise narrative focused on innovation.
Partner with communications colleagues across the enterprise to develop a strategic approach to media relations, including proactive and reactive media interviews, pitches, events, news products, digital presence and more.
Build awareness of your earned media strategies, gaining buy-in and feedback as you refine the approach to media storytelling to promote the Space Systems business portfolio.
Prepare and position Space Systems subject matter experts for earned media opportunities and maintain coordination and collaboration with the Sector Communications Strategy team on a steady media presence/narrative to promote the Space Systems business portfolio.
Prepare and share regular results, media trends, and metrics on media relations efforts at a variety of levels within the company and leverage those results to evolve strategies and approaches to achieve intended communications and business goals.
Stay informed on industry news and flag issues and trends for appropriate internal stakeholders.
Lead, mentor, and develop media and public relations professionals across the company.