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JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior Media Relations Specialist
Summary:
The Senior Media Relations Specialist is a talented individual with a track record of landing high-profile stories in top-tier domestic and international press. He/she/they are great at building and cultivating relationships with reporters and editors and leveraging those relationships to secure media coverage about Northeastern University's unique story, including its research enterprise, global experiential learning programs, and newsworthy examples of leadership and innovation in the higher education space and beyond.
Reporting to the Director of Global Media Relations, the Senior Media Relations Specialist will work with Northeastern faculty and staff colleagues across the global university system, to identify newsworthy ideas, gather facts work with members of the press to secure coverage in top-tier news outlets in strategic locations within and outside of the US, including regions where Northeastern has a presence.
The Senior Media Relations Specialist has established a track record of delivering measurable results and building relationships with members of the local, national, and international press. The Senior Media Relations Specialist must stay up to date on what the media is focused on and be able to bridge those topics with Northeastern experts to identify opportunities and ultimately land positive media coverage.
The Senior Media Relations Specialist is able to write well-researched, factually accurate and succinct talking points and statements/responses as needed.
The position is part of Northeastern's award-winning Communications team which also includes social media, a daily news organization (Northeastern Global News), digital strategy and execution, photography and video.
The ideal candidate enjoys working with a talented and creative team, coming up with innovative ideas, and proactively cultivating key relationships with both university staff and faculty, as well as media.
This position is located at the Boston campus with the option of one remote day per week.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and proven experience (4-6 years) working with local, domestic, and international media and successfully landing stories
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain successful relationships with members of the press
Excellent writing and verbal communications skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Ability to critically evaluate information and assess news value
Ability to take initiative
Ability to think creatively
Experience dealing with crisis situations
Speed and accuracy
Experience in higher education is not needed, nor is it desired.
Sense of humor
The news industry runs 24/7. Crisis and opportunity often present themselves outside of normal business hours. The Media Relations Manager is expected to be responsive and reliable when action needs to be taken.
Key Responsibilities (% of Time)
85%: Duties include but are not limited to:
- Serving as a liaison between the university and the news media
- Cultivating relationships with members of the media
- Developing and executing press strategies for announcing news
- Proactively pitching and landing news stories about the university in local, domestic and international top-tier press
- Maintaining an in-depth knowledge of the university's strengths and goals and finding new, creative, and compelling ways to tell stories through various media
15%:
- Handling and tracking media requests
- Writing pitches and other material
- Collaborating with the Communications' team's daily news operation
- Fostering positive working relationships with members of the university community
- Contributing to digital and social media efforts
- Keeping abreast of higher education's issues and trends, as well as global and national current events and campus activities
- Participating in major media events and other duties as assigned The ideal candidate enjoys working with a talented and creative team, coming up with new ideas, and proactively cultivating key relationships.
Position Type
Marketing and Communications
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in worldwide experiential learning, urban engagement, and interdisciplinary research that meets global and societal needs. Our broad mix of experience-based education programs?our signature cooperative education program, as well as student research, service learning, and global learning?build the connections that enable students to transform their lives. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools.
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