Executive Director of Media Relations

Join to apply for the Executive Director of Media Relations role at The University of Texas System
.

External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services

Exempt

Immediately

Salary commensurate with experience

40 hours weekly

A resume and letter of interest is required to apply. Candidates under final consideration will also be required to submit professional references, college degree information, and employment history to an online third-party vendor.

For more than 140 years, The University of Texas System has improved the lives of Texans — and people all over the world — through education, health care, and research. The System consists of nine academic institutions, five health institutions, and The University of Texas System Administration. The institutions of the UT System employ more than 116,000 faculty, health care professionals, researchers, support staff, and student workers.

The UT System Administration is primarily based in Austin, Texas. It supports the missions of the System’s fourteen institutions by providing financial, legal, planning, purchasing, government relations, communications, development, and other central services. Serving a growing state, the UT System Administration strives to provide a welcoming, supportive work environment that embraces different perspectives – not only because it enables the organization to be stronger, creative, and thoughtful, but because it is the right thing to do.

To that end, UT System Administration embraces state laws on military and former foster children employment preferences.

The Executive Director of Media Relations is responsible for developing and executing strategic media activities aligned with the objectives and mission of the UT System by effectively and consistently managing proactive and responsive media-related communications, and providing thoughtful leadership.

• Demonstrate excellent knowledge and awareness of issues, opportunities and challenges, and develop proactive, sound, timely, and accurate communications, including responses to a steady stream of media inquiries.
• Proactively generate and develop content on relevant topics on a consistent basis to inform state, national and trade media.
• Author a variety of written content pieces, including official statements, news releases, reports, briefings, op-eds, and media pitches and manage communications vetting processes.
• Ensure strong oversight of communications and coordination with social media manager on multi-channel delivery of information.
• Work with communications professionals across the UT institutions to keep them informed on issues of importance on a timely basis.
• Create media briefings, including logistics, talking points and reference materials – as appropriate – to prepare principals for media engagement.
• Propose, write and pitch columns and op eds on key issues for UT System principals.
• Provide media relations coverage for board meetings of the UT System Board of Regents and the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO).
• Serve as a media relations liaison to the UT System departments and UT institutions.
• Support UT System events with media opportunities.
• Consistently evaluate and update media lists based on proactive outreach and evolving press opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Excellent knowledge of and experience with digital media tools and multi-channels.
• Exceptional news judgement and understanding of national, regional and local media environments, with a keen sense of providing sound advice and effectively addressing media-related matters.
• Demonstrate integrity, high ethical standards, honesty and discretion in collaborations with various colleagues and departments on media matters.
• Extensive experience working with regional and national media.
• Proven track record of success in generating earned media coverage and content placements in state, national and trade publications.
• Ability to produce engaging content for a variety of…