Public Relations Specialist

Application Instructions

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications – the University’s central public relations and marketing division – seeks a Public Relations Specialist to join its proactive media team.

This role is hybrid, combining remote and on-campus working.

• Collaborate across teams in Strategic Communications, exploring how to effectively story tell around differentiating research and University strengths
• Develop and execute proactive media and communications plans aligned with institutional and Presidential priorities
• Identify newsworthy stories by partnering with internal stakeholders, subject‑matter experts, and leadership
• Draft press materials, pitches, talking points, and backgrounders that translate complex topics into accessible narratives
• Build and maintain relationships with regional and national reporters
• Monitor media coverage, industry trends, and emerging news opportunities
• Track and analyze media placements, preparing regular reports that cover reach, sentiment, and impact
• Support long‑term storytelling initiatives that elevate thought leadership and expertise
• Assist with editorial planning and media calendars

• Understand the media landscape, news cycles, and what drives earned coverage
• Have excellent organizational, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
• Have a strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Be able to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Have the ability to create clear, concise media reports for leadership and internal stakeholders
• Be a collaborative team player with high ethical and professional standards
• Interact effectively with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff
• Be curious and interested in current events and media trends
• Have experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a similar discipline is preferred
• Knowledge of communications planning and traditional and non‑traditional media strategies is a plus

Previous experience in a university setting is not required.

Bachelor’s Degree; 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted.

Required

Certifications:

None.

As Penn State’s central public relations and marketing division, the Office of Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award‑winning, best‑in‑class marketing and public relations team defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution’s reputation in regional, national and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource and leadership goals.

Spanning Penn State’s large‑scale enterprise–including campus locations across Pennsylvania, nearly 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 700,000—the Office of Strategic Communications’ work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We’ve attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic…