Communications Specialist 4 - Director of Media Relations

Communications Specialist 4 - Director of Media Relations

Working Title:
Communications Specialist 4 - Director of Media Relations

Job Class:
Communications Specialist 4

Agency:
Minnesota State

• Job : 96347
• Location
  :
  St. Paul
• Full/Part Time
  :
  Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary
  :
  Unlimited
• Who May Apply
  :
  Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted
  : 08/14/2026
• Closing Date
  : 09/14/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit
  : MN St Colleges & Universities / MNSCU Central Office-MAPE
• Division/Unit
  :
  MnSCU System Office / MnSCU OOC Prof/ Supr
• Appointment Type
  :
  Unlimited, Full-time
• Work Shift/Work Hours
  :
  Day Shift
• Days of Work
  :
  Monday - Friday, Position is responsible for providing timely assistance and communications counsel whenever needed, including beyond standard working hours.
• Travel Required
  :
  No
• Salary Range: $36.59 - $54.25 / hourly; $76,399 - $113,274 / annually
• Classified Status
  :
  Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union
  : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Job Description

This position is a key member of the Marketing and Communications team with primary responsibility for defining, designing and implementing communications and public relations strategies and programs within the Minnesota State system to strengthen the reputation of Minnesota State and its 33 colleges and universities. In addition, this position serves as a spokesperson for Minnesota State, the main contact for media within the organization, and has the responsibility to provide timely assistance and communications counsel whenever needed, including beyond standard working hours.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four (4) years of professional communication and writing experience in large complex decentralized organizations. A Bachelor's degree in a related field (communications, English, journalism, etc.) would substitute for one year of experience; an Associate's degree would substitute for six months of experience.
• Demonstrated superior writing skills with a range of writing experiences, including the ability to write and edit various types of content (presentations, speeches, press releases, articles, blog posts, etc.) for expression, organization, strategic intent, grammar, style, and sentence structure.
• Experience developing compelling messages for target audiences and weaving societal trends, nuances, and language into writing, with an awareness of Minnesota and global contexts.
• Demonstrated sound news judgment, experience working with media, and effective verbal communication skills to facilitate meetings and present to groups of 10 or more senior managers.
• Familiarity with established and emerging uses of technology, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously from inception through execution, communicating progress and end results.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, respond to quick turnaround times, and exhibit political acumen with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player.

Preferred Qualification

• Advanced degree in related field - communications, English, journalism, etc. Additional years of related experience considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Experience in a college or university setting, philanthropy, public policy, non-profit organization, government, or public service.
• Knowledge sufficient to create multimedia content such as videos, photos, soundbites, etc.

Minnesota State is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing talented employees who serve our 270,000 students each year throughout the state. We have a vibrant and diverse system of 33 colleges and universities with 14,567 dedicated faculty and staff focused on student success.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

• A sense of purpose in their…