Media Relations Coordinator

As part of the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) team, the media relations coordinator is primarily responsible for managing the university’s daily media relations operations as well as high-level university communications. This is a junior level position with a lot of visibility and growth potential. The position is a full-time benefited position located on Shenandoah's main campus in Winchester, VA.

This role serves as the news media’s main point of contact for the university and acts — with oversight from the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications on behalf of the president and senior leadership — as the university’s spokesperson during day-to-day operations as well as emergency and crisis situations. Additionally, the position requires the oversight, creation and management of institutional communications. This responsibility extends to high-level communications from any department and requires close working relationships with the president, senior vice president and vice presidents.

Responsibilities:

Media Relations -

• Coordinates and staffs media relations activities on the main campus and other SU locations
• Pitches stories to journalists and news outlets in our local and major markets
• Maintains frequent contact with reporters, journalists, bloggers and other news and information professionals
• Proactively meets with administrative and faculty leadership to create a working list of possible story ideas
• Creates and maintains a reporting system of assessment and accountability relating to the office’s media relations activities and placement successes
• Provides media interview training to the president, senior leadership, deans, directors and other university community members
• Provides writing, editing and proofreading support, especially in areas such as drafting op-eds and letters to the editor

University Communications -

• Aid in the strategy creation, execution and dissemination of high-level university communications to internal and external audiences
• Able to partner with and assemble/manage ad hoc teams of individuals from across the university; this includes the ability to delegate tasks to appropriate departments to aid in large scale and longer-term communication projects.
• Direct oversight over all internal communications platforms to ensure message alignment and consistency across all channels

Required Skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, mass communications or a related field; master’s degree or 3-4 years of news media experience preferred
• Excellent interviewing, writing and oral communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with diverse populations
• Must be deadline-oriented with highly effective organizational skills
• Ability to make evaluative judgments and to work independently
• A broad understanding of the issues and trends that affect higher education
• An understanding of the role of social media in the university’s media relations efforts
• A pronounced ability to research reporters and news organizations in order to facilitate the best fit between a particular story and a reporter
• An abiding interest and understanding of the current state of the news media
• Ability to work flexible hours in accordance with the demands of the position and be available for travel and work in the evenings and on weekends
• Must maintain good relationships with reporters from both local, regional and national news organizations
• Have an interest in and sense of newsworthy trends in higher education and events, scholarship and human interest stories emanating from the university’s various locations in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia
• Applicants must submit desired salary, resume, cover letter, and writing samples or link to portfolio for full consideration; writing/editing test may be administered to finalists

How to Apply:

The complete application will include a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. As well as w riting samples or links to portfolio for full consideration. A writing/editing test may be administered to finalists. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check will be required as a condition of hire. If the job requires driving for University business, a satisfactory driving record will be required as well.

At this time, SU is requiring that individuals within certain groups specifically those who have high levels of contact with others at the university or pose a greater risk to our community to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by August 1 for Fall 2021 or have at least the first dose by June 1 for groups that will be in person this summer (with full vaccination following as soon as possible), unless they have a SU-approved medical or religious exemption

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status or on any other basis protected under applicable law.

Salary Type
Not Applicable