General Manager - Media Relations
General Manager - Media Relations
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Job Description
Reports To: Director of Communications
Duty Days: 238 Days
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Pay Grade: B06
Date Revised: 06-2025
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in English journalism communications public relations or a related field
- 5-7 years or more serving in a public relations or media relations capacity
- Prior leadership experience in public relations or media relations
- Excellent media relation skills and a demonstrated ability to build relationships with media
- Skilled in crisis management strategic communications and project managment of action plans
- Strong multimedia writing skills on deadline including news releases advisories website content brochures and video scripts
- Demonstrated ability to process complex material and produce clear concise and engaging press releases feature stories and other original content under deadline pressure
- Proficient mastery of AP style
- Basic photography layout and design skills
- School district experience preferred
Primary Purpose:
Responsible for managing high-level communications between the district and media outlets (print online radio etc.) and serve as the spokesperson for the district when needed. Consistently promote the districts story and brand through weekly media placements across television radio print digital and other platforms. Develop and implement strategic communications and publicity plans for the district. Work to expand understanding of the district including gathering information and assisting in the distribution of timely information related to student and staff outcomes safety issues and developing and executing proactive communication campaigns that emphasize the districts commitment to student achievement and safety to all stakeholder groups.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the Director of Communications and Chief Communications Officer (CCO) to strategically develop communications that enhance the Districts brand and reputation.
- Lead from the front serving as the Districts point person on media relations strategy including drafting rapid timely responses to sensitive media inquiries in coordination with the Director and CCO.
- Adhering to Katy ISDs Modified AP style write edit and distribute timely media releases and safety-related communications for various audiences including media parents employees students and community members.
- Attend all Katy ISD Board of Trustee meetings and prepare related news releases in advance and as needed. Interact with the media and oversee their activities during board meetings.
- Pitch daily story ideas and promptly respond to media inquiries pertaining to all aspects of the district.
- Build maintain and enhance relationships with media outlets including traditional media partners with particular emphasis on hyperlocal outlets. Maintain and update media contacts as needed.
- On a daily basis review published media articles reports and on-air programming for the purpose of a.) correcting media misinformation inaccuracies or errors reported; and b.) forwarding the outcome of aired/published stories to department leadership.
- Track all daily media placements and provide daily placement report and a summary of pending/executed media activities to supervisor and CCO.
- Oversee the coordination and distribution of select photography video and District publication projects including the biannual Gold Card newsletter and monthly Katy Update newsletter.
- Provide still photography of subjects alongside writing editing basic layout and distribution.
- Work with Campus Communications Liaisons to identify and promote school events and staff/student achievements on a regular basis.
- Support the district leadership with prewritten statements and other messages vetted by department and division leadership.
- Update and keep current media related information (i.e. articles media procedures etc.) on the districts webpage.
- Serve as an on-call resource at all times including unexpected closures to respond and coordinate the dissemination of information in emergency and crisis situations including writing and distributing notifications via the districts mass notification system and incident notifications (Enews) as needed.
- Advise administrative staff when delivering messages to the media for the purpose of strategically responding to media to ensure messaging is adequately aligned with the districts position goals and initiatives.
- Develop a monthly editorial calendar to lead long-term media placement planning that aligns story pitches with prominent local media editorial calendars and predictable news coverage cycles such as broadcast ratings periods etc.
- Identify and cultivate local and national media contacts as part of a proactive strategy to aggressively increase coverage of the district its students staff and programs.
- Compile and maintain internal district experts list who can respond to media requests.
- Handle coordination for onsite media including police presence and press conferences when needed.
- Identify events initiatives or district news that can be packaged into multimedia stories including but not limited to web stories photography video and social media.
- Oversee media placements and provide media monitoring reports on a weekly/monthly basis and a trend analysis of that content to establish a strategy for generating a narrative that promotes the district outcomes.
- Participate in meetings workshops trainings and seminars (e.g. district committees seminars conferences).
- Advise supervisor on a daily basis of project status other departmental requests and activities.
- Assist with developing and monitoring of budget allocations expenditures and related financial activities pertaining to media relations activities and advertising placements complying with all sound accounting practices and District policy.
- Perform special projects as designated by the Director of Communications and/or Chief Communications Officer.
- Other duties as assigned.
Equipment Used:
Personal computer printer copier and fax machine.
Working Conditions:
Maintain emotional control under stress in a team environment. Occasional prolonged and irregular hours. District-wide travel to various locations. Moderate lifting and carrying.
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
