Media Relations Director

About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis

The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis serves Harris County the largest county in Texas and the third largest in the United a fast-moving policy environment our decisions shape statewide and national conversations on democracy justice health climate resilience and economic dignity.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis is a nationally respected leader with a decades-long record of advancing civil rights justice and equity in Texas. Alongside a strategic leadership team an expert policy division and a community affairs team with deep ties across the county were building one of the most sophisticated and values-driven communications shops in local government.

Our communications operation integrates narrative press digital and creative into a unified engine that meets the moment moves public organizing and delivers results for the people we serve. We hold high standards and provide high support offering candid feedback teamwork without ego strategic thinking calm decision-making and a shared commitment to human dignity and public service.

If you want to do work that leaves a markon your career on this country and on issues that shape our futureyou belong here. We recruit nationally; relocation to Houston is required.

Why Harris County

Harris County is the third-largest county in the United States and one of the most diverse communities in the nation. What happens here often shapes statewide and national conversationsfrom voting rights and public health to climate resilience and economic justice. Serving Harris County means working at scale under real scrutiny with real consequences for millions of residents. The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis operates at the intersection of policy community and national relevanceoffering communications professionals an opportunity to do serious values-driven public service work that travels far beyond local headlines.

As Media Relations Director you lead the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis earned media engineturning narrative strategy into coverage across local state and national outlets in a media market whose stories routinely travel nationwide. You set earned-media strategy for the office and serve as the senior advisor on press posture risk and coverage decisions.

You design and run the coverage plan: beats target outlets editorial boards validators and moments that matter. You negotiate high-impact exclusives and embargoes steer rapid response and set the posture for risk and crisis response. You own relationships with key reporters and editors build Spanish-language placements with translation services and community outlets and keep gaggles briefings and press operations tight.

You manage and coach the Press Secretary and Community Media Manager setting strategy and handling high-stakes negotiations while the Press Secretary and Community Media Manager execute day-to-day pitching embargo logistics and first-wave distribution. You advise senior leadership and partner closely with Narrative Strategy Digital and Creative leadership so every press moment is synchronized with web email social and supporting assets.

In a typical week you might prepare the Commissioner for an editorial board interview place an exclusive that shapes next-day coverage run a rapid response briefing within the hour of a court ruling and close the week by sharing what to scale next.

This role is ideal for a seasoned media leader who combines sharp news judgment calm execution under pressure and the ability to move complex stories into the public arena with clarity and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Media strategy leadership:

  • Build the annual earned-media plan aligned with the priorities of the office the narrative plan and policy calendar.

  • Define target outlets key beats editorial-board goals validators and a forward-looking moments calendar.

  • Set clear goals for framing reach and impact.

• Coverage planning & placement:

  • Plan and place stories with smart sequencingexclusives and embargoesline up validators and surrogates and keep an editorial-board roadmap to land our why and how in top outlets.

• Rapid response:

  • Lead rapid responsedefine triggers agree on a message with the Director of Narrative Strategy the Communications Director and the leadership team; keep pre-approved language current; and meet speed targets.

• Risk & crisis communications:

  • Set crisis posture and holding lines; coordinate legal/policy review; monitor and counter rumors and misinformation.

• Team management & coaching:

  • Manage and coach the Press Secretary and Community Media Managerset objectives run 1:1s review copy and develop talent.

  • Coordinate Spanish-language work with County translation services or trusted partners.

• Reporter and editor relationships:

  • Own and deepen relationships with key reporters and editors across local state and national outlets; schedule desk visits background briefings and media mixers.

  • Maintain a reputation for credibility speed and accuracy.

• Integrated launches:

  • Co-lead launch plans with Narrative Digital and Creative teams so press coverage is in sync with other communication channels.

• Spokesperson preparation:

  • Oversee media prep for the Commissioner and principals including briefing materials key lines Q&A pivots and interview preparation.

• Equity language and access:

  • Ensure culturally relevant framing; secure multilingual placements.

• Measurement & learning:

  • Partner with the Digital Director track how often our framing appears in coverage placement quality and audience reach.

  • Publish a monthly what worked / scalepauseadjust note; refresh the priority topics and targets quarterly.

• Standards & systems:

  • Maintain media policies and press playbooks (background and attribution norms exclusives response-time expectations); keep press lists current and segmented; set media-mix targets

  • Ensure press operations run smoothly.

Education:

• Bachelors or graduate degree in Public Affairs Communications Journalism or English is preferred but not required.

  • Equivalent work experience or certifications may also be considered.

• 710 years in media relations journalism or strategic communications (or equivalent mix of newsroom and comms experience).

• Proven record shaping coverage across local state and national outletsexamples of exclusives/embargoes editorial boards and placements that carried your framing.

• Experience managing a press bench and running complex launch plans end-to-end.

• Exceptional news judgment under pressure; able to craft first lines quickly escalate appropriately and steer crisis communications.

• Excellent writing and editing for press materials; skilled at briefing principals and coaching spokespeople (Q&A pivots interview prep).

• Deep relationships with key reporters/editors and the ability to build new ones quickly including community and Spanish-language outlets.

• Strong collaborator with narrative digital and creative partners to sync press with web/email social and assets.

• Demonstrated experience leading or shaping strategic communications on issues of equity and justice particularly those affecting communities of color with attention to credibility cultural relevance and public trust.

• Commitment to equity plain language accessibility and Spanish-language parity

• Spanish proficiency a plus.

• Familiarity with the Texas or Houston media landscape is a plus but not required.

This is a full-time position offering a competitive yearly salary commensurate with experience; comprehensive benefits including relocation assistance; and opportunities for professional growth. Some evenings and weekends are required.