Senior Media Relations Specialist

Position Summary:

The Senior Media Relations Specialist is part of the Media Relations team at Vanderbilt Universityandisresponsiblefordevelopingandimplementingmediarelationsplansandtactics to enhance Vanderbilt Universitys reputation and to advance the universitys mission as a premier academic research institution. This position will conduct proactive and reactive media relations including monitoring news developments developing messaging and building productive relationships with local national and international news media.

In addition the Senior Media Relations Specialist will support the Division of Communications executivecommunicationsstrategyandwillberesponsibleforsourcingspeakingengagements and contributed content opportunities on behalf of university leadership including the Chancellor. This includes coordination and placement of bylined articles and op-eds.

ReportingtotheMediaRelationsManagertheSeniorMediaRelationsSpecialistwillinteract with university leadership faculty staff students and internal/external stakeholders.

The Media Relations team within the Division of Communications designs and executes integrated communications strategies to protect and enhance Vanderbilts local national and international reputation and positions the university as one of the worlds leading academic researchinstitutionsthroughthedistributionofcompellingcontentacrossavarietyofdigitaland traditional channels.

About the Work Unit:

The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt University is a dynamic and deeply collaborative group. The division with all of its departments and sub-teams serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing developing and executing strategies that inform engage and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt Universitys global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for other divisions in the university providing comprehensive plans and thoughtful analysisonmessagingopportunitiesandconstraints.TheCommunicationsandMarketingteam continuously seeks innovative solutions to new and emerging challenges in order to deliver results at scale to advance the larger mission values and priorities of the university.

• Developandexecutemediarelationsplansandtacticsthatreflectand supportthe universitys overall communications goals.

• MeasurablyraisetheprofileofuniversityleadershipincludingtheChancellorinkey media outlets and with key stakeholders.

• Arrangefacilitateandattendmediainterviewswithfacultyuniversityleadershipandthe chancellor.

• Conductmediatrainingsforfacultystaffcoachesandstudent-athletesonbestpractices for external engagement.

• Developandmaintainrelationshipswithlocalregionalnationalandinternationalmedia outlets.

• Pitchstoriestonewsmediaprioritizingnationalhighpriorityandinternationalmedia outlets. Coordinate news interviews.

• Writeandeditnewsreleasesrapidresponsestatementsmediaadvisoriesmessaging talking points fact sheets op-eds and other media relations materials.

• Followindustry-relatednewsandgenerateideasaroundtrendingtopicstoinformangles for media pitches and outreach to reporters and producers connecting Vanderbilt expertise to current events.

• Attendkeyeventsasneededbothonandoff-campusinvolvingVanderbiltfacultyand leadership where members of the media might be present.

• MonitorformediacoverageofVanderbiltfacultyexpertsinstitutionalprojectsand Vanderbilt leadership and report to internal stakeholders as appropriate.

• Maintainandkeep currentinternalmedialiststobeusedformediaoutreachonavariety of topics.

• WorkscloselywithpartnersacrosstheDivisionofCommunicationstocoordinate communications efforts and ensure consistent cross-channel messaging.

• Demonstrateexcellentnewsjudgmentexcellentwrittencommunicationsskillsandan excellent sense of what is appropriate for the Vanderbilt brand.

• Demonstrateandcommunicateabouttherolemediarelationsplaysinthebroader communications plan for a department school and/or the university as a whole.

• Executeindependentlyoncommunicationsprioritiesanddemonstrateanunderstanding of the evolving media landscape.

• AssistinmediatrainingandinterviewpreparationfortheChancellorandothersas necessary.

• Provideoverallsupportasneededandassignedfordepartmentpriorities.

• Demonstrateunderstandingoftheuniversitysmissionvaluesgoalsandprioritiesand an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.

• Communicateandcollaborateeffectivelywithawiderangeofaudiencesincluding faculty students leadership staff alumni suppliers and agencies.

• DemonstratedabilitytoadoptandeffectivelyuseemergingtechnologiesincludingAI-enabled tools to improve productivity workflow and quality of work.

• Efficientlyandeffectivelymanagemultiplecomplexandresults-orientedprojectswith quick turn-around requirements.

• Adheretoconfidentialityandbusinessethics;demonstrateoutstandingjudgmentand discretion.

• Workoutsideregularbusinesshours(includingnightsandweekends)asneededinorder to perform job responsibilities including being officially on-call.

• Performotherrelevantdutiesasassigned.