Job Details

Media Relations Manager

Position Number: 6117448
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Communications - Public Relations and Advertising

Media Relations Manager

Requisition Number: 63188
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 15-Apr-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Department of Strategic Relations and Communications is encouraging applications for the Media Relations Manager position! In a dynamic environment dedicated to technology and timeliness, this role manages media training for faculty experts, news video production, media distribution, and the CU Boulder broadcast studio. Supervising at least 1 staff member and coordinating with team leads, the Media Relations Manager supports the day-to-day flow of news response and multimedia news packaging and participates in integrated marketing and communication teams with the primary goal of attracting positive attention from the media and key constituents in Colorado, nationwide and internationally for outstanding research, faculty expertise, student accomplishments, university programs, and outreach. The Media Relations Manager serves as the primary campus contact on news related to business and law and news video strategy. The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Strategic Relations and Communications facilitates an integrated approach to campus wide marketing and communications to inspire greater CU Boulder engagement, affinity and support.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Follows breaking news trends, pitches stories to the media, and provides direction to multimedia news producers on quick turnaround media tactics, including news releases, tip sheets, and multimedia assets; and responds to media requests on deadline for CU Boulder experts, particularly in business and law.
Supervises CU Boulder broadcast studio, partnership with the Associated Press (Campus Insights), and media training for faculty experts, and develops and updates processes, standards, and marketing strategy for all; assists news stations by coordinating and conducting remote interviews; pitches stories to national TV bookers; and ensures media team members are trained on studio and Campus Insights procedures.
Leads coordination of on-campus media events, including but not limited to commencement, move-in, and major conferences. Plans media availabilities around events, coordinates with campus collaborators and media partners, and organizes day-of needs and staff events.
Is responsible for media distribution and monitoring platforms to ensure they are optimized.
Processes and manages on-campus media film requests in coordination with campus legal and marketing teams, Athletics and colleges and campus departments, staffs film crews on campus when appropriate, develops film policy updates when needed, and promotes campus as a film destination for media coverage.
Stays up-to-date on emergency communications procedures and is a member of the emergency communications response team, including serving periodically on the weekend on-call PIO rotation.

Independent Judgment:

Determines new/expanded media targets based on Strategic Relations and Communications goals and improves tracking methods for interactions with media.
Identifies national trends, both with respect to areas of news coverage as well as tactics and tools used for effective dissemination, to advance CU Boulder's place in the media and improve Strategic Media Relations practices.
Runs proactive news operations, including weekly news meetings, when the news and editorial director is unavailable.
Identifies experts who can be made available to media, particularly in response to breaking news.
Explores, identifies, and implements new techniques to develop rapport with reporters and leverage experts during current events and breaking news.
Distinguishes matters that can be independently handled vs. those that need to be advanced to the News and Editorial Director and the Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications or Vice Chancellor of Strategic Relations and Communications.
Identifies content of strategic value - especially pieces demonstrating the strategic campus imperatives of becoming the top innovation university, shaping tomorrow's leaders, and positively impacting humanity.
Coordinates with marketing and social media teams to create communications plans for major news or notable campus events.

What You Should Know

This is a hybrid opportunity.

What We Can Offer

The starting salary range for this position is $70,000 - $74,000 annually. The state of Colorado enacted the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act at the beginning of 2021, and in alignment with this law, the offer will be based on the selected candidate's experience and campus internal equity. We cannot guarantee a specific salary within this range.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be brilliant. Be talented. Be Boulder.

What We Require

3+ of professional experience in public relations, media relations, communications or journalism that includes media outreach and broadcast experience in a fast-paced, content-production environment.
Bachelor's or Master's degree in journalism, public relations, English or related field.
Expert knowledge of AP style.
Familiarity with social media and multimedia applications.
Familiarity with broadcast news workflow and news cycle.

What You Will Need

Knowledge of public relations, media outreach, and how to manage media campaigns and responses. Familiarity with media relations strategies, news cycles, and techniques for attracting media coverage.
Understanding of broadcast media production, including working with news video, and broadcast studios, and working within the media's quick turnaround requirements.
Ability to be responsible for multimedia production processes and manage content distribution, especially for broadcast media and video-based news content.
Supervisory and team management skills, particularly in a high-pressure environment with multiple staff members.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with journalists, campus partners, and the media. This includes writing clear, compelling news releases and editing media content.
Ability to consistently meet project target dates.
Ability to identify strategic opportunities for media coverage and develop plans to enhance the university's visibility and reputation in national and international media.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with key media contacts, including national and local journalists, producers, and bookers.
Ability to make independent decisions regarding media outreach, and content distribution.
Ability to quickly adapt to breaking news events and leverage experts for media interviews, while adjusting strategies to respond to new developments in the media landscape.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials online:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

You will not be asked to upload references at this time. Please apply by April 15, 2025 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Media-Relations-Manager/63188