Senior Director of News & Media Strategy Job at Trinity University in San Antoni

Job Duties Strategic Media Relations Develops and executes a comprehensive media and public relations strategy aligned with the University’s brand, mission, and strategic goals. Cultivates strong relationships with national, regional, and local media, as well as higher education and trade outlets. Proactively pitches expert sources and compelling story ideas that highlight Trinity’s faculty, students, alumni, and institutional achievements. Assists faculty, staff, and leadership with developing and placing op-eds that highlight their expertise and thought leadership. Provides strategic counsel, talking points, and training to leadership and others on media engagement and crisis communications. Serves as a University spokesperson and primary liaison and manager of engagements with all media. Content Leadership Identifies, shapes, and elevates key narratives that distinguish Trinity in the national higher education landscape. Partners with faculty, staff, and administrators to surface media-worthy stories and research. Oversees the Trinity news site as a timely and impactful tool for disseminating and tracking appropriate news and information. As a senior member of the SCM editorial staff, develops, researches, and writes timely stories and other content for the website, magazine, and other platforms. Partners with other SCM leaders to develop and manage content for admissions and development campaigns. Ensures accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment in all media-facing content. Coaches other writers and editors to develop and enhance storytelling and writing skills. Issues and Crisis Communication Collaborates with the Vice President and other University leaders to direct media and public relations and messaging during crisis and emergency situations. Provides crisis communication and media training and support for campus leadership and other spokespeople. Team Management and Collaboration Supervises a media and public relations specialist/writer (currently the Public Relations Manager) and coordinates efforts across the SCM team to ensure cohesive messaging and effective storytelling. Works closely with colleagues in SCM, Alumni Relations and Development, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and other divisions to amplify Trinity news across channels. Additional Duties Assists the Vice President with planning, writing, and editing executive communications. Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience and integrity to provide professional leadership during emergencies. Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines. Performs other duties as required. Education Required: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in journalism, public relations, or related field. Experience Required: Eight years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, journalism, or strategic communications. Demonstrated success securing national media coverage, particularly for complex organizations such as universities, nonprofits, or mission-driven enterprises. Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills. Strong news judgment and understanding of the media landscape across platforms (print, broadcast, digital, social). Deep experience with issues and crisis communications. Preferred: Experience working in or with higher education institutions. Existing relationships with national media contacts. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a demonstrated ability to craft compelling, accurate, and strategic content across a variety of formats and platforms. Strong background in media relations, including experience developing story pitches, cultivating journalist relationships, and managing media inquiries and crises. Proven ability to mentor and coach writers and editors, fostering a collaborative environment that elevates storytelling quality and consistency. Strategic thinker with a keen understanding of news value, audience engagement, and alignment with institutional brand and voice. Preferred: Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven communications environments. Familiarity with web editing tools to update the news site and with media monitoring platforms to assess impact and inform strategy #J-18808-Ljbffr In Summary: Strategic Media Relations Strategist Develops and executes a comprehensive media and public relations strategy aligned with the University’s brand, mission, and strategic goals . Cultivates strong relationships with national, regional, and local media . Identifies, shapes, and elevates key narratives that distinguish Trinity in the national higher education landscape . Coaches other writers and editors to develop and enhance storytelling and writing skills . En Español: Trabajo Responsabilidades Estratégicas Relaciones Mediáticas Desarrolla y ejecuta una estrategia integral de medios de comunicación y relaciones públicas alineada con la marca, misión y objetivos estratégicos de la universidad. Cultiva fuertes relaciones con los medios nacionales, regionales y locales, así como con educación superior y centros comerciales. Proactivamente presenta fuentes expertas e ideas de historias convincentes que destacan a los profesores, estudiantes, ex alumnos y logros institucionales de Trinity. Ayuda al profesorado, al personal y al liderazgo en el desarrollo y colocación de op-eds que ponen de manifiesto su experiencia y liderazge del pensamiento. Proporciona asesoría estratégica, puntos y capacitación a líderes y otros sobre compromiso mediático y comunicaciones de crisis. Sirve como portavoz principal de la Universidad y forma relación primaria y gerente de compromisos con todos los medios de información. El Liderazgo identifica, configura y escribe narrativas relevantes para desarrollar campañas de tiempo apropiadas para los miembros de la facultad, estudiantes y funcionarios superiores de Trinity, junto con el equipo directivo y administrador del sitio web de noticias y otras páginas editoriales y redes sociales. Garantiza la precisión, consistencia y alineación de marca en todo el contenido que se enfrenta a los medios. Entrena a otros escritores y editores para desarrollar y mejorar las habilidades de narración y redacción de historias. Cuestiones y comunicación de crisis Colabora con el vicepresidente y otros líderes universitarios para dirigir los medios de comunicación y relaciones públicas y mensajería durante situaciones de crisis y emergencia. Proporciona comunicaciones y capacitación mediática en crisis y apoyo al liderazgo del campus y otros portavoces. Experiencia Requerida: Ocho años de experiencia progresivamente responsable en relaciones con los medios, periodismo o comunicaciones estratégicas. Ha demostrado tener éxito asegurando cobertura mediática nacional, particularmente para organizaciones complejas como universidades, organizaciones sin fines de lucro o empresas impulsadas por la misión. Habilidades excepcionales de escritura, edición y narración de historias. Un fuerte juicio sobre las noticias y comprensión del paisaje multimedia a través de plataformas (impresión, transmisión, digital, social). Familiarización con las herramientas de edición web para actualizar el sitio de noticias y con las plataformas de monitoreo mediático para evaluar el impacto e informar sobre la estrategia #J-18808-Ljbffr.