Job Title: Media Relations & Community Outreach Director
Location
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus – Police Department
Job Summary
Key responsibilities include:
- Develop and manage public information releases, media inquiries, and crisis communications strategies
- Serve on the Unified Crisis Communications Team and coordinate communications during Emergency Operations Center activations in partnership with the Joint Information Center Manager
- Advise department leadership on communication strategies, sensitive issues, and reputation management
- Coordinate and produce public‑facing communications to strengthen community relations and maintain effective partnerships with print, radio, electronic, and television media outlets
- Develop newsletters, brochures, videos, recruitment campaigns, and public awareness materials while ensuring consistent branding and messaging across all platforms
- Attend and coordinate community outreach events, public engagement initiatives, and recruitment activities, including job and career fairs
- Develop internal and external communication plans and align outreach, media relations, and social media efforts with departmental goals
Work Location
Hybrid
Benefits
- Medical: Multiple plan options
- Dental: Multiple plan options
- Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
- Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
- Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
- Vacation Days: 22 per year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
- Sick Days: 15 per year (unlimited maximum accrual)
- Holiday Days: 10 per year
- Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
- ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service
Qualifications
- A Bachelor's degree in marketing, journalism, public relations, communications, business administration, business, or a directly related field from an accredited institution
- Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications
- Substitution: An advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) may be substituted for experience on a year‑for‑year basis if the degree is in a field of study directly related to the work assignment, or a combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree on a year‑for‑year basis
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a public safety and/or law enforcement setting
- Experience working in a higher education setting
- Experience in managing social media and web content management systems such as Facebook, Instagram, Marketing Cloud, Sitefinity, Cava, etc.
- Experience handling crisis communication and serving as a spokesperson during high‑profile or sensitive incidents
Conditions of Employment
- This position is designated as critical and must report to work as needed during emergency situations
- Must be willing to travel for national, state, and local conferences, meetings, training, exercises, and other professional development activities
- Must possess and maintain a valid State of Colorado Driver's License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of hire
- Applicants will be required to pass a Police Department Background Check which may include one or all of the following: Personnel History Questionnaire, Integrity Interview, Polygraph Examination, Fingerprint Check, Drug Screen, Credit/Civil Check, Criminal History and Driving Infractions Check, Reference Checks, and Post‑Conditional
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and administrative personnel at all levels, including outside organizations and the public
- Ability to understand and work within a complex institution with extensive government, regulatory and compliance responsibilities, as well as formal reporting and coordinating lines of authority
- Strong understanding of media relations principles, AP style, and public information best practices
- Ability to develop strategic communication plans and manage public perception with a focus on transparency, responsiveness, and customer service
- Demonstrated ability to manage social media platforms and digital content for organizations' branding and public information with social media management tools, content creation and basic graphic/video editing
How to Apply
- Submit a letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
- Submit Curriculum vitae / Resume
- Provide three (3) to five (5) professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address
Screening of Applications Begins
Screening begins on 6/29/26
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Accommodation
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at
Background Check and Vaccination Policy
Applicants will be required to pass a Police Department Background Check which may include one or all of the following: Personnel History Questionnaire, Integrity Interview, Polygraph Examination, Fingerprint Check, Drug Screen, Credit/Civil Check, Criminal History and Driving Infractions Check, Reference Checks, and Post‑Conditional. CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID‑19 virus and other vaccine‑preventable diseases. If you work in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety‑sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.
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