Sr Media Relations Specialist

About the Opportunity

NorthEasternUniversity is looking for a talented individual with a solid track record of landing great press hits in top‑tier news organizations in the U.S. and international press. As Senior Media Relations Specialist, the person must excel at building and cultivating relationships with reporters and editors and leveraging those relationships to secure media coverage about NorthEastern University’s unique story, including its research enterprise, global experiential learning programs, and newsworthy examples of leadership and innovation in higher education and beyond.
Reporting to the Media Relations Manager, the Senior Media Relations Specialist will work with faculty and staff across the global university system to identify newsworthy ideas, gather facts, and work with the press to secure coverage in top‑tier news outlets in strategic locations and media markets within and outside the U.S., including regions where NorthEastern has a presence. The position is based on the Boston campus and is fully on‑site, five days a week.
Key Responsibilities

Serve as a liaison between the university and the news media
Cultivate relationships with members of the media
Develop and execute press strategies for announcing news
Proactively pitch and land news stories about the university in local, domestic, and international top‑tier press
Maintain in‑depth knowledge of the university’s strengths and goals and find new, creative, and compelling ways to tell stories through various media
Use AI‑powered media monitoring and sentiment‑analysis tools to identify emerging trends, reporter interests, and opportunities for timely expert commentary
Handle and track media requests
Write pitches and other material
Collaborate with the Communications team’s daily news operation
Foster positive working relationships with members of the university community
Contribute to digital and social media efforts
Keep abreast of higher‑education issues, trends, and campus activities
Participate in major media events and other duties as assigned
Experiment with and evaluate new AI tools that can enhance media‑relations efficiency, insight generation, and storytelling
Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 4–6years of proven experience working with local, domestic, and international media and successfully landing stories
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain successful relationships with members of the press
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment
Experience using AI‑powered tools (e.g., media intelligence platforms, generative AI writing assistants, predictive analytics tools) to support media monitoring, content development, and strategic outreach (strongly preferred)
Understanding of AI ethics and the ability to evaluate AI‑generated content for accuracy, transparency, and university alignment
Ability to critically evaluate information and assess news value
Initiative and creative thinking
Experience dealing with crisis situations
Speed and accuracy; sense of humor
Benefits

Northeastern University provides a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, which includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness and life benefits, retirement, as well as commuting and transportation benefits.
Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 110S. Expected hiring range: $76,335.00 – $107,823.75. The starting salary will depend on education, experience, location, knowledge, expertise, and pay comparison to similarly‑situated employees.
EEO Statement

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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