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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications (the University’s central public relations and marketing division) seeks an experienced public relations leader to serve as the senior director of public relations and media strategy and help promote Penn State as a top, global public research university. The senior director will help develop and implement a proactive media strategy as a part of an overarching strategic communications plan that supports the University’s mission and objectives.

This role is responsible for driving high-profile media placements in influential local, regional, national, and international news outlets and helping to protect the brand through issues monitoring and response. The senior director will serve as part of the leadership team in Strategic Communications, providing counsel on media relations to the University President, senior administration, and communications leaders across Penn State.

As Penn State’s central public relations and marketing division, Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations division defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution’s reputation in regional, national, and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource, and leadership goals.

Reporting to the executive director of media and external engagement, this position will lead a high-performing team responsible for developing storytelling opportunities around student success, thought leadership, and general expertise; assist in managing larger strategic projects for the unit related to Presidential priorities; and advise on optimal media monitoring and reporting practices, including thoughtful analysis and feedback on results.

The person in this position will:

• Lead all components of proactive top-tier media strategy, from planning to pitch development to media placements
• Drive in-depth relationships with a variety of national, regional, and local media, as well as high-profile online influencers, to generate coverage to enhance the University’s appeal and prestige
• Identify current trends and topical issues that could potentially elevate the reputation of the University through visible engagement
• Help position Penn State and its faculty as thought leaders in their respective fields
• Highlight the University’s commitment to research, working with the assistant director of research communications to bring science to the forefront and creatively plan how to disseminate key research and commercialization efforts taking place at the University
• Partner with colleagues throughout the Un