Senior Media Relations Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs (Finance)

Position Summary:

The Senior Media Relations Specialist is responsible for promoting the university's strategic priorities and protecting the university's brand by developing and executing media, public relations, and social media strategies to inform and engage external and internal audiences. This role is vital to supporting the university's three-part mission of education, research, and clinical practice by creating campaigns and content to tell the stories of UTHealth Houston and elevate the brand, using tools including news releases, social media posts, photos, graphics, and video. Responsible for high-profile beats within the university's schools, editing and communications, and leading strategic media relations campaigns. Strong communication, collaboration, writing, news judgment, and creative idea skills are required.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Leads strategic media relations campaigns for university-wide initiatives and events. Assists with social media strategy and execution for main university platforms.
• Works with key experts on high-profile beats to identify media opportunities; creates and pitches story ideas and responds to breaking news media requests on a tight deadline; arranges interviews with subject matter experts and media; escorts media on campus. Collaborates with faculty, staff, students, partners at teaching hospitals, and other constituents to communicate strategic news. Attends key meetings and events related to beats.
• Writes news releases and pitches about medical, scientific discovery, clinical trials, dental, nursing, public health, and bioinformatics news applicable to beats, including new and published research, innovation, education, and clinical care; generates feature story ideas related to specific beats. Writes social media short stories and introductory copy.
• Assists in creating and supplying photos and video content related to specific beats of social media, YouTube, and media requests; writes scripts as needed. Posts news content using a content management system on UTHealth Houston's website. Schedules content for social media as needed.
• Assists in editing for print or visual content from team members.
• Tracks, clips, and tags media relations activities through an online news monitoring service and news archive; provides media hit reports to faculty and staff experts. Writes content, uploads, and sends out reports for Media Relations media hits newsletter to leadership and staff.
• Leads media training for university content experts.
• Trains lower-level staff on content management systems, media clipping services, posting on wire services, and how to post on social media.
• Appropriately guards UTHealth's interests/reputation and patient confidentiality while respecting the public's right to know.
• Staffs the media hotline and serves as a first responder on UTHealth Houston's emergency communications team.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Excellent written communication skills, including writing on deadline.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including interviewing skills.
• Proficiency in grammar, spelling and AP Style.
• Excellent editing skills for print or visual media.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook
• Knowledge of Content Management System.
• Ability to identify news.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize deadlines.
• Experience with online news media clipping service preferred
• Photography skills preferred.
• Exhibits required job knowledge.
• Demonstrates personal effectiveness and accountability.
• Delivers quality student, patient and customer services.
• Exhibits teamwork and collaboration.
• Exemplifies strong ethics, integrity and respect for others
• Adheres to all work environment, health, safety and compliance standards.
• Leads and develops others.
• Sets vision, strategy and priorities for areas of responsibility.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, or an allied field required.

Minimum Experience:

Four years in public relations, communications, writing/editing, or a related field is required. Experience with online news media clipping service, medical news, or health sciences writing is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.