Overview
The Media Relations Manager leads a team of Media Relations Specialists who work to advance the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This includes maintaining and enhancing the reputation of the extraordinary, groundbreaking research and outstanding patient care at St. Jude through creative and strategic earned, owned, and paid media about the institution’s mission, thought leadership, programs, initiatives, and priorities. The Media Relations Manager develops and implements proactive media efforts promoting St. Jude research, special projects, awards and achievements, speaking engagements and select events. The position develops editorial calendars and strategies to enhance the institutions reputation regionally, nationally, and internationally in accordance with the messaging and strategies developed by the Senior Director of Media Relations and the Vice President of Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach. The Media Relations Manager fosters a culture of growth by coaching the team on best practices – whether it’s writing releases and advisories, developing stories, or interacting with reporters about St. Jude employees, patients, initiatives, and events. At the same time, the Media Relations Manager works to maintain excellent relationships with reporters, editors, and key news personnel at print, online and broadcast media, as well as help the Media Relations Specialists develop similar relationships. The Manager responds to media requests for information or expert commentary.
The ideal candidate is an energetic, self-starter and resourceful problem solver – gets things moving and keeps them on track. This individual has superior written and oral communication skills and can demonstrate exceptional critical listening and analytical thinking. The Manager must have outstanding relationship-building skills to collaborate well with other team members and deftly manage stakeholder expectations to meet key deliverables. Candidates must be knowledgeable of AP Style and should be prepared to work some evenings and weekends for occasional events or high need situations.
This position is located in Memphis, TN.
Responsibilities
- Help oversee and execute tactics from strategic media plans and editorial calendars to generate regional/national/international coverage of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discoveries, programs, and differentiators in a wide variety of news media outlets, including consumer media and medical/scientific trade media
- Proactively pitch news and feature story ideas to the media and develop long-term projects to promote key people (particularly senior hospital leadership), programs, and initiatives within areas of responsibility.
- Help organize and orchestrate press conferences and other media events when appropriate.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the department, in consultation with the Senior Director of Media Relations
- Mentor and conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports, establish cascading goals for direct reports and evaluate their performance.
- Track industry, news trends and lead smedia strategists in reacting and responding appropriately, as well as identify new opportunities for engagement.
- Assist the Senior Director of Media Relations with issues management.
- Assist the Senior Director with media training for select institutional thought leaders.
- Liaise with other members of the Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach department for a variety of projects, whether it’s website redesign, video projects, owned assets, etc.
Minimum Education
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or other related fields.
Minimum Experience
- Seven (7) to 10 years of experience, with progressive responsibility including as a manager, in print or broadcast journalism, media/public relations, or any combination of these roles.
- Experience working with national media and a proven track record of placements within national outlets utilizing consumer and/or medical scientific media is required. Strong media relationships a must.
- Thorough understanding of integrating multimedia, social media and online media strategies required.
- Experience working in a health care or scientific setting is preferred.
Required Credentials
None
Other Credentials
None
Other Information
St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer
No Search Firms:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
COVID-19 vaccine:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for all employees, excluding those with an approved medical or religious accommodation, as a condition of employment.
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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