Media Relations Manager (Bureau Manager)

Media Relations Manager (Bureau Manager)

Salary

$83,950.62 - $96,335.26 Annually

Location

810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA

Job Type

Unclassified

Job Number

14431

Department

Office of Communications and Marketing

Opening Date

10/09/2026

Closing Date

10/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Norfolk, Virginia is Americas most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the worlds largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The City of Norfolk's Department of Communications & Marketing provides clear, timely, and consistent communication to residents, media, and stakeholders. The department leads media relations, public messaging, strategic outreach, and emergency communications to support transparency and strengthen public understanding of city initiatives.

The Media Relations Manager leads the City of Norfolk's interactions with local, regional and national media outlets to ensure clear, accurate and timely communication of key initiatives, programs and policies. This role develops media strategies, coordinates press activities, serves as a primary spokesperson when designated and works closely with internal stakeholders to promote transparency and strengthen the City's public image. The Media Relations Manager oversees media inquiries, messaging and narratives while upholding communication best practices and organizational standards. The Media Relations Manager will also develop media and presentation training for subject matter experts (SME) and prepare SMEs ahead of media appearances.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute comprehensive media relations strategies that elevate the City of Norfolk's priorities and support proactive communication.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, producers and communications partners across print, broadcast and digital media.
• Draft, edit and distribute press releases, media advisories, briefings, talking points and prepared remarks.
• Plan and facilitate press conferences, interviews and media events, including logistics, messaging and speaker preparation.
• Monitor news coverage, trends and emerging issues; provide regular analysis and recommendations to department leadership.
• Collaborate with internal departments to identify story opportunities and ensure consistent messaging across initiatives.
• Prepare leadership and subject matter experts for media engagement through coaching, briefing materials and message alignment.
• Manage crisis communications activities in partnership with leadership, ensuring timely and coordinated response.
• Maintain media contact lists, evaluation metrics and reporting on outreach efforts and coverage.
• Support digital and social media integration into media strategies as needed.
• Serve in the Joint Information Center (JIC) when activated.

Education/Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in public relations, strategic communications or media relations is required. A bachelor's degree is required.

• Experience working in government, public sector communications, or high profile organizational environments.
• Crisis communications training or experience managing sensitive or high visibility public messaging.
• Familiarity with media monitoring tools, analytics platforms, and newsroom software.
• Experience preparing executives or public figures for media engagement.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Valid Drivers License required.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.

• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.

• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

01

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employees full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

03

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

04

Do you possess a bachelor's degree in communications or a related field?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of professional experience in public relations, strategic communications, communications, or media relations do you possess?

• Less than 5 years
• 5-6 years
• 6-7 years
• 7-8 years
• 8 years or more

06

Do you have experience developing media relations strategies with measurable deliverables? If yes, briefly provide an example with results included.

07

Do you have experience building relationships with reporters and newsrooms? If yes, briefly describe your experience.

08

Have you managed a high-pressure or crisis situation where you had to communicate rapidly and accurately while consulting with various levels of leadership? If yes, briefly describe such an instance.

09

Highlight your crisis communications experience. Have you ever worked in a JIC?

10

Do you have a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

11

Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

• Yes
• No

12

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.

13

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

14

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question

Employer City of Norfolk