Senior Media and Public Relations Specialist

CMMS Senior Media and Public Relations Specialist

Communications and Public Relations Specialist III

Job Summary

Researches, develops, reports, writes, and promotes RIT/NTID stories to raise RIT and NTID's global reputation. Amplifies stories across a variety of communication platforms, including earned, shared, and owned. Builds and maintains relationships with key internal constituents with assigned areas of coverage. Contributes news articles and content to the university's digital and print outlets and media (owned content), as well as pitch stories to local, regional, national, and trade journals for external media coverage (earned media).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Writes, reports, and promotes stories and content that support NTID and university strategy, goals, and branding to a wide range of media (internal and external) and targeted audiences.
• Cultivates sources and opportunities to enhance the NTID’s and the university’s reputation and visibility.
• Responds to media inquiries, builds relationships with outside media, and pitches stories/content to local, regional, and national outlets.
• Develops an annual plan of work, manages workflow, and assists with special projects as needed.
• Contributes to the university crisis communications plan. Recommends strategies and opportunities to provide clear, consistent messaging that maintains brand identity and image.
• Supports NTID and university social media channel initiatives through the development of social media content and posts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of communications and media and public relations
• Knowledge of marketing, branding, advertising, and social media
• Skill in reporting, writing, and editing
• Skill in customer service
• Ability to plan and navigate multiple projects
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and positive working relationships
• Proficiency in American Sign Language or the ability to achieve proficiency within three years of hire

Career Stream Competencies

• Builds strong relationships: Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture, and geography. Acts with diplomacy and tact; builds rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way; picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics; gains confidence and trust of others.
• Adapts situationally: Responds effectively to multiple demands, ambiguity, shifting of priorities, emerging situations and rapid change; copes creativity with difficulties; shows willingness to learn new methods, procedures, or techniques, resulting from departmental or university-wide change; shifts strategy or approach in response to the demands of a situation.
• Collaborates effectively: Works effectively with others to achieve business goals and objectives; helps and supports fellow employees in their work to contribute to overall college and university success; works toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties; develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group; makes valued contributions to achieve the required outputs.
• Makes quality decisions: Makes decisions using a mixture of analysis, experience, judgement and wisdom, after adequately contemplating various available courses of action; makes decisions based on pertinent facts, relevant information and uses appropriate decision-making criteria and principles; considers resources, cost and constraints before selecting a method for accomplishing a task or project; considers the long-term as well as immediate short-term actions and outcomes.
• Solves problems: Approaches problems in a logical, organized and informed manner; identifies information needed to solve a problem effectively; recognizes trends; thinks of several possible explanations or alternatives for a situation and anticipates potential obstacles and develops contingency plans to overcome them; calls on other references and resources as necessary; develops solutions, evaluates progress and revises approach.
• Influences for results: Adds to or changes someone's views, attitudes, decisions, perceptions or beliefs to produce an effect on them or their work in a positive way; plans actions and uses appropriate communication methods to state own thoughts/opinions and convince others to accept an idea, plan, activity or service; obtains the support and commitment of others; achieves objectives while preserving the relationship.
• Sets priorities appropriately: Effectively identifies and prioritizes key goals and objectives, clarifying priorities and eliminating roadblocks to stay on track. Demonstrates the ability to focus on what is most important while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Exhibits a goal/results orientation: Focuses on achieving high standards and outcomes through clear, measurable objectives and demonstrated action. Evaluates progress regularly, adjusts strategies as necessary, and continuously seeks opportunities to enhance performance and drive results. Balances short-term deliverables with long-term objectives to consistently meet or exceed expectations while maintaining quality.

Job Family Technical/Functional Skills

• Creativity and innovation: Uses imagination and out-of-the-box thinking to generate new ideas and solutions. Designs and/or develops innovative systems, services, programs, workflows, and/or procedures. Embraces new ideas and seeks creative solutions to challenges.
• Critical thinking: Interprets and seeks information, uses independent reasoning to diagnose root causes, identify and test solutions, thinks beyond what is typical or customary. Uses information to determine benefits and impact in making decisions and/or recommendations.
• Organizational commitment: Aligns own behavior and actions with the mission, vision, values and goals of the institution. Acts in ways that support the university’s success. Focuses on building and protecting the image, reputation, and long-term interests of the institution.
• Professional writing: Develops ideas and content in various written formats that align with the desired strategy, goals, and objectives. Ensures materials are in the appropriate tone/voice and are tailored to the intended audience.
• Public/media relations: Identifies and manages appropriate media contacts, develops communication strategies and delivers the relevant messages.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 5 years of related experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Writes, reports, and promotes stories and content that support university strategy, goals, and branding to a wide range of media (internal and external) and targeted audiences
• Cultivates sources and opportunities to enhance the university’s reputation and visibility
• Responds to media inquiries, builds relationships with outside media, and pitches stories/content to local, regional, and national outlets
• Develops an annual plan of work, manages workflow, and assists with special projects as needed
• Contributes to the university crisis communications plan. Recommends strategies and opportunities to provide clear, consistent messaging that maintains brand identity and image
• Supports university social media channel initiatives through the development of social media content and posts
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of communications and public relations
• Knowledge of marketing, branding, advertising, and social media
• Skill in reporting, writing, and editing
• Skill in customer service
• Ability to plan and navigate multiple projects
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and positive working relationships

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 5 years of related experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Specialized Contributor Level 3 - A senior-level role requiring broad understanding of the profession or field of work. Independently leads diverse and often complex assignments, projects, or programs. May act as a mentor and guide less experienced staff.

FLSA Category

Work Location

Compensation

Application Materials

When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information.  This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to 

hr@rit.edu