Director, Media Relations

Director, Media Relations

The University of Southern California is seeking a strategic and innovative communications leader to serve as its Director of Media Relations. This role will shape and elevate the university's national media presence by leading proactive media strategy, building relationships with journalists, and identifying compelling stories that showcase USC's academic excellence, research, innovation, and institutional impact.

In addition to serving as the university's primary media relations leader, the Director will establish and oversee a formal university news bureau, develop programs that prepare faculty and university leaders for media engagement, and create new opportunities to amplify USC's thought leadership and institutional reputation. Through proactive storytelling and strategic media engagement, this role will strengthen USC's reputation while fostering pride and confidence across the Trojan community.

The ideal candidate is a strategic builder and communications leader with exceptional writing, media relations, and storytelling skills. They have a proven ability to develop proactive media strategies, build trusted relationships with journalists and institutional leaders, and translate complex topics into compelling stories that elevate organizational reputation. They are comfortable serving as a trusted advisor, coaching leaders and subject matter experts for media engagement, and identifying opportunities to showcase academic excellence, research, and institutional impact. They thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and bring sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to advancing USC's mission.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and lead a proactive university news bureau that identifies, prioritizes, and promotes stories highlighting USC's academic excellence, groundbreaking research, faculty expertise, student success, philanthropy, and institutional impact.

• Identify and elevate timely stories that showcase the university's people, ideas, discoveries, and achievements to strengthen USC's reputation and inspire pride across the Trojan community.

• Establish editorial priorities and oversee a strategic media content calendar to ensure timely, coordinated storytelling aligned with university priorities and major news opportunities.

• Lead the creation and execution of integrated communications campaigns across multiple platforms, including websites, social media, digital publications, video, photography, and traditional media.

• Stay current on emerging communications trends, technologies, and best practices to continually enhance communications effectiveness.

Media Relations & External Engagement

• Develop and manage a university-wide faculty experts' program and speakers' bureau to connect journalists with USC subject matter experts and position faculty as trusted thought leaders.

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to university leadership, providing strategic counsel on media opportunities, messaging, reputational issues, and proactive communications planning.

• Lead media preparedness initiatives, including media training and coaching for university leadership, faculty, and subject matter experts.

• Develop proactive media strategies around major institutional initiatives and high-profile events, including preparations for LA28 games and other opportunities to elevate USC's visibility.

• Partner with schools, academic units, and university leaders to identify newsworthy achievements and translate complex topics into compelling stories for external audiences.

• Leverage media intelligence, monitoring, and AI-enabled tools (e.g., Meltwater, Muck Rack, or similar platforms) to identify media opportunities, analyze trends, evaluate story momentum, track coverage, measure earned media performance, and inform proactive communications strategies.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Direct and mentor communications staff, including recruitment, performance management, professional development, and workforce planning.

Operational & Resource Management

• Manage departmental budgets and ensure effective allocation of resources.

• Oversee vendor relationships and ensure all communications projects meet quality, brand, and strategic objectives.

Governance, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of education and experience equivalent to the required degree.

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, public relations, media relations, or strategic communications.

• Management experience leading communications, journalism, or public relations teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of communications leadership experience.

• Experience leading communications or media relations within a higher education or other complex organization.

• Experience developing strategic communications initiatives that strengthen organizational reputation and engage diverse audiences.

• Experience building or leading proactive media relations programs, newsroom operations, or editorial content strategies.

• Experience developing executive communications, thought leadership, or faculty/expert visibility initiatives.

• Experience leading integrated communications strategies across earned media, digital communications, social media, and multimedia platforms.

• Experience using media monitoring, media database, and analytics platforms (e.g., Meltwater, Muck Rack, Cision, or similar tools).

Why USC

At USC, you'll join one of the world's leading private research universities, committed to innovation, academic excellence, and meaningful impact. You'll work alongside talented colleagues in a collaborative environment where your ideas and expertise help shape the stories that define our university.

If you're ready to help tell USC's story and contribute to its continued success through strategic communications, we encourage you to apply.

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be submitted as one attachment). Additionally, please submit a portfolio or examples of media campaigns and communications work.

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is up to $155,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.