Assistant Director of Media Relations (Administrator I)

Job no: 560875
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: San Diego
Categories: MPP, At-Will, Compliance/Legal, Full Time, Marketing/Communications, Research, Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled)

Position Summary

San Diego State University is seeking a strategic and experienced Assistant Director of Media Relations to help to further advance the university's visibility through thoughtful, timely, and compelling communications. As a key member of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, you will lead communications around emerging and high-profile issues, develop strategic messaging, strengthen media relationships, and identify opportunities to elevate SDSU's research, innovation, and overall impact.

Working closely with university leadership and communications partners across campus, you'll provide trusted communications counsel and help ensure SDSU's voice is clear, consistent, and responsive across audiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Issues & Reputation Management
  • Lead communications planning for emerging, sensitive, and high-profile issues affecting the university.
  • Develop strategic messaging, talking points, FAQs, statements, briefing materials, and proactive communications.
  • Monitor media and public conversations to identify emerging issues, misinformation, and reputational risks.
  • Coordinate with university leaders and campus partners to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent communications.
  • Support crisis communications and institutional reputation management efforts.
• Media Relations & Strategic Storytelling
  • Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, national, international, and trade media.
  • Identify and pitch compelling stories highlighting SDSU's research, academics, student success, innovation, and community impact.
  • Coordinate media interviews and prepare university leaders, faculty, and subject matter experts for media engagement.
  • Develop earned media strategies that advance university priorities, including research and science communications.
• Editorial & Communications Leadership
  • Write and edit news releases, statements, executive messaging, media advisories, stories, and other high-impact communications.
  • Provide editorial leadership to ensure institutional communications are accurate, engaging, and consistent with SDSU's voice and standards.
  • Advise colleges, divisions, and departments on communications strategies and complex communications needs.
  • Collaborate across Strategic Communications and Public Affairs on integrated earned, owned, and shared media initiatives.

What We're Looking For:

We are looking for an experienced media relations professional who can navigate complex issues, build trusted relationships, and translate nuanced information into clear and compelling messages.

Experience in areas such as the following is especially valuable:

• Strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, and/or journalism.
• At least five years' experience in public affairs.
• Issues management, crisis communications, or reputation management
• Executive communications and strategic counsel.
• Media pitching and earned media strategy.
• Research, science, or complex-topic storytelling.
• Higher education, public sector, healthcare, research, or another complex organization.
• Media monitoring, analytics, and communications measurement.

Position Information

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• The position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The position is approved for partial telecommuting with on-site work at the San Diego Campus on Monday and Wednesday. Please note that the incumbent will be called to campus on telecommuting days to support campus activities as needed.

Department Summary

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a leading public research university within the California State University system, serving more than 46,000 students. SDSU is recognized for its academic excellence, research, innovation, global engagement, and commitment to student success.

The President serves as the university's Chief Executive Officer, providing leadership for SDSU's academic mission, operations, and strategic priorities. The Office of the President supports the President in carrying out these executive responsibilities and advancing the university's goals.

Strategic Communications and Public Affairs (StratComm) serves as the official voice of SDSU, sharing the President's vision, values, and priorities and telling the university's story to campus and external audiences. StratComm leads communications across marketing, media relations, social media, web and digital communications, executive and internal communications, crisis and issues management, visual communications, and government and community relations. The department also manages and protects the SDSU brand and works with partners across the university to highlight SDSU's programs, achievements, and impact.

For more information regarding the Strategic Communications and Public Affairs (StratComm) department, click here.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, English, marketing, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in media relations, strategic communications, public affairs, journalism, or a closely related communications field.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic communications, media relations, and issues management.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate complex or technical information clearly and accurately to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic messaging and communications materials, including news releases, talking points, statements, FAQs, executive messaging, and digital content.
• Experience cultivating productive media relationships and advising organizational leaders on media engagement and communications strategy.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, consultation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across organizational units and with senior leadership.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond effectively to sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies across earned, owned, and shared media channels.
• Preferred:
  • Experience supporting executive, crisis, or reputation communications and providing strategic communications counsel to senior leadership.
  • Experience securing earned media coverage at the regional or national level.
  • Experience communicating research, science, innovation, or other complex subject matter to public audiences.
  • Experience coaching executives, faculty, or subject matter experts for media interviews and public appearances.
  • Experience working in higher education, the public sector, healthcare, research, or another large, complex organization; familiarity with the California State University system is a plus.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that's just the beginning! Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $100,000 to $110,000 annually.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU's Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.