Public Relations Strategist – Contract

USA (Remote)

Salary Not AvailableMid Level3+ years expContract

Posted 4 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive earned media strategy and story development for higher education brands, coordinating with media, PR, and SEO alignment.

  • Own and execute earned media strategies tied to institutional priorities.
  • Must-have: 3–6 years of PR/earned media experience with proven media relations.
  • Standout: Experience collaborating across programs and optimizing press content for search visibility.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute earned media strategies that align with institutional priorities, brand positioning, and campaign objectives
  • Identify, research, and pitch story opportunities to relevant media outlets, journalists, and industry publications
  • Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, and thought leadership content
  • Build and maintain relationships with media contacts to secure consistent and high-quality coverage
  • Collaborate with internal teams to uncover compelling stories across programs, faculty, outcomes, and innovation initiatives
  • Monitor media coverage and report on performance, reach, and impact of PR efforts
  • Provide guidance on media positioning, messaging, and narrative development
  • Stay informed on higher education trends, media landscape shifts, and competitive positioning
  • Aligning PR efforts with SEO and GEO strategies, including optimizing press content for search visibility and authority building

Requirements

  • 3–6 years of experience in public relations, communications, or earned media strategy
  • Proven success securing media coverage and building relationships with journalists and outlets
  • Strong writing and storytelling skills with experience in press releases, pitches, and thought leadership
  • Aptitude for crafting clear, differentiated messaging from complex or evolving inputs
  • Able to receive constructive feedback and adapt to client and stakeholder needs
  • Experience working across multiple brands or clients preferred
  • Familiarity with SEO principles and how earned media contributes to search visibility is a plus
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams
  • Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
  • Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or equivalent experience

Preferred

  • Experience working across multiple brands or clients preferred
  • Familiarity with SEO principles and how earned media contributes to search visibility is a plus