Responsibilities

• Sets the strategy for and drives strategic media relations initiatives that elevate CBS’s visibility and reinforce its position as a premier source of business thought leadership.
• Manages relationships with key media outlets, journalists, and industry influencers to secure high-impact coverage for CBS faculty, research, and institutional initiatives.
• Identifies and develops priority faculty voices for thought leadership positioning in alignment with institutional strategy; partners with content team on strategy and approach.
• Proactively packages faculty research and institutional initiatives for media visibility and external engagement.
• Executes media pitching, press activities, and external positioning initiatives to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
• Manages external agencies and vendors, deciding what work to keep in-house and what to direct externally, setting priorities, and holding vendors accountable for results that align with CBS strategy.
• Provides strategic direction for media relations and serves as senior contact for complex or sensitive media inquiries.
• Monitors media coverage and reputational trends, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Builds out the media relations function over time, establishing the systems, processes, and vendor relationships needed to grow it beyond a single person.
• Determines where to invest internal effort versus external support, and directs agencies and vendors accordingly.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, media relations, communications, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success building or growing a media relations function and securing high-impact coverage.
• Experience managing external agencies or vendors, including setting priorities and holding them accountable.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience coordinating across functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion in managing sensitive communications matters.

Preferred

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education, mission-driven organizations, or similarly complex institutions.
• Experience building a function or team from an early stage.
• Background in business, financial, or academic communications.
• Experience serving as institutional liaison or relationship manager for communications functions.
• Familiarity with crisis communications planning and execution.
• Demonstrated ability to educate and support non-communications professionals in effectively engaging with communications teams.