5 months ago
Director, Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY (On-site)Full time$130K/yr – $150K/yr
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Director, Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Troy, NY (On-site)
$130K/yr – $150K/yrDirector/Executive7+ years expFull time
Posted 5 months ago
Job Summary
Drive strategic media relations and executive positioning for RPI at national and global levels.
- Must-have: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, mass communications, or public relations; 7+ years of related experience.
- Standout: Leads external PR agency and prepares spokespeople across senior leaders.
- Standout: Builds trusted relationships with national and global media to shape the public narrative.
Job Description
Responsibilities
- The Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations will lead how RPI shows up in the media and in the public conversation.
- This role is about shaping perception, building trust, and making sure RPI’s ideas, research, and people are part of the stories that matter.
- This role is responsible for elevating the Institute’s profile in top-tier national, global, and trade media through disciplined storytelling, agency management, strong editorial judgment, and trusted media relationships.
- Set the direction for RPI’s media presence, with a sharp focus on reputation, relevance, and long-term impact
- Build and maintain strong relationships with national, global, and trade media
- Spot stories worth telling and turn them into smart, timely pitches that cut through
- Write and shape media materials that are clear, confident, and newsworthy
- Lead and manage RPI’s external PR agency, setting priorities, pushing for quality, and holding the work to a high bar
- Work closely with senior leaders, faculty, and researchers to prepare spokespeople and position RPI effectively
- Make confident calls in fast-moving or high-profile moments, balancing speed, accuracy, and judgment
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in journalism, mass communications, or public relations
- Seven (7) or more years related work experience
Benefits
- top notch employee health and retirement benefits
- generous paid time off program
- tuition remission
- opportunities for career growth
- Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Founded in 1824, our university has been leading scientific and technological advances for nearly 200 years and we’re just getting started. With 450+ dedicated full-time faculty members, including 270 tenured faculty members, 7,940+ students, and 110,000+ living alumni, our community pushes boundaries to address the global challenges facing the 21st century. We educate the leaders of tomorrow and work to improve lives, advance society, and change the world.
Salaries
Posted range
$130K/yr – $150K/yr
Taken straight from the job posting.
Marketing Team
Marketing Team Size
87 (2% of company)
Median Career Experience
17.5 years
Median Tenure
2 years
People
HR / Recruitment
Funding
Total Funding
$49.3K
Last Raise
$49.3K
Grant, 2 years ago
Funding History
- Apr 2024Grant
- Aug 2023Grant
- Apr 2022Grant • $49.3K
Traffic Signals
Monthly Visitors
1.8M
Traffic Source Mix
Search
36.5%
Direct
58%
Referral
4%
Social
1%
Paid
0.5%
Headcount Trend
Current headcount: ~4.4K