Location: East Lansing, MI
Type of Employment: Full-Time
Position Description: As a PR strategist on MSU’s central channel strategy team, you will develop and execute strategies to connect key audiences to stories that communicate MSU’s purpose, values and distinctiveness. You will play a strategic role in driving media coverage to inform and engage national, international, and regional audiences, elevate awareness of and recognition for MSU as a leading research university and build support for its mission. The PR strategist will lead major components of initiatives and projects, including but not limited to pitching international, national and major regional media; drafting messages and media materials, shaping and adapting stories and content for distribution through various channels and working as part of an integrated multi-channel team (e.g., social, inbound email, web content hub). You will develop and foster relationships with producers, reporters, editors and media contributors and influencers; build and manage media lists; and build, maintain and strategize against editorial/pitching calendars. The PR strategist will use data to inform strategy, contributing to coverage reports and reporting insights and learnings to leadership. You will work closely with the content/creative team on creation and production of newsworthy stories, collaborate with the larger integrated marketing communications team on multi-channel strategies and collaborate with PR/media relations colleagues in University Communications and across MSU to achieve larger goals, coordinate messages and provide support and counsel.
Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills: Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a bachelor’s degree program in journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations or related field that prepared individual to communicate effectively with diverse audiences; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public and media relations and/or marketing, including developing and executing PR strategies to drive brand awareness, reputation and affinity; excellent writing, research and editing skills; proficient knowledge of Associated Press style; strong verbal communications skills; experience with visual storytelling through use of photo, video, animations, graphics, charts, etc.; experience working in a fast-paced, daily-deadline environment; ability to work with minimal supervision, highly productive and can manage multiple simultaneous projects; and proficiency in word processing/presentation software and media database platforms.
Desired Qualifications: Seven to 10 years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public relations; agency/client experience developing integrated content is a bonus; a proven “team player” mentality ready for today’s fast-paced communications environment; flexible, collaborative, positive; experience managing content for social media channels; experience working with influencers; proficiency in Microsoft Office and media database software (like Cision, AP Planner, etc.).; a passion for earned media relations and a solid understanding of how PR falls within and interacts with the larger integrated communication network (paid, owned, shared); a proven track record of pitching news stories to media and securing top-tier, national coverage in print, broadcast and online media, including social media; demonstrated ability to secure coverage in alignment with organizational and brand strategies; demonstrated ability to both develop and flawlessly execute integrated public relations strategies (including writing, pitching, creating content, collaborating with colleagues, creative problem solving, etc.); excellent verbal and oral presentation skills; demonstrated ability to build a presentation from scratch and deliver content in a compelling, confident, professional and poised manner; proven ability to translate a variety of complex topics into consumer-friendly stories and media pitches; strong creative writing skills and the ability to develop unique news story angles; ability to work well under pressure; and strong leadership and accountability.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2020
Apply (or request more information): Apply today! Submit your application via the Michigan State University Career Portal.
