Associate Director of Communications and Media Relations

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is seeking an experienced and collaborative communications professional to serve as Associate Director of Communications and Media Relations. In this highly visible leadership role, you will help shape how one of the nation's leading engineering schools shares its research, innovation, academic programs, and impact with audiences across Duke and around the world.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, you will lead the School's day-to-day editorial, research communications, and media relations efforts while supervising communications and multimedia staff. This is a hands-on role for a skilled writer, editor, and storyteller who enjoys translating complex ideas into compelling content and building relationships with faculty, researchers, media, and institutional partners.

You will work closely with leaders across the School to develop strategic communications plans, manage high-profile content initiatives, oversee editorial operations, support executive communications, and elevate the visibility of Pratt's faculty, students, and research achievements.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field is generally required.
• Six years of experience in public relations, marketing, media relations, communications, journalism, advertising, or a related field. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Strong writing, editing, organizational, and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, editorial leadership, media relations, journalism, research communications, public relations, or integrated marketing.
• Master's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with experience producing feature stories, research narratives, executive communications, and multimedia content.
• Experience translating complex scientific, engineering, or technical subjects into engaging content for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated success developing proactive media relations strategies and cultivating relationships with journalists.
• Experience supervising staff, managing workflows, and providing coaching and performance feedback.
• Experience in higher education, research-intensive organizations, science, technology, engineering, or related fields.
• Familiarity with web analytics, audience insights, accessibility standards, and inclusive communications practices.
• Experience supporting executive communications, reputation management, or crisis communications.

Other Requirements

• Must be able to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Requires the ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy when handling sensitive or high-profile communications matters.
• Resume/CV and cover letter are required for application.

Be Bold.

In this role, you will:

• Lead strategic communications, editorial, research communications, and media relations initiatives that support the Pratt School of Engineering's mission, priorities, and reputation.
• Translate School-wide priorities into actionable communications plans and manage projects from concept through execution, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to department chairs, faculty leaders, research center directors, and administrative leaders across the School.
• Oversee the School's editorial operation, including news stories, research communications, web content, newsletters, executive communications, social media content, and multimedia storytelling.
• Write and edit high-profile communications materials, including feature stories, research narratives, speeches, talking points, press releases, leadership communications, and other strategic content.
• Develop and manage annual editorial calendars that align storytelling efforts with research achievements, academic programs, faculty expertise, student experiences, and major School initiatives.
• Translate complex scientific, engineering, and technical concepts into compelling and accessible content for prospective students, alumni, industry partners, policymakers, funding agencies, media, and the public.
• Lead research and science communications efforts by identifying emerging discoveries, grants, publications, and faculty achievements with strong storytelling and media potential.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and communicators across Duke to elevate the visibility and impact of engineering research and innovation.
• Serve as the School's primary media relations contact, developing proactive media strategies, building relationships with journalists, responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and preparing faculty and leaders for media engagement.
• Draft and edit press releases, media statements, briefing materials, and thought leadership content that advances the School's visibility and reputation.
• Partner with multimedia, digital, social media, enrollment, advancement, and University Communications teams to develop integrated communications campaigns and storytelling initiatives.
• Lead flagship storytelling projects, including faculty-focused multimedia content and emerging content strategies designed to expand audience reach and engagement.
• Monitor audience insights, analytics, media coverage, and performance metrics to inform communications strategies and improve results.
• Supervise communications and multimedia staff, providing leadership, coaching, performance management, workflow oversight, project prioritization, and capacity planning.
• Help identify emerging communications opportunities, reputational considerations, and strategic messaging needs while supporting a culture of collaboration and excellence across the communications team.

Choose Duke.

The Pratt School of Engineering is a community of innovators, researchers, educators, and students committed to solving some of society's most pressing challenges. From pioneering advances in artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering to developing sustainable technologies and transformative research, Pratt's work has a global impact.

As a member of the Strategic Communications and Marketing team, you will play a key role in telling the stories behind groundbreaking discoveries, world-class faculty, and extraordinary student experiences. You'll collaborate with colleagues across Duke University while helping shape the voice and reputation of one of the nation's premier engineering schools.