Senior Earned Media Relations Specialist

The Senior Earned Media Relations Specialist is responsible for facilitating and generating national and international coverage for the scientific and medical achievements of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This includes placing stories in a wide variety of news media outlets, including national consumer media, medical/scientific trade media and local Memphis media. The position will serve as an internal expert on media affairs and lead medium- to large-scale projects that generate impactful media coverage.

This role is responsible for vetting media opportunities for St Jude employees and supporting them in interactions with media. The emphasis of this role is to collaboratively work with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement communications strategies and programs that raise public awareness of research at St. Jude.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Proactively secure earned media placements in national, international, regional and local media markets.
• Pursue broad range of story types, including news, features, Op Eds and use of St. Jude experts for commentary. Identify appropriate media outlets for outreach based on audience, geography, special interests and other criteria matched to organizational goals
• Develop and maintain journalist contacts in print, broadcast and online media, with greatest focus on national media.
• Establish and manage internal relationships with clinical and laboratory-based investigators to assemble scientific information.
• Determine methods of communication necessary to ensure all relevant events are appropriately conveyed to media members.
• Work with faculty and administrators to identify, organize, and accurately convey information about research and medical discoveries, treatments, and programs, observing embargoes as appropriate.
• Leverage well-developed and maintained network of media contacts to ensure the best coverage for each event.
• Provide guidance, assistance, and mentoring support to less experienced colleagues on routine processes and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English or related field required.
• Master's degree or PhD preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum Requirement: 4+ years of experience in communications, journalism, English, or related field
• Previous experience working with local, regional and national media and a proven track record of placements within national outlets utilizing consumer and/or medical scientific media.
• Proven experience of integrating multimedia, social media and online media strategies in a health care or scientific setting.
• Some experience with stakeholder management preferred.
• Proven performance in earlier role/comparable role.
• Comfort with scientific concepts and research/medical language, preferred.
• Strong writing and editing skills, preferred.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $65,520 - $114,400 per year for the role of Sr Earned Media Relations Specialist.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.