Director of University News and Media Relations

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 27058 For questions regarding this position, please contact:

James Tobin

jtobin@montana.edu

(406) 994-2343

Classification Title Managing Director Working Title Director of University News and Media Relations Brief Position Overview

The Director of University News and Media Relations leads the MSU News Service and oversees Montana State University's central news, media relations and public information functions. The position advances MSU's reputation through accurate, timely and compelling storytelling; productive relationships with journalists; thoughtful public information planning; and coordinated communication during campus incidents and emergencies. The director also provides editorial leadership, media strategy, issue monitoring, media training and communications advice across the university.

Position Number 4C2560 Department University Communications Division University Communications Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Contract Type MUS If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Communications and serving on the University Communications leadership team, the Director of University News and Media Relations leads the university's central news operation and helps ensure that MSU's impact, public value and service to Montana and beyond are communicated clearly and effectively.

The director leads the MSU News Service, a team of six professional communicators responsible for identifying, writing, editing and distributing news about the university's students, faculty, staff, research, creative activities, outreach and service to communities. The director also cultivates relationships with journalists, coordinates media relations, supports public information planning and helps prepare MSU for effective communications during campus emergencies.

In close coordination with the Vice President for Communications, the director serves as the main contact for journalists seeking information and expertise from the university and as an MSU spokesperson on delegated matters.

MSU operates under a shared services model for communications, with University Communications staff, services and budget centralized for efficiency. The director works with other University Communications leaders to strengthen the value, responsiveness and effectiveness of that model.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of University News and Media Relations:

• Leads the Montana State University News Service and supervises six staff members.
• Manages the selection, assignment, writing, editing and distribution of MSU news content and public information content, including press releases, feature stories, university magazine content, announcements, statements and internal communications.
• Provides editorial direction for the MSU News Service, including setting coverage priorities, assigning coverage areas, maintaining editorial standards, and ensuring accuracy, clarity, timeliness and consistency.
• Advances the university's reputation through journalistic storytelling that highlights excellence in teaching, research, outreach, creative activity and service.
• Works with faculty, staff, administrators, colleges, departments and units to identify newsworthy accomplishments, emerging issues and public communication opportunities.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with local, state, regional and national media outlets.
• Responds to media inquiries and coordinates university media relations in close consultation with the Vice President for Communications.
• Serves as a university spokesperson on assigned or delegated matters, in coordination with and under the direction of the Vice President for Communications.
• Provides the Vice President for Communications and other campus leaders with background information, talking points, media strategy and briefings on situations involving media interest, emerging issues and news coverage that may affect the university.
• Coordinates public information efforts and media relations during campus incidents or crises, under the direction of the Vice President for Communications and in coordination with appropriate university officials.
• Works to ensure University Communications and appropriate campus partners are prepared to support public information needs during emergencies.
• Coordinates campus media training, including group training and one-on-one media preparation for university personnel.
• Oversees the staff member primarily responsible for presidential communications and provides editorial guidance on presidential messages, remarks and related communications.
• Administers the News Service budget, manages resources responsibly and oversees freelance writers or contracted contributors as needed.
• Provides professional development, coaching, annual reviews and day-to-day leadership for News Service staff.
• Establishes workflows, cross-training and continuity practices to ensure timely News Service and media relations support during staff absences, vacancies, emergencies or periods of elevated demand.
• Coordinates with other University Communications directors and staff in planning and implementing university communication strategies.
• Administers and recommends updates to media-related practices and policies under the direction of the Vice President for Communications.
• Works with legal counsel and other university officials on privacy, public records, FERPA, Clery Act considerations, personnel confidentiality and other sensitive issues as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor's degree and at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, media relations, public relations, strategic communications, institutional communications or a related field - or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellence in writing, editing and news judgment.
• Significant experience developing, assigning, editing and publishing news or public information content for multiple audiences.
• Experience leading projects, coordinating complex work and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced communications environment.
• Experience supervising professional staff, including assigning work, establishing priorities and providing performance feedback.
• Experience adapting news or public information content for websites, newsletters, social media or other channels.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and professionalism with sensitive, high-profile or time-sensitive information.
• Experience using content management systems, email newsletter platforms, media databases, media monitoring tools or communication analytics.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Experience working in higher education communications.
• Experience as a working journalist.
• Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson.
• Experience in crisis communications, emergency communications or public information during incident response.
• Experience working with senior leaders, faculty experts, researchers or subject-matter experts to communicate complex information clearly to public audiences.
• Experience as an editor or senior editorial leader for a major publication, news product, newsletter or organizational communication channel.
• Familiarity with Montana's media landscape, public higher education or land-grant universities.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have a thorough understanding of media relations, journalism standards, public information and crisis communications.
• Be an exceptional writer and editor who can produce clear, accurate, engaging and timely work and help others do the same.
• Understand how journalistic storytelling can strengthen public understanding of a university's teaching, research, outreach and service.
• Be skilled in identifying and elevating stories that demonstrate MSU's impact, value and service to Montana and audiences beyond the state.
• Be a confident communicator who can represent the university's position to the media and the public when delegated to do so.
• Provide thoughtful advice and counsel to university leaders on media strategy, public information and communication issues.
• Develop and implement media relations practices, news priorities and unit goals in collaboration with the Vice President for Communications.
• Build productive working relationships with senior administrators, deans, directors, faculty, staff and communication colleagues across the university.
• Lead a team with clarity, fairness, accountability and respect.
• Be a responsible steward of university resources, including staff, budgets and time.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Must be able to respond outside normal business hours occasionally, when circumstances require.

Provide three published writing samples with your application, with a preference toward more recent writing samples. Ensure that any links provided do not require subscriber access to read the writing samples.

This is a full-time, on-site position based at our Bozeman, Montana campus.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on August 31, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Provide three published writing samples with your application, with a preference toward more recent writing samples. Ensure that any links provided do not require subscriber access to read the writing samples.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Writing Sample #1
• Writing Sample #2
• Writing Sample #3

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).