Associate Director, Media Relations & Executive Communications
USC Marshall School of Business
Marketing & Communications

The University of Southern California Marshall School of Business seeks an Associate Director, Media Relations & Executive Communications to join the Marketing & Communications team.

This pivotal public relations role will work closely with the CMO and Dean’s Office to coordinate on strategic communications and from senior leadership and communicate daily with reporters from international, national, regional, and key higher-education media. This is a high visibility role within Marshall, with its faculty, staff, and students, in addition to peers across the University.

The successful candidate will support and elevate Marshall’s reputation in the competitive business education marketplace through a sustained and effective media strategy, including publicly advancing the Marshall brand, fostering reporter relationships, and managing an external public relations firm. The Associate Director must possess a keen understanding of media opportunities, curiosity about news and the evolving media environment, and discerning editorial and strategic judgement. A strong sense of collaboration is also essential, as this role interfaces with multiple teams, both inside and outside the school. Reports to Chief Marketing Officer/Associate Dean of Marketing & Communications.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop and implement media relations plans and key messages to support USC Marshall’s mission and objectives – for both internal and external audiences.
• Develop and supervise day-to-day media operations and relationships, including media research, monitoring services, external agency partners, and others.
• Be curious and current within news and breaking events, aligning faculty experts for media comment and analysis across all platforms.
• Proactively seek and implement media opportunities for enhancing the school’s reputation and presence, its faculty, students, and programs, across all media formats.
• Coordinate inbound press requests and opportunity for faculty and leadership.
• Draft press pitches, talking points for executive interviews, and press releases; edit news articles/headlines.
• Develop and oversee editorial calendars, working closely with other members of the marketing team to sync content across channels.
• Collaborate with University Media Relations, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and Executive Communications teams.
• Support and advise on crisis management.
• Serve as USC Marshall spokesperson when appropriate as the primary media contact.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters degree in relevant field, including public relations, journalism, communications, media, higher ed, or politics/public policy.
• 10+ years experience either in-house or agency side, in a relevant field including PR, media relations, political campaigns, public affairs, higher ed, corporate reputation management, or crisis response.
• Experience managing and coaching direct reports
• Experience managing budgets and media spend
• Strong knowledge and understanding of digital & social media
• Expertise/experience with DEI communications best practices
• Experience with health and safety and emergency response communication best practices
• Proficient in media measurement analytics and reporting
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Required Documents and Additional Information

• Resume – PDF format preferred. Please do not submit your application without a resume. Cover letter is optional.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC is requiring all students, faculty and staff to submit proof of vaccination for COVID-19 in order to access campus facilities for the fall semester. Your safety is our top priority.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions*; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.
• The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

* University employer contributions may be subject to change due to financial impact of COVID-19

Why join the USC Marshall School of Business?

The USC Marshall School of Business is ideally positioned to address the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment and is ranked as one of the country’s top schools for accounting, finance, marketing, consulting, entrepreneurship and international business studies.

USC Marshall builds on the unique opportunities that stem from its Los Angeles location on the Pacific Rim, its interdisciplinary and impactful research, the momentum generated by the University of Southern California, and the unparalleled engagement of the Trojan Alumni Family. With ready access to industries defining the new business frontier, including bio-technology, life sciences, media, entertainment, communications and healthcare, this vast network offers USC Marshall graduates exceptionally strong support for success in the global marketplace.

For more information on the USC Marshall School of Business, visit: www.marshall.usc.edu.