External Communications Associate

External Communications Associate

The external communications associate is a key member of the University Communications and Marketing (UCM) External Communications team. This new position will report into and provide strategic support to the head of external communications and media relations.

The ideal candidate has:

• At least two (2) years of professional experience in media relations, public relations, communications, or a closely related field.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, each with different deadlines, different stakeholders, and different preferred outcomes.
• Demonstrated success pitching stories to media outlets and managing on-the-ground media relations for high-visibility events (e.g., announcements, executive or board meetings, major campus events).
• Proven ability to create, plan, and execute social media content in collaboration with institutional or brand social media teams.
• Strong writing and editing skills with a track record of producing press releases, news articles, and other external-facing content.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with media, colleagues, and campus partners.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment when working with senior leadership and during sensitive or high-profile events.
• Familiarity with higher education environment is a plus.

Develops moderately complex web and print content and marketing. Acts as strategic contributor for communications team and creates diverse marketing materials for marketing team. Attends meetings designed for content planning and development. Ensures consistent messaging and maintains University brand and style.

The external communications associate will:

• Provide media pitching and on-the-ground media relations support for high visibility events such as donor/gifts announcements, Board of Trustee meetings, and other campus events.
• Produce content for press releases, Pittwire articles and other external-facing communications.
• Create and execute detailed communications plans for UCM-specific, cross-team projects that align with core priorities and content creation.
• Serve as backup University Spokesperson, as needed, and assist in the creation of media statements, internal and external talking points, and quotes for senior administration. The successful candidate must be comfortable with being quoted in the media, by name, as a University Spokesperson, and must be comfortable appearing on-camera in rare instances.
• Support the University of Pittsburgh's social media team with on-campus social media content creation and strategy support.

In addition to the job responsibilities outlined above, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Assist in content strategy, ideation and execution on the University's owned channels, including social media and web.
• Be trained and be expected to be highly fluent in our media monitoring software as well as social media software, with the ability to quickly and accurately generate coverage reports, sentiment reports, and other metrics as needed for internal stakeholders.
• Be trained and be expected to contribute in the creation and editing of daily internal products such as the morning Headlines of Note sent to senior administrators, as well as the Pitt Daily newsletter.

Duties are primarily sedentary. Must be able to use a computer at a desk or similar workstation, and travel to on-campus meetings as needed.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.