Senior Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs

About the role

Stanford University seeks a Senior Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs to join the Strategic Communications and Media Relations team within the central University Communications division. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, this role requires a strategic communicator with sophisticated issues management instincts, a track record of building productive relationships with journalists, and the initiative and vision to build something new. This position expands the team's capacity and capabilities across some of Stanford's most complex and consequential communications issues and media engagement, from background conversations to on-the-record spokesmanship. The Senior Director will also design and lead a new press engagement program, bringing journalists to campus for substantive, curated conversations with university leadership and faculty. This position will also develop integrated communications strategies for high-priority university issues across channels.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior on-the-record spokesperson.
• Represent the university on matters in key beat areas.
• Lead background and context conversations.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with reporters.
• Own ongoing relationships with local, state, and national reporters covering higher education, with particular attention to California-based and Bay Area media.
• Develop and maintain journalist relationships.
• Lead communications strategy on complex issues.
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans spanning owned and earned channels for high-priority issues in assigned beat areas.
• Anticipate and manage reputational risk.
• Monitor and identify emerging issues in beat areas, working proactively to develop response frameworks.
• Partner with campus offices on issues management.
• Work closely with key administrative offices and partners to develop communications strategies that are responsive and appropriately timed.
• Design and lead a campus press briefing program.
• Conceive, launch, and manage a recurring program that brings local, state, and national journalists to Stanford for curated conversations with university leadership and faculty experts, deepening reporters' understanding of the institution and higher ed issues generally.
• Prepare and support senior leaders for media engagement.
• Develop briefing documents, key messages, and Q&A materials for deans, vice provosts, and other university leaders; conduct media training and interview coaching.
• Staff high-stakes media engagements.
• Accompany and support university leaders during select media opportunities, including background briefings, editorial meetings, and on-the-record interviews.
• Collaborate across University Communications.
• Work closely with colleagues in media relations, strategic communications, digital communications, and executive communications to ensure integrated, consistent messaging in key beat areas across channels and platforms.
• Collaborate with school and unit communicators.
• Engage with communications professionals across Stanford's schools, institutes, and administrative units to align on issues in shared beat areas and ensure the central team has full situational awareness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, or journalism; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in a complex, high-profile institution, agency, or news organization.
• Senior spokesperson experience.
• Proven track record as a confident, credible on-the-record spokesperson on complex and sensitive matters; command of attribution conventions, background briefing protocols, and reporter relationship management.
• Issues management depth.
• Sophisticated understanding of how reputational issues develop and escalate; demonstrated ability to develop proactive communications strategies for sensitive issues.
• Policy and public affairs fluency.
• Ability to quickly understand and communicate clearly on complex policy issues, including government affairs, labor, research regulation, and higher education policy, and to translate institutional positions into accessible, compelling narratives.
• Media relationship-building.
• A demonstrated track record of earning the trust of reporters who cover complex institutions; an existing network of relationships with journalists across beats and platforms is a plus.
• Strategic communications planning.
• Experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies across multiple channels and audiences, not limited to media relations.
• Senior leader partnership.
• Comfort advising and working alongside presidents, provosts, deans, and senior administrators; ability to provide candid strategic counsel under pressure.
• Exceptional writing and editing.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate, and compelling content under deadline, including statements, talking points, Q&As, backgrounders, and web and editorial content.
• News judgment.
• Ability to rapidly assess the newsworthiness and institutional implications of fast-moving situations, set priorities, and recommend clear courses of action.
• Collaborative and cross-functional.
• Experience working effectively across a decentralized organization with multiple communications stakeholders; ability to build alignment without direct authority.
• Tools and systems.
• Familiarity with media databases and monitoring tools such as Muck Rack, Salesforce, or similar platforms.
• Preferred Experience in strategic communications and media relations at a major research university or comparable institution.
• Background in journalism, particularly covering higher education, policy, or institutional affairs.
• Experience building or launching new programs, initiatives, or communications functions.