Senior Media Relations & Editorial Strategist

About The Job

The Media Relations & Editorial Strategy Lead serves as the primary media relations professional, lead storyteller, and editorial strategist for the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). This position is responsible for elevating the college’s reputation through proactive media engagement, strategic storytelling, and the development of compelling content that showcases research excellence, innovation, student success, and institutional impact. Working closely with faculty, researchers, college leadership, and University Marketing and Communications (UMC), this position identifies newsworthy opportunities, develops media strategies, manages journalist relationships, and produces high-quality editorial content for a wide variety of audiences. Success in this role requires exceptional writing and editing skills, strong news judgment, media relations expertise, scientific curiosity, and the ability to translate complex technical information into accessible and engaging narratives.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead Media Relations and University Communications Partnerships

  • Serve as the primary media relations contact for the College of Science and Engineering.
  • Identify, develop, and pitch newsworthy stories, research discoveries, faculty achievements, and institutional milestones to University Marketing and Communications and external media outlets.
  • Build and maintain productive relationships with local, regional, national, trade, and higher education journalists.
  • Manage media interviews, press inquiries, and reporter requests involving faculty, researchers, students, and college leadership.
  • Collaborate with University Marketing Communications on institutional announcements, major research stories, and reputation-building initiatives.
  • Create and distribute media materials including press releases, media advisories, backgrounders, talking points, and briefing documents.
  • Develop communications planning and execution during sensitive, high-profile, or crisis-related situations in coordination with college and University leadership.

• Create Editorial Content and Strategic Storytelling

  • Research, interview, write, and edit feature stories, news articles, profiles, and long-form content that highlight the college’s research, teaching, innovation, and community impact.
  • Produce editorial content for print and digital publications, websites, magazines, fundraising materials, newsletters, and strategic communications initiatives.
  • Translate complex scientific, engineering, and technical concepts into compelling narratives for non-technical audiences.
  • Lead editorial development for flagship college publications and strategic storytelling projects.
  • Maintain editorial quality and consistency through rigorous fact-checking, proofreading, copy editing, and adherence to Associated Press style standards.
  • Collaborate with photographers, videographers, designers, and digital communicators to create integrated storytelling experiences.

• Cultivate Research Visibility and Faculty Engagement

  • Monitor research activity, grant announcements, publications, awards, and emerging developments across the college to identify communications opportunities.
  • Build relationships with faculty, department leaders, and research centers to proactively surface stories and thought leadership opportunities.
  • Prepare faculty and subject matter experts for media interviews through coaching, messaging guidance, and interview preparation.
  • Develop strategic communications initiatives related to research visibility, thought leadership, rankings, and reputation enhancement.
  • Foster a partnership with Advancement and Development colleagues to create donor-focused stories, profiles, and fundraising communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, English, Science Communication, or a related field.
• Six (6) years of professional experience in media relations, journalism, editorial communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Experience developing media pitches and securing earned media coverage.

About The Department

The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) is ranked among the top engineering and science academic programs in the country. The college includes 12 academic departments offering a wide range of degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. For more information about the College of Science and Engineering Office of the Dean, visit https://cse.umn.edu/.