REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
-Bachelor's degree in public relations, strategic communications or journalism AND
- One (1) year experience in public relations, media, and social/online media.
- Project management experience
- Demonstrated/documented online and offline writing skills
- Experience supporting strategic public relations and media efforts with these digital and social media efforts/tactics including: blogger relations, community management, content creation and management, online PR, digital optimization, promotions, social media events, etc.
- Experience researching, synthesizing, and summarizing complex topics into easy-to-understand stories and media pitches.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
-Ability to creatively package media pitches for maximum results.
-Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
-Ability to pitch traditional local, regional and national media with demonstrated results.
-Background in health care communications preferred.
-Experience developing strategic communications plans to support organizational objectives.
-Experience generating media coverage for marketing, events and promotional activities.  DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Media Relations & Digital PR Representative generates online engagement and offline media coverage for the research activities, outreach efforts, experts, and other achievements in the health sciences enterprise at the U. This person uses a variety of communication vehicles to target key audiences, including policy leaders, business leaders, and supporters, to achieve specific goals and priorities.

He or she executes a social media strategy to increase awareness, build web traffic and engagement, and generate desired actions. He or she enhances the reputation of the U's health sciences by engaging internal and external online communities in discussions around key research categories.

The right person for this job:
- Is a self-professed "news junkie" who constantly looks for opportunities for the U's health sciences to gain share of market and voice.
- Is adept at change ? adjusting to a constantly changing online and media environment.
-Is extremely creative, self-motivated and resourceful and able to succeed in a metrics-driven, fast-paced environment.
-Effectively manages multiple priorities, takes initiative and develops and maintains positive relationships with the media and online communities.

JOB FUNCTION:

Media relations - 40%
-In association with the media team, mine for stories and news from the various schools, centers, programs and institutes across the health sciences.
-Proactively pitch stories and manage incoming media requests to ensure we are maximizing opportunities and achieving strategic goals.
-Act as a media relations contact for the health sciences.
-Coordinate logistics of media interviews.
-Foster and maintain quality relationships with local, regional and national media, not only in health sciences but other related beats.
-In conjunction with the Public Relations Manager and Director of Media Relations & New Media, support public policy and public affairs efforts through proactive media strategy.
-Monitor, track, measure and report effectiveness of media placements, including creating media coverage reports and quarterly reports for leadership.

Writing and editorial management - 30%
-Develop, write and edit a variety of media materials including press releases, media advisories, media kits, story outlines, story pitches and more.
-Help develop and maintain the content plan and editorial calendars for online and offline communications initiatives. Manage content for various websites.
-Determine and develop story ideas, writes articles. Works with team members on developing multimedia content to support online storytelling.
-Copyedit and proofread a variety of copy across platforms (i.e. web, print, email, etc.)
-Write copy for search engine optimization (including page titles, key words, meta tags and other content) that drives site traffic.

Social network monitoring and maintenance - 30%
-Support and implement a social media strategy, coordinating with teams and stakeholders across the health sciences to ensure its effectiveness and encouraging adoption of relevant social media techniques. Work with cross-functional teams to determine new community features.
-Manage and grow the U's health sciences social media presence. Aggregate and disperse content from social media outlets across the health sciences. Track community growth, performance, and participation.
-Create online engagement around health science related topics in key research corridor areas. Conduct editorial outreach to blogs, websites and niche online communities.
-Manage online discussions by listening to users and responding in a timely manner to needs and requests. Solicit, track, and report community feedback and discussions to management and internal teams.  HOW TO APPLY:Apply online.

https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=97918