Job Description

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director is responsible for writing and publishing news releases and print and digital content that promotes the University, its students, faculty, alumni, and research; identifying potential news stories; pitching stories to national, state, and regional media; connecting University sources with external media; facilitating interviews; and developing strategies for media relations and issues management.

Essential Duties:

• Assist in creating and implementing media relations strategies and activities for assigned areas of the University that promote academic and research excellence, student success and community engagement. 
• Develop and implement communications strategies that highlight and promote achievements of the University, faculty, students, staff, and alumni. 
• Share strategies, pitch news, and write features, news articles and copy for release and for the University's publications, periodicals and website as assigned to support communications strategies and objectives.
• Respond to media requests in a timely manner, often under deadline pressure. 
• Arrange interviews with faculty, staff, students, and administrators as appropriate. 
• Help prepare UTA personnel for media interviews. 
• Handle logistics for media; compile and maintain experts list to help reporters localize breaking news stories. 
• Adapt to rapidly changing scenarios and priorities. 
• Cultivate mutually beneficial and trusting relationships with members of the local, regional, national, and international media. 
• Develop a well-rounded and saturated media presence locally and regionally, while placing particular emphasis on national media. 
• Assist in long-term media placement planning to align story pitches with prominent editorial calendars and predictable news coverage cycles, such as broadcast ratings periods, etc.
• Coordinate closely with the University's schools, colleges, and administrative units to set media priorities, develop media opportunities, identify, and develop story ideas, cultivate faculty experts, ensure consistency of overall messaging, and avoid duplication of effort and resources. 
• Independently cultivate collegial and productive relationships with senior administrators, vice presidents, deans, department chairs, external colleagues, and others. 
• Use journalistic and public relations skills to identify, prepare, publicize, and produce news content that supports the University's mission. 
• Assist Marketing, Messaging, and Engagement, deans, department chairs, faculty, and staff in planning media coverage for special events.
• Assist in providing media monitoring/analytics reports for internal distribution and to inform university leadership and archive external media stories for use in promoting the mission of the University. 
• Archive and distribute daily news roundup for senior administrators and others. 
• Update UT Arlington website with news and appropriate images to promote the University, its students, faculty, staff , and alumni.
• Under the direction of the Chief Communications Officer and Director of Media Relations, fulfill critical crisis communications roles, including preparation, training, and participation in actual events. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or a related field or five (5) years of equivalent professional combination of education and experience.
• At least three (3) years of relevant news reporting, broadcast journalism, public relations , or corporate communications experience, supported by a portfolio of writing and published/broadcast samples.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree preferably in journalism, communications, public relations, liberal arts, business,
• Background in news reporting and broadcast journalism.
• Fluent in written and spoken Spanish.
• Experience with developing online content and SEO strategies.
• Previous experience in higher education.
• Positive, collegial, and collaborative work style.

Special Instructions:

Applicants must include in their online resume the following information: 1) Employment history: name of company, period employed (from month/year to month/year), job title, summary of job duties and 2) Education: school name, degree type, and major.

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington ( UTA or The University) to provide an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. The University also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally-protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure the University's compliance with this policy.

Open Until Filled: No

Location: Arlington

About The University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington is located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex, a vibrant and diverse metropolitan area that is home to over 7 million people, one of the fastest-growing tech economies in the United States, and a wide array of arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. UTA is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. The University is committed to providing access and ensuring student success, and to a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization of discoveries by our community of scholars. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 students, UTA is the second largest in the University of Texas System. As a result of its combination of rigorous academics and innovative research, UTA is designated as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution. UTA ranks No. 4 nationally in Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets: Colleges” list and is among the top 30 performers nationwide for promoting social mobility of its graduates (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). UTA is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as ... both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and it has one of the top 5 most ethnically diverse undergraduate student bodies in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). Its approximately 270,000 alumni, including some who occupy leadership positions at many of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas, contribute to UTA’s $22.2 billion annual economic impact on Texas. Furthermore, UTA is poised to experience widespread growth in the near future. The university recently launched the first phase of its RISE 100 initiative aimed at recruiting 100 new tenure-system faculty to amplify research standing and position UTA as a leader in key scholarly areas; more details are available at The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to join UTA during an exciting period of growth and contribute as the university broadens its impact.

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