Director, Media Relations at William & Mary in Posting Location

Job description

Job Requisition: JR102130 Director, Media Relations (Open) Job Posting Title: Director, Media Relations Department: CC00253 WM001 | WMUA | University Communications Job Family: Staff - Communications Worker Sub-Type: Regular (benefited) Job Requisition Primary Location: Discovery 2 Primary Job Posting Location: Posting Location - William & Mary Job Description Summary: Mission Statement In the Office of University Advancement, we create the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary. Position Summary The Director of Media Relations leads regional and local media engagement efforts for William & Mary, working directly with university leadership, the President’s Executive Leadership Team, Cabinet. and the Office of Public Safety. Housed in the office of university communications, the Director promotes William & Mary’s national preeminence by pitching stories and faculty subject matter experts to news outlets, serving as the primary link to the press and media on all communications fronts and coordinates university-wide promotional efforts, while advancing the university’s reputation through integrated earned, digital, and emerging media strategies. This position reports to the Executive Director of Media Relations in the Office of University Communications and carries accountability for outcomes. The Director will lead and foster a culture of belonging and trust that embraces all people and perspectives and ensures alignment with William & Mary’s institutional values and strategic priorities. This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, Virginia, which offers a flexible work environment. Please review the full position description with all job duties under the “Featured Job Opportunities” on the University Advancement recruitment website: https://advancement.wm.edu/come-work-with-us/open-positions/ About the University Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, William & Mary is America’s first university. The Alma Mater of the Nation brings together the breadth of a public liberal arts and sciences education with the innovation of a preeminent global research university. Here, curiosity deepens into wisdom, shaping lives of meaning, distinction and purposeful impact. For more than 300 years, the university has convened great minds and hearts to meet the most pressing needs of our time. About the Team The Office of University Communications serves as the central communications office for the university. Within University Communications, the Media Relations team leads the university’s crisis communication response, is responsible for media and other filming requests on campus, serves as the primary link to press and media on all communications fronts, provides media training and, in collaboration with the Content & Strategy and Web Development & Strategy, coordinates university-wide promotional efforts. The office also works to promote and celebrate the work of faculty, staff and students and to promote the overall vision, mission and brand of William & Mary. Job Description: Special Instructions For full consideration, submit application materials by the review date, Monday November 2, 2026. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. Required application materials. A resume and cover letter are required for this position - please upload both documents with your application. Provide up to three pitches you were involved with in the last three years that had the best outcomes. Include a summary of those outcomes and tell us for each why you think the pitches were so successful. Provide us with up to three examples of a pitch you were involved with that you thought had great potential, but where that potential wasn't realized and why you think that was the case. William & Mary is currently recruiting for two communications roles: the Director of Crisis Communications and the Director of Media Relations. While each ro