The Public Relations Specialist is responsible for establishing and strengthening the University’s story. This role works with University stakeholders and media contacts to elevate Pepperdine’s brand position through news media. The PR Specialist’s efforts result in compelling and accurate media coverage about Pepperdine and its people that aligns with the University’s values, mission, and priorities.

Activities include researching media and trends, pitching stories, preparing stakeholders for media engagements, setting up and staffing interviews, drafting news releases, fact sheets, and other content, monitoring media coverage, and publishing performance dashboards and reports.

Integrated Marketing Communications is directly tasked with supporting the University’s mission and strategic plan by building brand equity, elevating the University’s national reputation, providing strong and consistent institutional message leadership, and implementing effective integrated marketing and communications strategies. The Public Relations Specialist fulfills a central role in helping the department accomplish its goals.

Duties

• Media Relations -
  • Identify, create, and execute media and public relations campaigns and initiatives that support the University's values, mission, and strategic goals.
  • Maintain a steady and positive University presence in media through news releases, connecting with faculty, staff, and media contacts.
  • Respond to and manage media requests.
  • Draft, publish and distribute media materials.
  • Create and manage media lists for local, national, and international media outreach, identifying relevant contacts based on beats and related coverage.
• Writing and Editing -
  • Draft and edit press releases, fact sheets, and media advisories, ensuring alignment with the University's tone and style. 
• Research -
  • Research and identify potential media interest in the University's students, alumni, faculty, centers, institutes, initiatives, and research.
  • Act on opportunities related to trends and media interest in topics related to University values, programs, faculty experts, and human interest stories.
• Crisis Communication -
  • Support the Associate Director of Communications and Public Relations through enacting established crisis communications protocols. 
• Perform other duties as assigned 
• Uphold University Mission through Work Performed 

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.
• Knowledge of media relations including researching trending stories, creating media lists, and drafting press releases.
• A proven ability to work on varying timelines and to maintain flexibility in a fast-paced work environment.
• Collaborative mindset in order to partner and interface with internal colleagues both in the department and across the University.
• Creative energy.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience successfully working with peers.
• Demonstrated success at working under tight deadlines.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential communications.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace

Preferred:

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, media relations, journalism, higher education communications, corporate communications, agency communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading communications campaigns and projects, cultivating media relationships, developing executive messaging, and supporting crisis communications efforts.
• Experience providing communications counsel to organizational leaders and mentoring or guiding junior communications professionals.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
• Superior presentation skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in media relations and earned media strategy.
• Ability to advise and prepare executives for media interviews and public engagement.
• Experience conducting media training and spokesperson preparation.
• Strong strategic thinking and sound professional judgment.
• Ability to lead complex communications initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior communications professionals.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across the University.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions during crisis situations.
• Mastery of AP Style and higher education communications best practices. Slack, PR management software (Meltwater and Cision)
• Media monitoring and social listening platforms
• Microsoft Office

This is a Regular, Nonexempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $26.44 - $31.25 per hour

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.