Director of University News and Media Relations (Media Relations)

Location: Full-time, on-site position based at the Bozeman, Montana campus

Company

hirify.global’s University Communications division manages central news, media relations, and public information for the university.

What you will do

• Lead the MSU News Service and supervise six professional communicators.
• Direct the selection, assignment, writing, editing, and distribution of news and public information content.
• Build relationships with local, state, regional, and national media outlets and respond to media inquiries.
• Serve as a delegated university spokesperson and advise senior leaders on media strategy, talking points, and emerging issues.
• Coordinate public information, media relations, and communications preparation during campus incidents and emergencies.
• Manage the News Service budget, staff development, workflows, policies, and contracted contributors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, media relations, public relations, strategic communications, institutional communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination.
• Excellent writing, editing, and news judgment, with experience developing, assigning, editing, and publishing content for multiple audiences.
• Experience leading complex work, meeting deadlines, supervising professional staff, and providing performance feedback.
• Experience adapting content for websites, newsletters, social media, or other channels.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive, high-profile, or time-sensitive information.
• Experience with content management systems, email newsletter platforms, media databases, media monitoring tools, or communication analytics.

Nice to have

• Higher education communications or working journalism experience.
• Experience as an organizational spokesperson or in crisis, emergency, or incident-response communications.
• Experience communicating complex information from senior leaders, faculty, researchers, or subject-matter experts to public audiences.
• Familiarity with Montana’s media landscape, public higher education, or land-grant universities.

Culture & Benefits

• Work within a centralized shared-services University Communications model.
• Professional appointment with a fiscal-year contract term.
• Full-time, benefits-eligible position.
• Occasional response outside normal business hours may be required during urgent circumstances.

Hiring process

• Applications are screened beginning August 31, 2026, and remain open until an adequate applicant pool is established.
• Submit a resume, cover letter, and three published writing samples; sample links must not require subscriber access.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.