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Senior Manager of Communications and Media Relations

The University of Texas at Austin
retirement plan, employee discount
United States, Texas, Austin
101 East 27th Street (Show on map)
Dec 23, 2025

Job Posting Title:

Senior Manager of Communications and Media Relations

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Hiring Department:

Education - Office of the Dean

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

The university provides employees a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance (premiums covered 100% for full-time benefits-eligible employees), retirement plans, and paid leave, in addition to other programs and services. We offer robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning, professional conference opportunities, an expansive employee discount program, including athletic tickets. Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with a staff ID card. Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with a staff ID card. For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards

Purpose

The Senior Manager of Communications and media relations is a key member of the Marketing and Communications Team at the College of Education. This role supports the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications in developing and executing strategic communication initiatives that enhance the college's reputation, engage stakeholders, and promote its mission of advancing education and research. The position focuses on media relations, storytelling, and integrated communications across digital and traditional platforms. The selected individual should have a strong background in content creation for colleges/universities, speech writing, and storytelling for a wide range of audiences within higher education or a similar organization. This role will be critical in sharing the voice of the dean, shaping the college's brand voice, engaging our target audiences, and creating compelling narratives that resonate with our stakeholders.

Responsibilities
  • Content Development: Create compelling stories highlighting faculty research, student success, alumni success, donor impact, and community engagement. Oversee production of newsletters, web content, and content for social media campaigns. Manage editorial calendars and coordinate with internal stakeholders.

  • Media Relations: Serve as the primary liaison for media inquiries related to the College of Education. Develop and maintain relationships with local, state, and national media outlets. Draft press releases, media advisories, and statements for leadership. Monitor media coverage and prepare regular reports on impact and reach. Work with University Marketing and Communications to coordinate media outreach.

  • Strategic Communications: Collaborate with the Senior Director to implement communication strategies aligned with college priorities. Support crisis communication planning and response. Ensure compliance with university brand standards and messaging guidelines.

  • Leadership and Collaboration:Supervise staff or interns as assigned. Work closely with faculty, staff, and university communications teams to ensure consistent messaging.

  • Event and Campaign Support: Provide communication support for college events, conferences, and initiatives. Assist in planning promotional campaigns for academic programs and fundraising efforts.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.

  • Minimum 5 years of experience in media relations, public affairs or strategic communications.

  • Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills; demonstrated ability to write engaging and persuasive content.

  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

  • Experience with higher education or nonprofit communications.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in a related field.

  • Experience with crisis communication and issues management.

  • Knowledge of analytics tools for media and digital performance.

  • Photo journalism and/or video journalism skills

Salary Range

$80,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions
  • Typical office environment

Required Materials
  • Resume/CV

  • Letter of interestand 3-5 writing samples to be fully considered

  • 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers:As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questionspresented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

  • E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
  • Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
  • Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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