Communications Specialist II - Media Relations

Texas A&M University System · College Station

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About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

• Texas A&M Forest Service

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Communications Specialist II plays a critical role integrating our media relations strategy into our digital communications channels like AgriLife Today, key public entry point websites and social media. This role, designed to provide space for quick, creative responses to ongoing opportunities and trends within the third-party media. The individual within this role will work cross-functionally across the Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications team as well as with subject matter experts from across Texas A&M AgriLife to identify opportunities and create positive awareness for the brand and its key initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Media Relations

• Develop and implement media outreach strategies to secure coverage for and in support of Texas A&M AgriLife initiatives and priorities.

• Monitor media trends and track coverage to assess the impact and effectiveness of media relations efforts through prompt and accurate reporting.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with journalists, reporters, and media outlets relevant to our mission and audience.

• Pitch story ideas, respond to media inquiries and manage press releases to maximize media exposure and positive coverage.

• Distribute event advances, stories, press releases via content management system, Cision.

• Respond and manage, in a timely manner, day-to-day media requests and needs for the brand.

• Support the digital communications strategy by ideating new opportunities to align media efforts across websites, social media, etc.

• Support in disseminating guidelines, best practices, and training across Texas A&M AgriLife.

• Support key media press events statewide.

• Assist in crisis communications and issue management efforts.

Writing and Storytelling

• Create engaging and high-quality written content, including press releases, feature articles, and op-eds.

• Develop quick content in response to trending, emerging or crisis issues.

• Identify opportunities and craft compelling narratives that highlight Texas A&M AgriLife’s achievements, research breakthroughs, and community impact.

• Collaborate with internal teams and subject matter experts across Texas A&M AgriLife to gather information, conduct interviews and ensure accuracy and consistency in all written materials.

• Edit and proofread content to uphold high standards of clarity, grammar, and style.

Social Media

• Create engaging and relevant content for social media to support the media relations strategy.

• Ideate opportunities and develop content to quickly respond to trending topics or responsive trends in the news and media.

• Develop a system and create content to share key media relations hits across the key brand social media channels.

• Explore the use of social media as a tool to connect with outlets, reporters, and influencers.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Two years of related experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience within or a strong desire to learn strategic communications, including disciplines like media relations, social media, etc.

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Ability to present information clearly and concisely.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Pay Grade: 9. Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions

A cover letter, resume, and references are required. Writing samples are requested. You may upload them on the application under the CV/Resume section.

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

Required Documents

CV/ Resume

Cover letter

List of References

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

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