Sr Earned Media Relations Specialist
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Summary
The Senior Earned Media Relations Specialist is responsible for facilitating and generating national and international coverage for the scientific and medical achievements of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This includes placing stories in a wide variety of news media outlets, including national consumer media, medical/scientific trade media and local Memphis media. The position will serve as an internal expert on media affairs and lead medium- to large-scale projects that generate impactful media coverage.
Job description
This role is responsible for vetting media opportunities for St Jude employees and supporting them in interactions with media. The emphasis of this role is to collaboratively work with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement communications strategies and programs that raise public awareness of research at St. Jude.
Job Responsibilities
- Proactively secure earned media placements in national, international, regional and local media markets.
- Pursue broad range of story types, including news, features, Op Eds and use of St. Jude experts for commentary. Identify appropriate media outlets for outreach based on audience, geography, special interests and other criteria matched to organizational goals
- Develop and maintain journalist contacts in print, broadcast and online media, with greatest focus on national media.
- Establish and manage internal relationships with clinical and laboratory-based investigators to assemble scientific information.
- Determine methods of communication necessary to ensure all relevant events are appropriately conveyed to media members.
- Work with faculty and administrators to identify, organize, and accurately convey information about research and medical discoveries, treatments, and programs, observing embargoes as appropriate.
- Leverage well-developed and maintained network of media contacts to ensure the best coverage for each event.
- Provide guidance, assistance, and mentoring support to less experienced colleagues on routine processes and procedures.
- Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
- Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
Minimum Education and/or Training
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English or related field required.
- Master's degree or PhD preferred.
Minimum Experience
- Minimum Requirement: 4+ years of experience in communications, journalism, English, or related field
- Previous experience working with local, regional and national media and a proven track record of placements within national outlets utilizing consumer and/or medical scientific media.
- Proven experience of integrating multimedia, social media and online media strategies in a health care or scientific setting.
- Some experience with stakeholder management preferred.
- Proven performance in earlier role/comparable role.
- Comfort with scientific concepts and research/medical language, preferred.
- Strong writing and editing skills, preferred.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English or related field required
- Master's degree or PhD preferred
- Minimum 4+ years of experience in communications, journalism, English, or related field
- Previous experience working with local, regional and national media and a proven track record of placements within national outlets utilizing consumer and/or medical scientific media
- Proven experience of integrating multimedia, social media and online media strategies in a health care or scientific setting
- Some experience with stakeholder management preferred
- Proven performance in earlier role/comparable role
- Comfort with scientific concepts and research/medical language, preferred
- Strong writing and editing skills, preferred
Company overview
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world-renowned pediatric research and treatment institution headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, dedicated to advancing cures for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded in 1962 by entertainer Danny Thomas, it stands as the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted exclusively to children. The hospital operates on a unique funding model where families never receive bills for treatment, travel, housing, or food, with costs exceeding $2 billion annually primarily supported by donations through its fundraising organization ALSAC. St. Jude treats approximately 8,600 patients each year from all 50 states and around the world, with a focus on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors, sickle cell disease, and infectious diseases. The institution employs over 7,000 staff members and maintains eight affiliate clinics across the United States. Through its St. Jude Global initiative, the hospital shares research and treatment protocols internationally, partnering with more than 350 institutions in over 90 countries. St. Jude has been instrumental in increasing childhood cancer survival rates from 20% in 1962 to over 80% today, while maintaining a robust research program that includes gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and precision medicine approaches.