Public Relations Manager

Develop and implement strategies and programs that increase public awareness and understanding of the university, its achievements, and its value to the local and international community. Evaluate public attitudes towards the institution and execute a program of action to earn public understanding, acceptance, and support.

Communicate with a variety of constituencies (faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, potential students and their families, donors, the media, local, state, and federal governments, businesses, and the local community) for the purpose of enhancing those constituencies' perception of the university.

This position has been deemed critical by the School of Engineering Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

For Stanford University employees, please apply through the Opportunity Marketplace within Sequoia.

Note - Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

Work Arrangement:

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with a minimum of 3 days/week working at the Stanford main campus, subject to operational needs.

Budgeted Salary:

The budgeted base salary range for this position is $88,814 to $110,278 per annum.

The School of Engineering

Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business, and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business.

Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.

Stanford Engineering’s Communications & Alumni Affairs team is made up of experts in clear, compelling communication that engages audiences, promotes the world-changing work of our researchers and educators, and amplifies the school’s highest reputation. Our communications span a variety of media and platforms, including news, podcast, digital publications, video,  social media and events, reaching a broad audience of Stanford Engineering’s faculty, staff and students, our 75,000 graduate alumni, and the world.

To support these efforts, we seek a Public Relations Manager who is passionate about science communication and brings intellectual curiosity, creativity, and strong storytelling skills to the role. The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates excellent organizational and time-management skills, and can effectively balance multiple projects and priorities.

As an integral member of the Communications & Alumni Relations team, this individual will work closely with faculty, students, colleagues across Stanford, external collaborators, and members of the news media. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with diverse stakeholders, while contributing positively to our team’s culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous learning.

In this role you will:

Support media relations and research communications for the School of Engineering, including developing media pitches, identifying newsworthy research, and coordinating interviews with faculty and journalists.

Help translate complex scientific and engineering research into compelling, accessible stories for general audiences across multiple platforms.

Manage the production, publication, and promotion of The Future of Everything podcast, working with internal teams and external production partners.

Provide on-site support for media interviews, photography, and filming involving Stanford Engineering faculty and research.

Support special communications projects, media coverage tracking and reporting, and improvements to team workflows.

Preferred Requirements:

Experience in public relations, media relations, journalism, or science communications, preferably in higher education, research institutions, or related fields.

Strong writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific and technical topics into clear, engaging content for general audiences.

Experience in developing media pitches, conducting targeted media outreach, and building relationships with journalists.

Familiarity with media monitoring platforms, digital content management systems, and project management tools.

Experience with podcast production, digital media, or multimedia content development.

Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and meet competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Core Duties: Develop, execute and oversee written communications of moderate complexity, including presentations, speeches, news stories, web content, talking points, and correspondence and social media posts.
• Participate in regular meetings of key researchers with media relations needs to develop strategies and tactics for facilitating effective communications.
• Assist in identifying and maintaining professional relationships with key press and community leaders.
• Assist in preparing content for internal or external newsletters. Understand email and digital content distribution.
• Identify individuals/groups to attend and/or speak at public meetings or other events.
• Coordinate media, community or government relations, and ensure logistics and preparations are handled.
• Minimum Education and Experience
• Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Excellent written communication skills, reporting skills, and skills in conceptual editing, copy editing, and proof reading.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal communications groups across campus.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working with a variety of people.
• Capacity to write and synthesize materials and communicate information in a manner easily understood.