Associate Director, Media Relations

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Job Description:

Fairfield University seeks a strategic, collaborative, and highly skilled communications professional to serve as Associate Director, Media Relations. Reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Community Relations, this position plays a critical role in advancing the University’s visibility, reputation, and public voice through proactive media relations, expert positioning, strategic storytelling, and institutional thought leadership initiatives.

The Associate Director will identify, develop, and elevate compelling stories that reflect Fairfield University’s mission, academic distinction, community impact, and leadership across higher education. The successful candidate will cultivate strong relationships with faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and media professionals to position Fairfield experts and initiatives in local, regional, and national media.

This role requires excellent writing and editing skills, sound judgment, responsiveness, intellectual curiosity, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to think critically and strategically in a dynamic communications environment. The position also requires an understanding of — or willingness to learn deeply about — the Jesuit Catholic mission and values that shape Fairfield University’s identity and communications approach.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute proactive media relations strategies that enhance Fairfield University’s reputation and visibility.
• Identify, develop, and pitch compelling stories involving faculty expertise, student achievement, academic innovation, research, community engagement, and institutional initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and media outlets at the local, regional, and national levels.
• Serve as a primary media contact for incoming inquiries and coordinate timely responses with university leadership and subject matter experts.
• Draft, edit, and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, expert alerts, and other strategic communications materials.
• Collaborate closely with faculty and academic leadership to identify subject matter experts across Fairfield University’s schools and programs.
• Proactively position Fairfield faculty and administrators as expert commentators on current issues, trends, and public conversations.
• Monitor news cycles and emerging issues to identify opportunities for institutional visibility and thought leadership.
• Assist with communications planning surrounding institutional announcements, events, crises, and issues management situations as needed.
• Serve as University News editor for the Fairfield University Magazine, compiling and editing University news and providing finalized content to the magazine editor.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, marketing, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across a complex organization.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Experience with or willingness to learn media monitoring, press tracking, and media database software.
• Critical thinking skills and the ability to assess reputational, strategic, and public relations considerations thoughtfully and diplomatically.
• Commitment to understanding and supporting Fairfield University’s Jesuit Catholic mission and identity.
• Maintain availability to respond to media inquiries outside of traditional business hours when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, journalism, public relations, media relations, or strategic communications.
• Familiarity with higher education media landscapes and academic storytelling.
• Experience pitching experts or thought leaders to media outlets.