Senior Manager, Media Relations

Leads a robust team accountable for serving as strategic partners within UScellular's Media Relations department delivering communications solutions that are consistent in their quality and delivery and measurable in their results. The Senior Manager of Media Relations must collaborate across functions, including with senior leaders and with media relation agencies, to execute plans that contribute to and advance UScellular's operating objectives, reputation and image.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead company-wide media relations programs, including leading all aspects of the media relations team and agency partners, and leading key campaigns. 
• Provide mentorship to members of the team to effectively work with the media and local/national agencies. 
• Support crisis communications, issues management, reputation, and strategic objectives with the director of executive communications and media relations. 
• Successfully procures, leads, and supports contracted services as needed. 
• Use relationships with business press, trade press, and third-party influencers to generate extraordinary media coverage! Serves as communications advisor and strategist to senior leaders. 
• Produce internal briefing documents on key topics and sensitive issues for use in media relations or a more general communications arena, incorporating media writing techniques where appropriate (e.g. devising "key messages"). 
• Create, lead, and measure efficiency of coordinated media relations campaigns that target consumer, business, and trade media. 
• Collaborate with internal business functions to build, lead, and measure media relation plans that both promote and protect the UScellular brand. 
• Develop strategies, key messages, and vehicles for communication for UScellular in support of specific programs and issues! Provide essential communications counsel to UScellular executives prior to national and key regional and local media interviews. 
• Write and edit news releases, key messages, Q&As, position statements, presentations, and other documents as needed. 
• Lead creation of content including infographics, videos, and animation. 
• Lead day-to-day activities of the UScellular media relation team to effectively interact and provide mentorship to external media relations agencies to generate awareness of UScellular in key markets throughout the company's service areas. 
• Lead UScellular's media training program to ensure consistent delivery of key messages by senior leaders throughout the organization. Lead cost center budget adherence and serve as a subject matter expert in the yearly budgeting planning for media relation activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS;

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience and education 
• Minimum of 7 years of corporate/agency experience to include media relations and counseling senior management required 
• Minimum 3 years people leadership experience with ability to influence and lead a high performance team 
• Extensive experience working senior executives and confidential, high-risk and / or highly sensitive content. 
• Strong consulting skills and the ability to help business leaders understand how media relations fits into larger communications and marketing plans. 
• Confirmed writing, editing, and content creation experience required 
• Ability to build and successfully lead cross-functional project teams responsible for critical external communications responsibilities (such as new market launches and product and program introductions) required 
• Shown ability to plan and lead sophisticated projects and the ability to work effectively with team members and senior executives under deadlines. 
• Excellent verbal communications and interview skills required 
• Sophisticated experience with computer programs including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word 
• Experience with issues management and crafting and delivering crisis communications required 
• Experience with successful management of cross-functional programs and ability to develop sound media solutions required 
• Outstanding attention to details required 
• Work with teams across the company - including legal, IR, corporate, and internal communications to ensure messaging timeliness and consistency. 
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, adapt, and work well in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or English