The College Board

Executive Director, Media Relations

The College Board

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: United States

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Salary

💰 $144,000 - $210,000 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Lead a high-performing media relations team and strengthen cross-divisional collaboration (15%)
  • Set vision and priorities for the team, track and manage progress to goals, and provide coaching and support to ensure team members meet and exceed goals, remain engaged, and contribute meaningfully to our mission
  • Cultivate an inclusive and high achieving culture that enables all team members to live out College Board’s Operating Principles
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise media strategy (25%)
  • Translate organizational priorities and enterprise messaging into proactive and reactive media strategies that strengthen institutional credibility and public understanding
  • Identify and drive media opportunities aligned to College Board’s mission, strategic goals, and reputational priorities
  • Partner closely with teams across the organization to ensure message consistency, strategic alignment, and impact
  • Advise senior leaders on media engagement strategy, visibility, and reputational risk
  • Oversee media intelligence and anticipate emerging issues (15%)
  • Lead comprehensive monitoring and analysis of media coverage, sentiment, and narrative trends
  • Translate insights into actionable executive guidance that informs communications and operational decision-making
  • Identify emerging issues, policy dynamics, and reputational vulnerabilities early
  • Recommend proactive engagement or mitigation strategies to shape narratives before they escalate
  • Guide high-stakes media engagement and reputational response (20%)
  • Serve as the senior media lead during high-risk, high-visibility issues and sensitive inquiries
  • Assess complex or high-profile media requests and recommend engagement strategy, including whether and how to respond and who should serve as spokesperson
  • Develop clear, accurate, and strategically positioned statements, background materials, and Q&A documents
  • Coordinate executive interviews and media engagements when appropriate, ensuring preparation, message discipline, and follow-through
  • Partner closely with a range of College Board leaders and subject matter experts to deliver aligned, timely responses
  • Maintain and strengthen crisis protocols, escalation frameworks, and organizational readiness
  • Cultivate trusted media relationships to strengthen credibility and coverage quality (15%)
  • Build and maintain long-term, trust-based relationships with national, regional, and trade journalists
  • Engage reporters proactively through background briefings, contextual education, and strategic outreach
  • Serve as a reliable, credible resource to enhance accuracy and depth of coverage
  • Act as senior escalation point for sensitive or complex inquiries to protect and reinforce institutional reputation
  • Prepare and advise executive leaders for effective external engagement (10%)
  • Provide candid strategic counsel on engagement posture, tone, and risk in high-stakes media environments
  • Develop high-quality briefing materials, talking points, and Q&A that ensure message clarity and consistency
  • Deliver media training and rehearsal sessions that build confidence and discipline
  • Support high-profile interviews and public moments to maximize impact and minimize risk

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public affairs, or related field required; advanced degree a plus
  • 15+ years of progressive experience in media relations, public relations or strategic communications
  • 5+ years leading and developing multi-person communications teams, including hiring, performance management, and coaching
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling narratives
  • Demonstrated success leading national media strategy for a high-profile, mission-driven organization or prominent principal
  • Deep experience engaging top-tier national media outlets and managing high-profile or sensitive issues
  • Proven track record developing and executing strategic communications plans across national, state, and local environments
  • Significant crisis communications and issues management experience in complex, fast-moving media landscapes
  • Experience directly advising and preparing senior executives or other high-visibility leaders for media engagement
  • Experience managing and optimizing external agency partnerships to ensure strategic alignment and measurable impact
  • Fluency in Spanish a plus
Benefits
  • Annual bonuses and opportunities for merit-based raises and promotions
  • A mission-driven workplace where your impact matters
  • A team that invests in your development and success
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
media relationspublic relationsstrategic communicationswritingeditingcrisis communicationsissues managementstrategic communications plansmedia strategynarrative development
Soft Skills
leadershipcoachingcollaborationcommunicationstrategic thinkingrelationship buildingproblem-solvingadaptabilityengagementcounseling