Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Public Relations

Public Relations Managers predominantly work within the University’s Office of Strategic Communications to direct and implement the University’s public relations strategies; manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities; evaluate and authorize all forms of communication regarding the University for release to the public; oversee the development of press releases, white papers, and supporting materials; organize and act as spokesperson at events; oversee responses to inquiries (i.e. inquiries from the public, the press, government agencies, etc.).

• Oversee staff of public relations specialists focused on identifying differentiating stories and strategically driving high-profile placements in international, national, state, regional, and local media
• Lead the development of effective communications strategies such as targeted media pitches, op-eds, news releases, integrated communications recommendations, speeches, targeted social media, and media events
• Create proactive communications scenarios, strategies, and plans; use innovative communications actions to attain various University priorities including, but not limited to, enrollment growth, relationship building, brand awareness, reputational maintenance, internal messaging, and fund raising
• Develop and oversee day-to-day media operations, policies, procedures, and technologies
• Oversee daily media monitoring of Penn State and higher education news trends to inform leadership, the Board of Trustees, and communicators of the Penn State narrative within influential media and proactively identify opportunities for reputation management, as well as positive storytelling
• Play a key role in Penn State's emergency operations plans; oversee and implement the University's crisis communications plans
• Offer advice and counsel to senior leadership on public relations issues and challenges; write stories, statements, fact sheets, responses, FAQs, and core messages
• Serve as spokesperson for the University to answer questions and recommend responses; handle incoming media contacts on sensitive issues, and determine resolution
• Lead the collaboration and relationship building with communicators across the University to provide counsel and expertise in determining appropriate media strategies that assist in raising awareness of Penn State's strengths, priorities, its people, and its research enterprise
• May develop and implement government affairs strategies focused on building relationships with public officials through engagement, communication, education, and advocacy efforts that build increased awareness of and support for the University
• Supervise, coach, and develop assigned staff; oversee performance review process; develop and manage relevant budgets; participate as a member of boards, teams, committees, associations, etc., as necessary

Level:

– Senior Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced skills in critical functions related to unit's success. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of emerging technologies and processes. Monitors completed work of others to ensure effectiveness and adherence to requirements. Sets clear expectations and holds team accountable. Establishes a shared team/unit vision. Demonstrates ability to evaluate and enhance team/unit practices that promote a strong commitment to inclusionary practices. Coaches others using appropriate strategies. Demonstrates diplomacy. Demonstrates ability to serve as liaison between senior-level management and staff. Resolves complex, controversial, or unprecedented issues and problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees large team or teams of individual contributors and/or supervisors/managers
– Leads a department or functional area

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks large budgets
– Plans, forecasts, and/or develops budgets
– May approve budgets for specific area
– Typically has final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters highly varied and complex problems that impacts the team and possibly the unit
– Develops creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature
– Independently resolves complex and/or unprecedented issues and problems

Independence of Action:

– Work results are not clearly defined
– Generally sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few or no guidelines to follow
– Monitors completed work of others to ensure soundness of approach, effectiveness of meeting requirements, the feasibility of recommendations and adherences to requirements
– Delegates more advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Fosters collaboration between units and engages others' coordinated efforts to reach desired outcomes with broad scope

• Comp Grade – 15
• Minimum – $109,300.00
• MidPoint – $136,600.00
• Maximum – $164,000.00