Reporting to the Director, Communications, the Media Relations Manager will lead strategic media relations initiatives across The Jackson Laboratory. This highly collaborative role works across the institution to elevate JAX research, scientific leadership, and institutional priorities through proactive storytelling, media engagement, and integrated communications strategies. The Media Relations Manager will serve as a senior communications professional responsible for developing and executing national, regional, and trade media strategies in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong news judgment, established journalist relationships, exceptional storytelling abilities, and the confidence to independently identify opportunities, provide strategic counsel, and drive projects forward. This role partners closely with scientific faculty, executive leadership, social media and creative teams, internal communications and branding, education, JMCRS, advancement, government affairs, and other institutional stakeholders to shape compelling narratives that strengthen JAX’s reputation and visibility. A key component of the role includes close collaboration with JAX’s Senior Producer to develop stories and visual narratives for the JAX in Motion video series and related multimedia initiatives. The manager will contribute editorial direction, interview development, scripting support, and narrative strategy for videos, animations, and other visual storytelling projects. Given the significant volume of activity, the Media Relations Manager is actively involved in issues management activities and crisis communications, to ensure a positive reputation and the best possible outcome for JAX.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute strategic media relations campaigns that advance institutional priorities and elevate JAX’s scientific leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national, regional, trade, and broadcast journalists.
• Proactively and reactively pitch stories, faculty experts, research developments, and institutional initiatives to media outlets.
• Independently identify, develop, and advance compelling stories that generate media interest and strengthen JAX’s reputation.
• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to faculty and institutional leaders.
• Prepare faculty and leadership for media interviews through strategic briefing materials, talking points, and narrative coaching.
• Teach and reinforce narrative discipline and message control during media preparation sessions.
• Organize and support institutional media training workshops and interview preparation sessions.
• Manage incoming media inquiries and coordinate timely, accurate responses.
• Write and edit press releases, media advisories, pitches, talking points, briefing documents, FAQs, and related communications materials.
• Collaborate with creative, digital, and video teams to develop integrated storytelling campaigns across earned, owned, and visual media channels.
• Partner closely with the Senior Producer to support the development of stories for the JAX in Motion series and other multimedia projects.
• Assist with interview development and editorial planning for videos, animations, and visual storytelling initiatives.
• Monitor media trends, identify news opportunities, and support rapid-response communications efforts.
• Track media coverage, maintain media databases and contact lists, and support reporting and analytics efforts.
• Research editorial calendars, broadcast opportunities, conferences, and emerging media trends relevant to JAX priorities.
• Support crisis communications and reputational management efforts as needed.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders across teams without formal authority.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in media relations, journalism, public relations, or strategic communications.
• Established network of journalist and media relationships across national, regional, trade, and/or broadcast media.
• Demonstrated success securing impactful media coverage and advancing strategic communications initiatives.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, including experience developing press releases, pitches, media advisories, executive messaging, and strategic communications materials.
• Strong interview preparation and media coaching experience preferred.
• Experience supporting visual storytelling initiatives, including video or multimedia content development, strongly preferred.
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Experience with media monitoring and PR tools such as Cision, Muck Rack, Meltwater, or similar platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Experience in science, biomedical research, health care, higher education, or nonprofit communications strongly preferred.
• Experience managing projects and teams strongly preferred.
$85,987 - $158,854 based on total years of related expereince
About JAX:
The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.
Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visitwww.jax.org.
EEO Statement:
The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.
