Director of Content and News Media

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director of Content and News Media

Job Profile Title

Associate Director D, Arts and Media, Communications and Marketing

Job Description Summary

The Director of Content and News Media is a critical member of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s (Penn Vet) communications organization. Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, the Director of Content and News Media serves as the principal news and science news creator for Penn Vet. The candidate will maintain broad awareness of the School’s curricular, co-curricular, clinical and research news, and the Dean’s activities, and translate them into strategic content plans and formats that are accessible to the media, science media, and the public; and distributed through Penn Vet’s website, social platforms, and digital and print publications.

Job Description

Must have a demonstrated understanding of veterinary medicine, science, health, and environmental health topics are key to success in this role. This will be accomplished by maintaining relationships with School, departmental and clinical leadership, faculty, post-docs, and students; interviewing subjects, writing and editing press releases and other public-facing stories, and working with the Chief Communications Officer, Web Editor, Associate Director of Marketing, Assistant Director of Social Media, and central University Communications, to ensure content reaches the appropriate audiences. This position will elevate the public’s knowledge and understanding of the relative impact of Penn Vet’s mission on animal and human health, as well as on environmental health.

The Director of Content and News Media will be a strategic, creative storyteller with an ability to translate the scholarly activities of faculty in ways that engage internal and external audiences. The Director must develop a strong appreciation of the School's goals, priorities, and key messages and understand how to use every assignment as an opportunity to promote them. The ideal candidate will also be an experienced project manager, with a proven ability to work efficiently and tactfully with faculty, staff, and external vendors to keep projects on schedule.

The Director supervises a team of marketing, social media, and communication specialists; including a freelance pool of writers, graphic designers, agencies, and other creative vendors, and holds them accountable to uphold brand standards. The Director oversees professional development, supports a highly functioning team, and ensures that each team member has the skills necessary to execute Penn Vet’s communication goals. Ensures compliance with University policies and federal, state, and local regulations governing news coverage.

Specific Responsibilities

Content Creation: Write press releases, features, articles, news items, and announcements in both long and short formats for print and digital editions of Bellwether magazine, Penn Today, Making the Rounds newsletter, website newsroom, and media communications; work in a team to develop multimedia content including video. Contribute content to Penn Vet’s social platforms. In collaboration with Web Editor, ensure website content is accurate and up-to-date, and reflects appropriate editorial style. In collaboration with Chief Communications Officer and Web Editor, participate in initiatives to enhance Penn Vet’s website. Evaluate tips and news leads to develop stories. Identify strategic content opportunities that support engagement and programmatic goals; and catalyze philanthropic motivation.

Media Relations: Deliver Penn Vet’s media tactics and press campaigns to increase Penn Vet’s profile in target publications, working in close collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer and the University of Pennsylvania’s Director of Media Relations. Serve as the first point of contact for journalists and respond quickly and professionally to incoming media queries. Build and maintain relationships with mass, science/health, and trade media. Write press releases, fact sheets, statements, and briefing documents to ensure messaging is clear and aligned with institutional objectives. Pitch and place stories with target media. Assist the central University Communications office with issues and crisis management as needed.

Editor, Bellwether magazine: Bellwether is the School’s institutional flagship publication that highlights the impact of Penn Vet’s faculty, clinicians, students, and alumni. In collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer, identify and define Bellwether’s editorial requirements ensuring that Bellwether is relevant and engaging to readers while supporting key priorities. The Director will lead each issue’s direction for both print and digital editions. Run editorial meetings; track content ideas; assign stories to freelance writers; and edit drafts of articles. Collaborate with Assistant Director of Social Media and Associate Director of Marketing on video and image content. Collaborate with external writers and graphic designers to ensure quality and creativity are consistent with Penn Vet’s brand standards.

Team Development: Fosters the development of staff and guides their mastery of integrated, strategic communications and news deployment. Cultivates exemplary employee engagement and provides support for team’s professional development. Embraces and encourages a learning and innovative environment, with a willingness to experiment and bear incremental risk.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field and 5 to 7 years of experience, including supervisory positions, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. At least ten years’ experience is preferred. Advanced degree a plus and health-related communications/media relations/publishing experience preferred. Must excel in written and verbal communication, and possess a solid track record of innovation, precision, and accuracy.

Knowledge and experience in management of digital and print publishing formats as well as solid editing and visual skills required. Ability to manage development of clinical information and easily understood science/health information; and to communicate successfully with the media required. Must possess excellent organizational, management, strategic planning, interpersonal, and team player skills. Demonstrated proficiency in appropriate technologies required.

A cover letter is required along with a resume. During the candidacy process, applicants will be required to submit three writing samples that demonstrate proficiency, preferably, with veterinary, health, science, or clinical topics.

Job Location: Based in Philadelphia; eligible for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of the introductory period. Hybrid work week divided between working onsite in Philadelphia and working remotely. Role will require travel on a regular basis to Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in Chester County’s Kennett Square, PA; as well as some other travel as needed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range

$61,046.00 - $90,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay 

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