Senior Director, Media & Internal Relations

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary institutional liaison for communications needs across faculty, centers, divisions, and student offices.
• Implement strategic media relations initiatives to elevate the School's visibility and reinforce its position as a thought leadership source.
• Manage relationships with key media outlets, journalists, and industry influencers to secure high-impact coverage.
• Identify and develop priority faculty voices for thought leadership positioning in alignment with institutional strategy.
• Manage external communications agency relationships and ensure vendor activity aligns with School strategy.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff members.
• Provide strategic direction for media relations and serve as the senior contact for complex or sensitive media inquiries.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, media relations, or communications.
• Demonstrated success managing complex media relations programs and securing high-impact coverage.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion in managing sensitive communications matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience managing external agency relationships and vendor partnerships.
• Background in business, financial, or academic communications.
• Familiarity with crisis communications planning and execution.

About the Company

For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large. We are committed to cultivating new scholars and creating pathbreaking knowledge that advances the understanding and practice of management through our world-class faculty research and programs.