Director, Media Relations

The Director, Media Relations is a senior leader on the UPS Global Communications team. This position is responsible for developing proactive and reactive communications strategies in support of the company’s overall business and will manage relationships with top-tier media in New York City. The Director, Media Relations focuses on earned channels, but collaborates on fully-integrated campaigns that cover paid, earned, social and owned channels. This position requires a proven track record in media relations and demonstrated relationships with major business media, to strengthen brand and reputation, revenue generation, and content strategies. The role requires an advanced understanding of earned media strategies and tactics, as well as earned media measurement strategies.

This position develops strategic initiatives to increase awareness of UPS’s business goals and promote a positive corporate image of UPS’s customer and product capabilities and solutions. The successful candidate will develop, guide and implement strategies to increase positive news media coverage and influencer relationships within the business and financial communications arena. This position ensures strategic alignment and strong collaboration with all UPS communication channel leaders and teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates and oversees focused media relations strategies that incorporate global business, cultural and media practices to advance and enhance UPS’s reputation
• Builds and nurtures strong relationships with reporters and producers at major national media outlets based in New York City, as well as logistics trade media
• Partners on social media strategy in close coordination with other functions and business units, ensuring the company's key business priorities and main messages are consistently executed and measured
• Cultivates a deep understanding of the company's business model, strategic direction and corporate goals to develop long-term communications plans
• Works closely with stakeholders to understand business objectives
• Develops relationships with clients and other stakeholders to maintain awareness of organizational issues, priorities and business results
• Gains agreement with clients and stakeholders to ensure business relevance, alignment, quality and cost effectiveness of communications materials
• Manages the development of fact sheets, Q&As and other materials to educate media on business issues and UPS capabilities
• Promotes and guides the development of thought leadership materials in support of business objectives for placement in publications to reach targeted customer segments
• Coordinates between functions, on a fast-track basis, to respond to news media under tight deadlines to enhance and protect UPS’s reputation
• Manages resources and people processes to ensure the day-to-day administration of processes and formal procedures
• Identifies individual and team skill gaps and developmental opportunities

QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements

• Ability to direct, motivate and inspire a diverse set of Communications managers, supervisors and administrative professionals on common goals in a matrixed organizational structure
• Geographically located in the New York City metro area
• Demonstrated relationships with top-tier business media in New York City and beyond
• Experience working with major media outlets in all formats (broadcast, print, online, social)
• Adept at working in a matrixed organization with the ability to influence and build strong cross-functional relationships
• Demonstrated experience working directly with senior leadership teams in a media relations capacity
• Experience leading relationships with public relations and social media agencies
• Knowledge of, and experience with, communication measurement strategies, tactics, tools and processes
• Experience developing strategic initiatives to increase awareness of global products and/or services, while promoting a positive corporate image of customer and product capabilities and solutions
• Experience writing and editing press materials and social media posts (e.g., press releases, talking points, Q&A's, position papers, bylines, social posts and other externally-focused documents)
• Bachelor’s degree (or internationally comparable degree)

Preferences

• Familiarity or experience with Meltwater, Sprinklr, Percolate and Adobe Marketing Suite

UPS is an equal opportunity employer. UPS does not discriminate on the basis of race/color/religion/sex/national origin/veteran/disability/age/sexual orientation/gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law