Media Relations Strategist

Date Posted: 01/27/2026
Req ID: 46750
Faculty/Division: Office of the President
Department: Office of Vice President, Communications
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Media Relations, the incumbent plays a pivotal role in strengthening the University's reputation and presence in key local, national and global media markets by being a strategic advisor and resource to key senior stakeholders at the University; and by actively implementing a media relations strategy through managing media relations officers and direct engagement with relevant journalists and influencers.  Offering strategic advice to the Director; the Vice-President, Communications; and other senior leaders, the incumbent will be responsible for:  

• Managing the Media Relations Officers and strategic media planning in key areas of priority, in consultation with the Director, Media Relations; the Vice-President, Communications; and other media-savvy academic leaders across the University, and implementing those plans.
• Leveraging relationships with targeted journalists in desired local, national and global media, knowing at any time what those journalists are working on, working to build base knowledge among reporters about U of T's key areas of research and teaching strength, and advancing stories in a way that garners media coverage of strategic value to the University. 

The incumbent will become intimately familiar with the University's strategic priorities, and with the key areas of research for which the University wishes to be known. The incumbent will be privy to confidential information, discussions and reports prepared by various vice-presidential portfolios as they relate to a range of sensitive issues and how they translate to or impact media relations.

Qualifications Required:

Education:

• University degree in communications or journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.   

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years' experience in communications, public relations and proactive media relations (including global media).
• Demonstrated experience managing teams.
• Advising senior leaders on media relations strategies, and developing story pitches that raise the public profile of an organization.
• Demonstrated success pitching stories to media on a range of topics.
• Solid knowledge of the University of Toronto and/or post-secondary institutions.  
• Experience writing news stories in a public relations or newsroom setting would be an asset.  
• Strong relationships with both local and national industry media outlets an asset.

Skills:

• Demonstrated skill in managing relationships and requests with tact, diplomacy and persuasion
• Extensive media relations acumen, including a demonstrated ability to formulate and execute media strategies to advance the goals of the organization
• Demonstrated success building relationships with reporters in key outlets in Canada and globally
• Superior writing and editing skills and familiarity with Canadian Press style.
• Ability to digest and translate complex information for a general audience, and advance stories that touch on a range of academic disciplines
• Outstanding news judgment  
• Demonstrated ability to formulate earned-media strategies, and demonstrated ability to execute those ideas effectively  
• Strong story development abilities  
• Demonstrated skill in advising senior stakeholders
• Strong analytic research skills 
• Strong and effective verbal communications skills 
• Strong time management skills, ability to prioritize effectively and undertake multiple projects simultaneously 

Other:

• Strong background in developing new communications strategies to suit communications needs of complex environments 
• Ability to work closely with – and gain the confidence of – senior members of an organization 
• Ability to make well-considered and sustainable decisions on behalf of the University and its leaders 
• Proven ability to multi-task and be reliable under pressure 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team  
• Ability to adapt and work in a consistently supportive manner with colleagues
• Ability to collaborate quickly and productively across divisional boundaries
• Ability to work quickly and under intense pressure; high attention to detail and ensuring high levels of accuracy and consistent quality
• Persistence in gaining access to experts in support of media relations goals
• Good understanding of social media, and awareness of how reporters engage through channels such as Twitter. 

Note: This is an 18-month term and secondments are welcome. 

Closing Date: 02/05/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Personnel Subarea:PM
Appointment Type: Budget - Term; This is an 18-month term and secondments are welcome.
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: PM 4 -- Hiring Zone: $106,705 - $124,491 -- Broadband Salary Range: $106,705 - $177,843
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial