Media Relations Manager

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking a Media Relations Manager to join the Marketing & New Products division. At OUC, we don't just work - we're building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations.

We are looking for an experienced, proactive Media Relations Manager to enhance the commission's image, brand, and reputation while maximizing strategic media coverage through proactive and reactive media strategies, as well as crisis communications. As our main spokesperson, you'll pitch stories, manage crisis situations, respond to media inquiries, and create effective communication plans to share OUC's message and maintain a strong public presence.

In this role, you'll work closely with leaders to promote OUC's goals by managing strategic media relations and securing news coverage across local, state, and national platforms. You'll simplify complex topics for different audiences, prepare executives for media appearances, and develop engaging content for various channels. This position requires strong initiative, strategic vision, and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

OUC is an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida committed to innovation, sustainability, and our community, OUC's mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions.

Join a team of visionary Change Agents, Strategists, and Community Ambassadors who understand the vital role of diverse experiences in powering creativity and industry transformation. At OUC, each position contributes to the success and achievement of our goals. Click here to learn more about what we do.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Mass Communications, Public Relations, or a related field from an accredited college or university
• 7+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, proactive and reactive media relations, crisis communications, or reputation management, preferably in the utility sector, including:
• Experience engaging daily with earned online, traditional and nontraditional media reporters, producers and editors
• Experience coaching and managing senior corporate leaders on media presence strategies, speaking engagements, public response, issue anticipation, and providing strategic counsel on media positioning and brand impact
• Successful experience pitching and securing local and national media coverage including working with social media influencers/content creators
• Experience using data driven insights to inform media strategy and planning
• Exceptional writing skills to craft clear, compelling press releases, executive messages, talking points, FAQs, and media responses that align with OUC's voice and brand
• 3+ years of supervisory or leadership experience, with an ability to mentor and develop team members
• Availability to handle on-call responsibilities, including some nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating basis, with a requirement to be within a 30-minute to one-hour response radius for crisis or reactive media situations
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

• Competitive compensation
• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period.
• OUC's Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully-funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account
• Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities
• Wellness incentives and free access to all on-site OUC fitness facilities
• Access to family-oriented recreational areas
• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities
• Free downtown parking
• Hybrid work schedule

Click here to view our Benefits Summary.

Salary Range: $103,951 - $129,938 annually - commensurate with experience

Location: "The Greenest Building in Downtown"- Reliable Plaza, 100 W. Anderson Street, Orlando, FL 32801

Please see below a complete Job description for this position.

Job Purpose:

The Media Relations Manager will work cross functionally to enhance the commission's image, brand and reputation as well as maximize strategic and positive media coverage. The Manager will, in partnership with leadership, design and deliver cohesive communications programs with a specific focus on earned media (traditional and nontraditional); serve as the main media spokesperson; pitch and secure positive, proactive news coverage for the utility; partner with stakeholders to identify opportunities and coordinate interviews with OUC experts and accompanying reporters; develop communication plans; manage crisis communications; mitigate reactive news coverage; and write content for a variety of platforms.

Primary Functions:

• Serve as primary media spokesperson; represent OUC's voice, brand and community presence positively on print, radio, TV and online interviews. Serve as spokesperson on designated holidays and weekends;
• Formulate, implement and manage comprehensive media relations strategies and programs in alignment with OUC's strategic plan, to advance the utility's goals and increase positive, proactive brand awareness on a local, state, trade, national and international level;
• Translate complex information into layman's terms on presentations, articles, reports, multi- media, clips, videos and other communication tools for a variety of audiences/stakeholders;
• Create and deploy programs to maintain favorable public perception of OUC's accomplishments, goals, brand and overall corporate citizenship;
• Coach and prepare executive and subject matter experts for interviews and news conferences;
• Collaborate to create and conduct news media and public speaking training and coaching for executives;
• Drive development of newsworthy story angles based on OUC's corporate messaging needs, accomplishments and community engagements; review program analytics to identify areas of opportunities to generate new stories to advance OUC's brand;
• Maintain excellent working relationships with media, industry contacts, and other agencies to garner fair and balanced coverage; Oversee and coordinate with external vendors, consultants and agencies on both proactive and reactive media relations activities;
• Lead media team and drive professional development, influence and corporate presence to provide clear, consistent and balanced counsel to stakeholders; Oversee team's daily media relations activities to drive influential earned media coverage and prioritize the right stories and ensure appropriate information flow internally and externally;
• Create and implement consistent and comprehensive approach to media interactions including policy/procedures, media preparation methodology, and tracking and monitoring all interactions with media during blue sky and storm events;
• Manage issues, crisis and risk matters, including identifying potential issues and proactively developing appropriate response plans; Provide daily media and issues management reports in an engaging and professional manner;
• Manage/track incoming media requests, draft messaging and other communication pieces including pitches, briefings, talking points, FAQs, media kits, message houses, etc. to respond to inquiries; Address and correct inaccurate information in stories;
• Prepare/repurpose content for wide range of platforms and audiences, including but not limited to blogs, online news industry/trade publications, opinion pieces and social media;
• Using Critical Mention analyze media coverage (volume and tone), prepare periodic media tracking/coverage/sentiment reports and identify appropriate dissemination platforms and networks for OUC's content and brand;
• Manage corporate editorial calendars, fact sheets and executive bios. Manage responses to public records requests;
• Participate in emergency event drills and training, and support emergency/response efforts when needed;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Working knowledge of all, but not limited to, the following:
  • Public Relations and Media Management: Demonstrate capability to develop and manage variety of public relations techniques for brand-building publicity with a strong emphasis on local and national media relations programs.
  • Associated Press Style.
  • Issue and Reputation Management: Demonstrate capability to anticipate and effectively address issues affecting brand or enterprise.
  • Executive Communications: Demonstrate capability to write on behalf of key executives, maintaining consistent tone and narrative over time.
  • Exceptional communications skills, confidence and experience liaising with senior stakeholders, both internally and externally.
  • Corporate Communications: Demonstrate capability to drive compelling communications on behalf of various corporate functions.
  • Integrated Communications: Demonstrate capability to identify opportunities for programs that can be leveraged across communication channels, including public relations, employee communications and social media.
  • Crisis Communications: Demonstrate experience of driving crisis and corporate communications strategy, both internal and external. Coordinate crisis communications and issues management response strategy for urgent media matters.
  • Project Management: Demonstrate capability to balance multiple priorities and achieve desired outcomes on time and within budget.
  • Strategic Counsel: Demonstrate capability to provide communications counsel to partners and executives.
• Ability to:

• Be a self-starter.
• Write excellent executive documents, news releases, communications plans, and analyze/interpret media coverage;
• Create and deploy media and public speaking training for executives and other spokespersons;
• Demonstrate thorough understanding of industry related, organizational and departmental best practices, ordinances, and laws;
• Expand OUC's coverage on multi-cultural networks and multi-media channels;
• Use digital camera, digital video camera, and video editing equipment;

• A natural, proven collaborator with expertise for connecting the dots in a widespread, fast-paced environment.
• Strong skills in creating communications plans, strategic planning and internal stakeholder management.
• Executive presence and ability to successfully maneuver within a large corporate environment.
• High degree of initiative and ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure and meet deadlines as required.
• Thrive working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple communications plans and priorities at any given time.
• Consistently makes safety and security, of self and others, the priority.
• Embraces diversity in thought, action and relationships.

Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Mass Communications, Public Relations or related area of study from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of 7 years' progressive experience in corporate communications, crisis communications, reputation management or media relations, preferably with utility experience to include:
• Experience engaging daily with earned online, traditional and nontraditional media reporters, producers and editors
• Experience coaching and managing senior corporate leaders with media presence strategies and speaking engagements
• Successful experience pitching and securing local and national media coverage including working with social media influencers/content creators
• Experience using data driven insights to inform media strategy and planning
• 3 years of supervisory/leadership experience.
• Experience creating and conducting media and public speaking training for executives and other spokespersons (preferred);

Working Conditions:

This job may involve occasional exposure to some disagreeable elements (dust, heat, cold, noise, etc.) and accidents are improbable other than minor injuries. This job requires very frequently working in wet, humid conditions and extreme heat. This job requires frequent working near mechanical parts, vibrations, and insects. This job may occasionally require working in high places, precarious places and/ or in confined areas. This job may require working extended hours especially during hurricane and cold- weather seasons. This job also requires to be on-call after hours and weekends.

Physical Requirements:

This job requires constant reading and writing, and very frequent typing. This job requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, and lifting up to twenty (20) lbs.; additionally, this job requires frequent bending/ stooping, repetitive motions, reaching over head and driving of a company vehicle. This job may require occasional kneeling/ crawling, climbing, and lifting up to forty (40) lbs.

OUC-The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations.

EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled