Manager Media Relations - Cancer and Children's Services

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary:

Supports the development and execution of strategic media relations and public relations efforts for UNC Health's clinical cancer service line and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as pediatrics and UNC Children's. Plays a key role in elevating the visibility, reputation, and thought leadership of UNC Health and Lineberger through proactive earned media, expert positioning, and strategic storytelling.

This role serves as the primary point of contact for all cancer and children's media relations, with a strong focus on translating complex cancer research, clinical innovation, and academic excellence into clear, compelling narratives for local, regional, national, and trade media audiences. The position requires flexibility to support evolving departmental priorities, enterprise-wide communications needs, and high-visibility organizational initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Media Relations & Communications Strategy

* Implements and executes media relations strategies aligned with organizational priorities, brand standards, and best practices for healthcare, academic, and research communications.

* Serves as the lead media relations strategist for the cancer and children's service lines across UNC Health.

* Identifies proactive opportunities to elevate cancer and pediatric research, clinical care, and institutional leadership through earned media.

* Other duties as assigned.

Media Engagement & Issues Management

* Serves as the primary media contact for cancer and children's inquiries across UNC Health and UNC Lineberger.

* Manages inbound media requests, coordinates interviews, and prepares subject matter experts for media engagement.

* Partners with communications leadership, legal, and clinical stakeholders on sensitive issues and reputational risk management related to cancer and children's services.

Storytelling & Media Pitching

* Develops and pitches compelling story ideas to local, regional, national, and trade media, with an emphasis on oncology, science, and health reporters.

* Builds and maintains strong relationships with journalists covering cancer and pediatric research, medicine, and academic health systems.

* Identifies emerging trends and timely opportunities to position UNC Health and Lineberger experts as thought leaders.

Writing & Editorial Excellence

* Writes and edits cancer and children's research- and science-focused press releases, media statements, pitches, and stories.

* Translates complex scientific, clinical, and academic concepts into accessible, accurate, and engaging language for external audiences.

* Develops media briefing materials, talking points, FAQs, and backgrounders for leadership, clinicians, and researchers.

Conference & National Visibility Support

* Supports media relations efforts tied to major national and international cancer conferences, including ASCO, AACR, SITC, ASH, and similar meetings.

* Coordinates embargoed releases, media outreach, expert interviews, and rapid-response pitching related to conference abstracts and presentations.

* Works closely with researchers and clinicians to identify opportunities to showcase UNC Health and Lineberger expertise on national stages.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

* Partners with internal communications, marketing, digital, social, and creative teams to ensure alignment and consistency across channels.

* Collaborates with cancer service line leadership, physicians, and researchers to support high-impact communications initiatives.

* Contributes to broader organizational communications priorities as needed.

Measurement & Reporting

* Tracks media coverage, message pull-through, and campaign effectiveness.

* Provides regular reporting and insights to demonstrate impact and inform future strategy.

Education Preference:

Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or a related field.

Professional Experience Preference and Skills and Abilities:

* 5-7 years of experience in media relations, public relations, or communications.

* Demonstrated experience writing about complex scientific, medical, or research-focused topics.

* Experience in healthcare, academic medicine, or research communications strongly preferred.

* Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, particularly for scientific and clinical content.

* Proven ability to secure earned media coverage across local, regional, and national outlets.

* Excellent news judgment and a proactive approach to media pitching.

* Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline.

* Confidence working directly with senior leaders, clinicians, and researchers.

* Ability to collaborate across departments and adapt to evolving priorities in a complex, matrixed organization.

* Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, and enthusiasm for learning in a dynamic healthcare communications environment.

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* No licensure or certification required.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* Five (5) years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing or related field.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
* Excellent oral and written communication skills, knowledge of medical research concepts sufficient to enable communication with clinical and basic science faculty.

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Shared Services

Organization Unit: Integrated Communications

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$41.45 - $59.58 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.