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Harris County · 14 hours ago

Media Relations Director

Houston, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

7+ years exp

Harris County, the largest county in Texas, is seeking a Media Relations Director to lead their communications efforts. The role involves setting media strategy, managing press relations, and overseeing crisis communications to enhance the office's public presence and narrative across various media outlets.

Government Administration

Responsibilities

Build the annual earned-media plan aligned with the priorities of the office, the narrative plan, and policy calendar

Define target outlets, key beats, editorial-board goals, validators, and a forward-looking moments calendar

Set clear goals for framing, reach, and impact

Plan and place stories with smart sequencing—exclusives and embargoes—line up validators and surrogates and keep an editorial-board roadmap to land our 'why' and 'how' in top outlets

Lead rapid response—define triggers, agree on a message with the Director of Narrative Strategy, the Communications Director, and the leadership team; keep pre-approved language current; and meet speed targets

Set crisis posture and holding lines; coordinate legal/policy review; monitor and counter rumors and misinformation

Manage and coach the Press Secretary and Community Media Manager—set objectives, run 1:1s, review copy, and develop talent

Coordinate Spanish-language work with County translation services or trusted partners

Own and deepen relationships with key reporters and editors across local, state, and national outlets; schedule desk visits, background briefings, and media mixers

Maintain a reputation for credibility, speed, and accuracy

Co-lead launch plans with Narrative, Digital, and Creative teams so press coverage is in sync with other communication channels

Oversee media prep for the Commissioner and principals including briefing materials, key lines, Q&A, pivots, and interview preparation

Ensure culturally relevant framing; secure multilingual placements

Partner with the Digital Director, track how often our framing appears in coverage, placement quality, and audience reach

Publish a monthly 'what worked / scale–pause–adjust' note; refresh the priority topics and targets quarterly

Maintain media policies and press playbooks (background and attribution norms, exclusives, response-time expectations); keep press lists current and segmented; set media-mix targets

Ensure press operations run smoothly

Qualification

Media relationsCrisis communicationsStrategic communicationsSpanish proficiencyRelationship buildingEquityJustice focusTeam managementCollaboration

Required

Bachelor's or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required

Equivalent work experience or certifications may also be considered

7–10+ years in media relations, journalism, or strategic communications (or equivalent mix of newsroom and comms experience)

Proven record shaping coverage across local, state, and national outlets—examples of exclusives/embargoes, editorial boards, and placements that carried your framing

Experience managing a press bench and running complex launch plans end-to-end

Exceptional news judgment under pressure; able to craft first lines quickly, escalate appropriately, and steer crisis communications

Excellent writing and editing for press materials; skilled at briefing principals and coaching spokespeople (Q&A, pivots, interview prep)

Deep relationships with key reporters/editors and the ability to build new ones quickly, including community and Spanish-language outlets

Strong collaborator with narrative, digital, and creative partners to sync press with web/email, social, and assets

Demonstrated experience leading or shaping strategic communications on issues of equity and justice, particularly those affecting communities of color, with attention to credibility, cultural relevance, and public trust

Commitment to equity, plain language, accessibility, and Spanish-language parity