Director, Public Relations - Ultimate Medical Academy

Purpose of the Position:

The Director of Public Relations contributes to the development and execution of UMAE’s public relations strategy. In collaboration with multiple departments, this role is responsible for overseeing and contributing to earned, owned and sponsored media content; supporting executive thought leadership; developing brand journalism to capture and promote student, partner, team member and organizational success stories; building, maintaining and working from an annual media calendar; establishing and nurturing relationships with journalists, publishers, podcasters and producers; monitoring and responding to relevant news trends; monitoring and reporting relevant KPIs; and supporting crisis/emergency communications as needed.

UMA is a nonprofit healthcare educational institution with a national presence. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida and founded in 1994, UMA offers content-rich, interactive online programs as well as hands-on training at our Clearwater, Florida campus. 

• Anticipated salary of $100,000-130,000; based on experience and qualifications.
• Medical (including prescription), Dental, Vision (UMA subsidized)
• FSA/HSA (Depending on Medical Plan chosen)
• $50,000 Life Insurance (UMA paid)
• Additional Voluntary Life Insurance (Team Member paid)
• Employee Assistance Program – EAP (UMA paid)
• Long Term Disability (UMA paid)
• Short Term Disability (Team Member paid)
• Supplemental Insurance such as Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital (Team Member Paid)
• Paid Time Off – 15 days accrued in year 1, 9 holidays, and 1 day of Volunteering Time Off
• 401k (eligible upon completion of 90 days of employment and must be at least 21 years of age)
• Pet Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection

What You’ll Do:

1. Media Relations Strategy: Contribute to the development and manage day-to-day implementation of a public relations strategy to enhance national recognition of UMAE as a leader in adult education and healthcare workforce solutions.
2. Relationship Building: Establish and maintain positive relationships with journalists, editors, and publishers covering general news, education, healthcare, and workforce development in key UMAE geographies and national press.
3. Content Development and Distribution: Identify, develop, and pitch relevant news stories, op-eds, interview opportunities, and speaking engagements. Write, edit, and distribute press releases, brand journalism, and thought leadership articles on UMAE’s owned media channels.
4. Collaboration and Compliance: Partner with internal teams (Marketing, Communications, Compliance, Strategy, Legal, etc.) and external public relations partners to ensure accuracy, consistency, and regulatory compliance in all communications.
5. Media Monitoring and Reporting: Manage UMAE’s media monitoring platforms, create regular reports to track key performance indicators (KPIs), and maintain the annual media calendar and news archive.
6. Perform other duties as assigned.

Career Level Expectations:

• Recognized expert in professional discipline (typically obtained through post-secondary education and work experience).
• Manages large projects or processes with limited supervision from people leader.
• Coaches, reviews, and delegates work to proficient and entry-level professionals.
• Difficult and often complex problems and are typically solved through drawing from prior experience and
  in-depth analysis of issues, in collaboration with others.
• Desire for growth and professional development.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Public Relations or Communications or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in a public relations leadership role.
• Experience managing direct reports and outside partners.
• Public speaking and presentation experience.
• Skills – expert knowledge of Associated Press (AP) Style Guidelines; expert writing, editing and presentation skills; meticulous attention to style, spelling, grammar, and accuracy; ability to self-direct, and time management.
• Ability to professionally communicate fluently in verbal and written English.
• Ability to support a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Computer literacy/basic computer skills to effectively navigate and utilize the technology required for the role.

Preferred Requirements:

• Any advanced degree or equivalent experience and/or strong or advanced proficiency in any of the above required skills/experience.
• 10+ years public relations or related experience.
• Experience in a public relations or related role at a higher education or healthcare organization.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other business tools such as Microsoft Teams.
• Other skills or abilities – media relations, crisis management, and industry knowledge.

Compliance: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and carefully follows all applicable state laws and rules, federal and state compliance requirements and regulations including those prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education, accrediting agencies, state regulations and internal policies and procedures.  
• Effectively communicate compliance requirements to other staff as appropriate and quickly escalate any compliance concerns to the Compliance department. 

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Fully remote with up to 30-50% travel required, depending on proximity to UMA’s campus locations.
• Home office set up, quiet place to work, ability to be on camera, and ability to hard wire into high-speed internet connection.
• May require setup of computer equipment; accommodation consideration available upon request.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, as needed.

OUR VALUES

Our institutional values are shaped and validated by our team members. They describe how we strive to operate and are the standards of behavior we look to embody. 

ACT WITH INTEGRITY

We operate honestly and ethically in an industry-compliant fashion. We are fair and trustworthy in our interactions with all we serve. Our team members, at all levels, lead by example and strive to do the right thing for our students and for each other. We are disciplined professionals who strive to be straightforward and dependable.

CHAMPION STUDENT OUTCOMES

We live by a strong commitment to our students and are passionate about preparing them for meaningful careers. We are deeply dedicated to ensuring students’ educational and career success. We excel at building our students’ confidence and empowering them to reach their full potential.

COMMIT TO TEAM MEMBER SUCCESS

We are committed to our team members’ success and to each other’s success. We strive to create an environment that attracts and retains the best talent while offering continuous learning, professional development and career growth opportunities. We recognize and reward our team members for their contributions to the organization and to our students.

PURSUE RESULTS WITH PURPOSE

We pursue results with a sense of urgency and purpose. We take responsibility for achieving ambitious, measurable results and hold each other accountable. We think strategically and critically, greet new ideas and challenges openly, and look for innovative solutions to challenges.

HAVE FUN. BUILD ENERGY

Enjoying what we do is central to achieving our goals. Building energy, having fun, being optimistic and creating a positive working environment are all critical to our success and that of our students. We strive to be inspired and to inspire others. We consistently show appreciation and celebrate our successes, both large and small.

WORK AS ONE

We believe that diverse, inclusive teams produce breakthrough results. We strive to build and maintain positive relationships with colleagues from all types of backgrounds by showing respect and humility when interacting with each other and resolving conflicts in a constructive manner. By working together, we win together - as one - ensuring that the goals of the company are the focal point of our efforts.

UMA will NEVER ask you to send money or ask you to provide bank account information in order for you to get reimbursed for tools to work. If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from UMA about a job posting, you can always verify the position at https://careers-ultimatemedical.icims.com/