Public Relations Specialist

Job Summary

The Public Relations Specialist supports the mission of Lamar State College Orange by developing written content, media relations strategies, and storytelling opportunities that promote the college's programs, services, partnerships, events, students, faculty, staff, and institutional initiatives. This position serves as a key contributor to the college's public relations and communications efforts by writing press releases, web stories, web content, promotional content, and email marketing materials that strengthen LSCO's visibility and reputation.

The Public Relations Specialist coordinates with local and regional media to promote positive stories about LSCO, facilitate interviews, and connect reporters with faculty and staff who can serve as subject matter experts. This position also plans, coordinates, and hosts the "Gator Bites" podcast, helping identify episode topics, prepare guests, develop interview questions, and use the podcast as a storytelling platform for the college.

Duties/Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

• Write, edit, and distribute press releases, media advisories, web stories, feature stories, promotional content, email marketing content, and other public-facing communications.
• Develop compelling stories that highlight LSCO students, faculty, staff, alumni, programs, partnerships, events, and community impact.
• Coordinate with local and regional media outlets to pitch story ideas, respond to media requests, and support positive media coverage of the college.
• Facilitate interviews between members of the media and LSCO administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.
• Work with faculty and staff subject matter experts to develop story angles, prepare talking points, and support media interviews related to academic programs, workforce training, college initiatives, and areas of expertise.
• Plan, coordinate, and host "Gator Bites" podcast episodes, including topic development, guest coordination, interview preparation, script writing, recording support, and promotional planning.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to ensure podcast episodes, press releases, web stories, and promotional content align with LSCO's brand, tone, messaging, and institutional priorities.
• Write and update web content for LSCO programs, departments, events, initiatives, and campaigns in collaboration with the Web Administrator and campus stakeholders.
• Write promotional and recruitment-focused content for campaigns, including emails, landing pages, digital ads, print materials, social media captions, and other communication channels as needed.
• Support email marketing efforts by writing clear, engaging, audience-specific content for prospective students, current students, employees, alumni, community partners, and other key audiences.
• Maintain and update media contact lists for local, regional, and industry-specific media outlets.
• Monitor media coverage of LSCO and assist with tracking, organizing, and reporting earned media placements.
• Attend college events, programs, and activities as needed to gather information, conduct interviews, take notes, and develop content for publication.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and campus partners to collect accurate information and ensure all content reflects LSCO's mission, values, and priorities.
• Ensure written content is accurate, accessible, professional, and consistent with LSCO brand standards, AP style, and college communication guidelines.
• Assist with crisis communication, public information, and time-sensitive messaging as directed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum/Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Digital Media, or a related field preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, media relations, writing, or related work preferred.
• Experience writing for news, web, marketing, public relations, or institutional communications preferred.
• Experience with podcasting, interviewing, media coordination, or content production is a plus.
• Familiarity with higher education environments is a plus.

Skills

• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, interviewing, and storytelling skills.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively for multiple formats, including press releases, web stories, promotional content, email marketing, podcast scripts, talking points, and web content.
• Ability to identify strong story angles and translate institutional information into engaging content for public audiences.
• Strong verbal communication skills and comfort serving as the host of a college podcast.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with media representatives, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.
• Strong organizational and project-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, interviews, and communication needs at one time.
• Experience with or willingness to learn Modern Campus CMS.
• Experience with or willingness to learn Watermark CRM or other email marketing platforms.
• Basic photography, audio production, or multimedia content skills preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse departments and stakeholders across campus.
• Professional judgment, attention to detail, and ability to maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive information.