The Senior Communications Specialist – Media Relations role is responsible for protecting Mayo Clinic’s reputation and positively elevating the organization’s visibility externally through earned media and media relations issues management, as well as will help to build and maintain internal processes for the function. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and relationship builder who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is comfortable working on high-profile sensitive matters with cross-functional teams and senior leaders across the organization in an agile work environment.

This role will be skilled in having discerning and excellent judgement in media strategies that protect Mayo Clinic’s reputation. They will also have strong writing, editing, and verbal communications, as well as will be detail oriented with strong follow through. Supporting issues after hours if needed is a normal course of business in the role.

Experience in media relations, journalism, or public affairs, preferably in or with a healthcare organization, is required. Experience working at a public relations or public affairs agency is a plus. 

Key functions of the position include:

• Issues Management: Support the development and execution of media responses and engagement during sensitive or high-profile issues. Collaborate with leadership across functions to ensure alignment and accuracy. Closely monitor relevant news across industries.
• Media Training & Guidance: Provide media training and guidance to internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with brand and messaging protocols and policies.
• Media Monitoring, Analytics & Reporting: Track media coverage, analyze trends, and prepare regular reports using tools. 
• Operational & Organizational Support: Help build, document, and maintain internal communications processes and workflows. Support the integration of tools and platforms that enhance team efficiency and consistency. The role will identify opportunities with AI and automation as part of this support.
  

Expectations of the role also include:

• Media Inquiry Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for incoming media requests. Coordinate timely and accurate responses in collaboration with subject matter experts.
• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders—including executives, clinical experts, and department leads—to identify and vet story opportunities and prepare spokespeople for media engagements. Pitch stories and secure media coverage across local, national, and trade outlets. Identify social and internal amplification opportunities.
• Content Creation: Draft and distribute press releases, media statements, talking points, media briefs, and op-eds. Ensure all materials align with brand voice and strategic messaging and account for potential sensitivities to protect the organization’s reputation. Assess medical studies for earned media opportunities and execute research promotion including drafting and distributing embargoed press releases. Work in collaboration with multimedia team to develop video packages and press kits with visual assets. Must be proficient in AP Style.
• Press Event Support: Organize and prepare for virtual and in-person media events and assist with media logistics for press events and interviews.
• Media Database & Workflow Management: Maintain media contact lists and support integration of media workflows into project management platforms.

The department is responsible to build, grow and protect Mayo Clinic’s reputation in a way that shapes the external environment and nurtures the culture to help achieve the mission of the organization. Department functions consist of reputation management including thought leadership and issues/crisis response; client communications and engagement programs; staff engagement; content and channels; government and community engagement; strategy and insights; communications services.

The senior specialist understands Mayo Clinic business objectives and priorities to develop plans to support those objectives. The senior specialist provides consultation and guidance to various clients, and plans, drives, implements, monitors and measures results. Develops and maintains relationships with Mayo Clinic executive leadership, staff and members of the local and national government and/or media to advance organizational awareness and achievements.  May lead client teams and provides mentorship and direction to others.

Requires a bachelor's degree in a related field plus 3 years of relevant work experience. Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate in a way that creates clarity, simplifies messages, and aligns with organizational strategy. Knowledge of channels for communication and the ability to build effective communication and engagement strategies.

Must be a self-starter with the ability to independently identify opportunities, solutions and resolve challenges. Demonstrated ability to deliver impactful results. Requires an attitude that actively seeks out change, embraces critical questioning, innovation, service and continuous improvement. Must understand how to deal with and navigate ambiguity, and act without having the total picture. Adaptable or flexible. Demonstrated professionalism and ethics, with ability to earn credibility through integrity and transparency. Role models service excellence. Motivates others by being present, engaged, attentive, invites diverse perspectives, demonstrates and inspires a collaborative spirit.

Must be able to work effectively in a consensus-style and collaborative environment that expects and promotes teamwork. Must possess the ability to inspire trust and confidence and maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.