OPT Media Relations Manager Jobs
Media Relations Manager roles sit at the intersection of communications strategy and public storytelling, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in journalism, communications, or public relations. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship, and your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with STEM-adjacent fields, gives you real runway to prove your value.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Assistant Director of Public & Media Relations is the chief source for information about Millikin University and is responsible for telling the University’s story to enhance the Millikin brand by creating high-quality content such as news releases, feature pieces, articles, and other written materials.
This role is responsible for the planning, execution, analysis, and continual improvement of a comprehensive, proactive, and outcomes-driven media and public relations plan that enhances Millikin University’s visibility, reputation, relationships, and resources. The outcomes of these efforts will demonstrate increased awareness and interest of the University. The Assistant Director of Public & Media Relations is also responsible for assisting in managing emergency and crisis communications plans and activities. The position's scope of influence is both University and community wide. Success in this position necessitates skills in writing, communication, leadership, and collaboration with constituents across marketing and media, campus, and community. The Assistant Director’s schedule includes working evenings and/or weekends when necessary.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Writes and produces content for news releases, feature stories, articles, media advisories, alerts, and other written media relations materials
- Yields high-quality media coverage for the University by proactively developing and maintaining relationships and opportunities with local and national media
- Stays apprised of Millikin events and activities both on- and off-campus to identify and pursue opportunities for appropriate media coverage
- Develops and implements a comprehensive media relations plan at the local, regional, state, and national level
- Creates and maintains the news section of millikin.edu (millikin.edu/news)
- Organizes press conferences, media tours, interviews, and other events and activities to promote Millikin's academic programs, initiatives, and news
- Serves as key media relations contact and provides communication support during crisis and emergency events
- Collaborates with appropriate University offices to develop media strategies to advance the Millikin brand
- Monitors Millikin's presence in traditional, online, and social media outlets through the use of media tracking software (Cision)
- Creates and publishes student achievements on the University website
- Provides communication support for administrators, faculty, staff and students
- Tracks current events and higher education issues to explore opportunities for media placements and university collaboration
- Attends and participates in appropriate conferences, events, and networks to establish significant positioning in the community and represent the University
- Works independently and as a productive collaborator of the Marketing & Media Relations team
- Responds to tight deadlines and works on multiple projects simultaneously
- Assists the communications team with special projects and departmental initiatives, performing other work-related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Maintaining professional performance, demeanor, team-approach and focus on results while working under pressure in a dynamic environment.
Minimum Education and/or Experience:
- Excellent writing, editing, interviewing, and networking skills
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, or another related field
- Minimum three years’ professional experience in media relations or related communication field
- Ability to work independently on projects and collaborate as a strong team member
- A high degree of creativity, initiative, and integrity
- Willingness to stay up to date with emerging trends in media relations
- A confident, professional, and positive attitude
- Sound organizational skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Excellent knowledge of public relations and strategic communication principles and best practices
- Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and with precise execution
INTRODUCTION
The Assistant Director of Public & Media Relations is the chief source for information about Millikin University and is responsible for telling the University’s story to enhance the Millikin brand by creating high-quality content such as news releases, feature pieces, articles, and other written materials.
This role is responsible for the planning, execution, analysis, and continual improvement of a comprehensive, proactive, and outcomes-driven media and public relations plan that enhances Millikin University’s visibility, reputation, relationships, and resources. The outcomes of these efforts will demonstrate increased awareness and interest of the University. The Assistant Director of Public & Media Relations is also responsible for assisting in managing emergency and crisis communications plans and activities. The position's scope of influence is both University and community wide. Success in this position necessitates skills in writing, communication, leadership, and collaboration with constituents across marketing and media, campus, and community. The Assistant Director’s schedule includes working evenings and/or weekends when necessary.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Writes and produces content for news releases, feature stories, articles, media advisories, alerts, and other written media relations materials
- Yields high-quality media coverage for the University by proactively developing and maintaining relationships and opportunities with local and national media
- Stays apprised of Millikin events and activities both on- and off-campus to identify and pursue opportunities for appropriate media coverage
- Develops and implements a comprehensive media relations plan at the local, regional, state, and national level
- Creates and maintains the news section of millikin.edu (millikin.edu/news)
- Organizes press conferences, media tours, interviews, and other events and activities to promote Millikin's academic programs, initiatives, and news
- Serves as key media relations contact and provides communication support during crisis and emergency events
- Collaborates with appropriate University offices to develop media strategies to advance the Millikin brand
- Monitors Millikin's presence in traditional, online, and social media outlets through the use of media tracking software (Cision)
- Creates and publishes student achievements on the University website
- Provides communication support for administrators, faculty, staff and students
- Tracks current events and higher education issues to explore opportunities for media placements and university collaboration
- Attends and participates in appropriate conferences, events, and networks to establish significant positioning in the community and represent the University
- Works independently and as a productive collaborator of the Marketing & Media Relations team
- Responds to tight deadlines and works on multiple projects simultaneously
- Assists the communications team with special projects and departmental initiatives, performing other work-related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Maintaining professional performance, demeanor, team-approach and focus on results while working under pressure in a dynamic environment.
Minimum Education and/or Experience:
- Excellent writing, editing, interviewing, and networking skills
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, or another related field
- Minimum three years’ professional experience in media relations or related communication field
- Ability to work independently on projects and collaborate as a strong team member
- A high degree of creativity, initiative, and integrity
- Willingness to stay up to date with emerging trends in media relations
- A confident, professional, and positive attitude
- Sound organizational skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Excellent knowledge of public relations and strategic communication principles and best practices
- Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and with precise execution
See all 280+ OPT Media Relations Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Media Relations Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Media Relations Manager
Target companies with active PR infrastructure
Larger organizations with in-house communications teams file H-1B visa petitions regularly. Focus your search on companies with dedicated media relations departments, not startups where communications is a side responsibility shared across roles.
Frame your OPT timeline as a low-risk trial
Employers unfamiliar with sponsorship respond well to understanding that your OPT authorization requires no employer filing. Lead with that in conversations. It removes the immediate cost objection before they ask about long-term visa needs.
Build a measurable media coverage portfolio
Hiring managers and immigration attorneys both need evidence your role is a specialty occupation. Documented results, such as press placements in named outlets and campaign metrics, strengthen your H-1B petition narrative and differentiate you at the offer stage.
Research employer H-1B sponsorship history before applying
Not all communications employers sponsor visas. Check OFLC disclosure data to confirm a company has previously filed Labor Condition Applications for communications or PR roles before investing significant time in their application process.
Connect with communications industry associations early
Public Relations Society of America and similar organizations host events where agency and in-house PR professionals network. Meeting contacts before you need a job referral makes outreach during your OPT period significantly more effective and natural.
Clarify your OPT end date in later-stage interviews
Bring up your authorization timeline after you have demonstrated value, not in the initial screening. Frame it as a planning item: give your exact OPT expiry, explain the H-1B process briefly, and confirm you are prepared to guide the employer through it.
Media Relations Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Media Relations Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Media Relations Manager positions typically qualify as specialty occupations because the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in communications, journalism, public relations, or a closely related field. The connection between your specific degree and the job duties matters. Roles that blend communications with strategy, crisis management, or stakeholder engagement tend to have the strongest specialty occupation arguments, while generalist PR roles with loosely defined requirements can face more scrutiny.
Can F-1 OPT students work at a PR agency as a Media Relations Manager?
Yes. PR agencies are among the most common employers for OPT students in this field. Agency roles are legitimate OPT employment as long as you are on the agency's payroll and the work aligns with your degree field. Contracted or freelance arrangements do not count as valid OPT employment, so confirm you will be a direct employee before accepting. Use Migrate Mate to find agency-side Media Relations Manager roles actively open to OPT candidates.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my Media Relations Manager role ends before my OPT expires?
You enter a 60-day grace period the day your employment ends. During those 60 days, you can search for a new Media Relations Manager position, change to a different visa status, or transfer to a new school program. You cannot work during this period. If you secure a new role within 60 days, your OPT authorization continues under the same EAD card as long as it has not expired.
Is a Media Relations Manager role eligible for the STEM OPT extension?
Generally no. Communications and public relations programs are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, so most Media Relations Manager roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. However, if your underlying degree is in a STEM field, such as data science or information systems, and your role has a demonstrable technical component, the extension may apply. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
How do I find Media Relations Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Standard job boards rarely filter by visa sponsorship willingness, which wastes significant time during a limited OPT window. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored roles, so every Media Relations Manager listing on the platform is tagged by sponsorship status. Searching there first lets you focus your energy on employers already open to your situation rather than discovering late in the process that sponsorship is off the table.