Media Relations Manager at AccuWeather in State College, PA

The Media Relations Manager will lead and execute proactive and strategic media relations efforts that elevate AccuWeather’s global brand, reinforce our position as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, and amplify our mission of saving lives and protecting property. The Media Relations Manager will report directly to the Vice President of Corporate Communications and will have one direct report, the Media Relations Supervisor. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with national, regional, and trade media; securing high-impact coverage; shaping compelling narratives around AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™, products, innovation, leadership, and enterprise solutions; and supporting executive visibility. The Media Relations Manager will serve as a key spokesperson and strategic advisor, ensuring consistent, timely, and accurate messaging across earned media channels in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Develop and execute comprehensive media relations strategies aligned with corporate priorities, product launches, major weather events, research releases, partnerships, and company milestones Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and influencers across national, business, technology, science, trade, and broadcast media Draft, edit, and oversee the distribution of press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, FAQs, and executive messaging Lead proactive media outreach to secure coverage highlighting AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™, innovation, thought leadership, AccuWeather For Business solutions, and the AccuWeather Network Serve as a primary media contact and spokesperson; manage inbound inquiries and coordinate interviews with executives, meteorologists, and subject matter experts Partner cross-functionally to ensure message alignment and maximize media impact Manage communications during significant weather events and time-sensitive situations Monitor media coverage, analyze results, and provide reporting and insights to leadership Support executive visibility initiatives and thought leadership opportunities Maintain organized media lists, press materials, messaging documents, and coverage archives Work with external PR agencies or vendors as needed Be available to work outside of normal business hours, including nights and weekends, as needed based on company needs and events Perform other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field 2-4+ years of progressive experience in media relations, public relations, or corporate communications Proven track record of securing national and top-tier media coverage Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills Experience serving as a spokesperson and managing media inquiries Strong understanding of AP Style and media best practices Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, particularly during high-profile weather events Preferred Qualifications: Experience in broadcast, science, technology, or weather-related communications Familiarity with media monitoring and distribution tools Experience supporting executive communications and thought leadership platforms Background working with B2B and B2C brands Skills & Competencies: Strategic thinker able to translate complex scientific and technical information into compelling media narratives Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills Excellent organizational and project management abilities Calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented under pressure Collaborative team player with the ability to work independently High level of professionalism and sound judgment Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools ABOUT ACCUWEATHER AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved over 12,000 lives, prevented injury to over 100,000 people, and saved companies tens of billions of dollars through better planning and decision-making. Billions of people around the world rely on AccuWeather’s proven Superior Accuracy™ across our consumer digital platforms. AccuWeather.com is the #1 weather destination and one of the top 100 most-visited websites in the world, and our award-winning AccuWeather app delivers detailed real-time forecasts to millions of smartphones. AccuWeather forecasts also appear on digital signage, in 700 newspapers, are heard on over 400 radio stations, and viewed on 100 television stations. The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® reach an audience of over 125 million on cable and streaming platforms including DirecTV, Charter Communications - Spectrum, Verizon, Philo, Frndly TV, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Stream, Roku, Xumo, Rockbot, LG, and Amazon Freevee. AccuWeather For Business serves more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other businesses and government agencies globally. Dr. Joel Myers, Founder and Executive Chairman, established AccuWeather in 1962 and is considered the “father of modern commercial meteorology.” Myers, a leading creative thinker and visionary, has been called “the most accurate man in weather” by The New York Times and has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur’s Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AccuWeather is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to all applicants and existing employees and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity/expression), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religion, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. AccuWeather is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to human.resources@accuweather.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.