Public Relations Associate Jobs
Public Relations Associate jobs are open across corporate communications, nonprofit, healthcare, technology, and agency settings, from entry-level to mid-career, with specializations in media relations, social media, and crisis communications. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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POSITION SUMMARY
The Marketing Coordinator, Public Relations provides hands-on coordination and execution support for McCarthy’s national public relations and external communications programs. Reporting to the Director, Public Relations, this role helps turn enterprise PR priorities into organized, timely, high-quality work across media relations, executive thought leadership, awards, storytelling, events, and regional communications.
This role is designed for a highly organized, detail-oriented communicator who can keep multiple workstreams moving while building trusted relationships across the Marketing & Brand department, regional teams, executives, PR agencies, and other business partners. The coordinator supports execution of the enterprise PR strategy established by the Vice President, Public Relations, and the counsel and priorities led by the Director, Public Relations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
PR Coordination and Execution
- Coordinate PR projects from intake through completion, including timelines, assignments, approvals, status updates, and final deliverables.
- Support enterprise and regional PR plans by tracking activities against approved priorities, messages, audiences, and deadlines.
- Maintain organized PR calendars, editorial calendars, media lists, opportunity trackers, awards calendars, and project documentation.
- Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, status reports, action logs, and follow-up communications for PR planning and working sessions.
- Track requests and next steps across internal partners, regional PR leads, executives, PR agencies, and vendors.
- Help identify opportunities to repurpose approved stories, project milestones, and expert insights across appropriate external channels.
- Monitor trade, business and regional media coverage; flag relevant opportunities, risks, and trends to the PR team.
Media Relations and Storytelling Support
- Monitor trade, business and regional media coverage; flag relevant opportunities, risks, and trends to the PR team.
- Research media outlets, reporters, topics, deadlines, and relevant McCarthy expertise to support media outreach.
- Assist with media lists, pitch development, interview coordination, background materials, coverage tracking, and post-placement follow-up.
- Draft and edit first versions of pitches, media alerts, press materials, award submissions, executive biographies, talking points, bylined articles, and other external communications under the direction of PR leadership.
- Gather project facts, proof points, photographs, approvals, and subject-matter-expert input to support accurate, compelling storytelling.
- Coordinate with social, digital, content, and events partners on approved external storytelling and PR amplification.
- Maintain accurate records of media opportunities, placements, awards, speaking engagements, and other PR outcomes.
Executive Thought Leadership Support
- Monitor trade, business and regional media coverage; flag relevant opportunities, risks, and trends to the PR team.
- Coordinate the workflow for executive thought leadership, including topic development, research, interviews, drafts, reviews, approvals, submissions, and publication tracking.
- Prepare research summaries, background documents, briefing materials, and follow-up notes for executive communications and external engagements.
- Support message alignment by working from approved talking points, narrative guidance, and enterprise priorities.
- Coordinate with the Director and Vice President of Public Relations, regional PR leads, and other partners to keep executive communications moving efficiently.
Awards, Events, and Regional Communications
- Monitor trade, business and regional media coverage; flag relevant opportunities, risks, and trends to the PR team.
- Maintain an awards calendar and coordinate research, eligibility checks, submission materials, approvals, deadlines, and results tracking.
- Support PR-related event and speaking opportunities by coordinating logistics, materials, biographies, talking points, and follow-up.
- Partner with regional PR professionals and marketing teams to collect local stories, project milestones, media opportunities, and subject-matter expertise for potential enterprise amplification.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, marketing, journalism or equivalent experience
- Minimum 3 years professional experience writing marketing or communications (across many industries or in the Architect, Engineering and Construction industry)
- Public relations agency experience is a plus
- Strong ability to partner and think strategically
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Able to grasp complex subject matter quickly
- Proven ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and manage multiple assignments concurrently
- Occasional travel required
McCarthy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: McCarthy’s Talent Acquisition Team is the only authorized representative permitted to engage with external search firms, staffing agencies, or other third-party recruiting partners. McCarthy maintains an Approved Agency List for recruiting partners, which is reviewed and updated annually.
McCarthy will only consider submissions from agencies with a signed fee agreement in place for the current year. McCarthy does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate submissions, or referrals from agencies that do not meet these requirements.
If a candidate is submitted without an active agreement, McCarthy will have no obligation to pay any fees and reserves the right to contact, engage, interview, or hire such candidate(s) without any financial or other responsibility to the submitting agency. Unsolicited resumes, including those sent directly to hiring managers or other employees, will be considered the property of McCarthy.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Public Relations Associate Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsPublic Relations Associate Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Highwire19
- Ecm Enterprises7
- FINN Partners5
- Klaviyo4
- BairesDev4
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Sports & Recreation
- Technology & Software
- Education
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in public relations associate jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field
- Proficiency in writing and editing press releases, pitches, and media advisories
- Experience with media monitoring and distribution tools such as Cision or Meltwater
- Strong understanding of media relations and ability to build journalist contacts
- Familiarity with social media platforms and content scheduling tools
- One to two years of relevant internship or professional PR experience
Tips for Your Public Relations Associate Job Search
Tailor your resume to PR metrics
Hiring managers want to see outcomes, not duties. Quantify media placements secured, press release pickup rates, and audience reach instead of listing generic writing tasks. Even internship results belong in your bullets if they show real-world impact.
Build a clips portfolio before applying
Attach a one-page portfolio link to every application. Include press releases, pitches you drafted, and any earned media coverage you contributed to. Agencies and in-house teams both screen for writing quality before the first interview.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists public relations associate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by PR specialization
Job titles vary widely: media relations, communications associate, PR coordinator, and account coordinator all describe similar work. Search multiple title variations so you don't overlook openings that match your skills but use different wording.
Prepare specific pitching examples for interviews
Interviewers at agencies routinely ask you to describe a pitch you wrote and how you tailored it to a reporter's beat. Have two or three concrete examples ready, including one that didn't land, so you can discuss what you adjusted.
Negotiate start date and professional development budget
Entry-level PR roles often have little salary flexibility but more room on start dates, conference attendance, and tool access. If base pay is fixed, ask about PRSA membership reimbursement or attendance at industry events, which carry real career value.
Public Relations Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most public relations associates?
The most active employers for public relations associates right now are Highwire, Ecm Enterprises, and FINN Partners, and the most openings are in New York, California, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring activity shifts frequently, so checking current listings gives you the most accurate picture of where demand is concentrated.
How many public relations associate jobs are remote?
About 72% of public relations associate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in digital PR, content-driven communications, and roles at technology companies. Agency positions and roles requiring regular media event attendance are more likely to be on-site or in a hybrid schedule.
How do you become a public relations associate?
Most public relations associates start with a degree in communications, journalism, or a related field, then build experience through internships at agencies, nonprofits, or in-house corporate teams. From there, developing a clips portfolio, learning media monitoring tools, and cultivating relationships with journalists are the practical steps that move candidates from internship to full-time hire.
Can you get a public relations associate job with little experience?
Yes, many employers hire candidates with limited formal experience if they can demonstrate strong writing ability and initiative. Internship work, college newspaper clips, campus communications roles, or volunteer PR projects for local organizations all count. Submitting a portfolio alongside your resume significantly improves your chances when your work history is thin.
What does the public relations associate interview process look like?
Most public relations associate interviews include an initial phone or video screen focused on background and writing experience, followed by a skills assessment such as a sample press release or media pitch. Final rounds typically involve a conversation with a senior communications manager or account team lead, where you walk through past work and demonstrate knowledge of the employer's industry and media landscape.
Where can I find and apply to public relations associate jobs?
You can find and apply to public relations associate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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