Entry Level Public Relations Associate Jobs
New grad public relations associate jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or internship work can matter more than a long resume. Most openings mix on-site and hybrid settings across Sports & Recreation, Consulting & Professional Services, and Technology & Software, with employers like Ecm Enterprises, BairesDev, and Power Digital Marketing hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 14+ Entry Level Public Relations Associate jobs
Company Description
THIS IS A CITYWIDE RECRUITMENT FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current category 16, 17, and 18 exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the 1310 Public Relations Assistant classification. This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
Application Opening: Monday, November 2, 2026
Deadline to Apply: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Monday, November 9, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.
Compensation Range: $75,426 to $91,598 annually (For more information, click here)
San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.
Job Description
Under general supervision, the Public Relations Assistant prepares and distributes public information materials through press releases, memoranda, speeches, schedules, surveys, and reports for a City department; assembles material for files; assists in the preparation of public information and publicity reports.
Examples of Important and Essential Duties
According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
- Creates drafts of public relations materials or publicity releases; prepares and distributes public relations materials as directed for the coordination of public information and other related program activity.
- Prepares and maintains accurate and up-to-date departmental publicity mailing lists; mails pamphlets, booklets and other material to interested parties.
- Compiles, gathers and proofreads data used in the preparation of annual reports, pamphlets and other reports related to departmental public relations and community activities.
- Gathers, categorizes and organizes media advisories; maintains files of newspaper, radio, television and internet research of interest to the public relations department.
- Assists with advertising strategies and arranges for and takes part in special events such as workshops, retirement ceremonies, contests, conferences, etc.
- Makes regular contacts with the public, other departments, and outside organizations to arrange/conduct department tours, and to furnish and obtain a large variety of public information.
- Answers telephones and e-mails; responds to the public and refers questions or problems regarding media advisories or publicity releases to departments or agencies.
- Maintains computer files, databases and lists of relevant groups (e.g. media) and generates computerized reports.
- Conducts online research regarding department media and publicity activities, as directed.
- Tracks and monitors contract invoices and other section costs.
Nature of Work:
Some positions may be subject to adverse weather conditions, walking long distances, and driving a vehicle to project sites and meetings. May require work on nights, weekends and/or holidays.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
- City Employment Status: Current Category 16, 17, or 18 Exempt Employee in Class 1310 who has worked at least 2,080 hours in class 1310; AND
- Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Education Substitution:
Experience in public relations, public affairs, public information, editorial, newspaper, magazine, radio, television, social media, digital engagement, advertising, marketing or similar work directly responsible for the preparation, and/or dissemination of news and information in a variety of formats for internal and external communications may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.
Verification of Education and Experience:
Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Note:
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
SELECTION PROCEDURES:
- Job Application - Applicants must fully complete the job application for this recruitment on the City and County of San Francisco's website. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the job application, the Minimum Qualifications Supplemental Questionnaire, or the Training & Experience Assessment.
- Preliminary Questionnaire - Training & Experience Assessment (Weight – 100%) – Candidates will be required to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire (PQ) and a Training & Experience Assessment (T&E) as part of the application and exam process. The questions on the T&E will be used to determine your score and rank and the eligible list. Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their exempt City service (in Category 16, 17, and/or 18) in the 1310 job class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.
Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.
[Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.
Additional Information
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
- Copies of Application Documents
- Conviction History
- Disaster Service Worker
- Diversity/Equal Employment Opportunity
- Employee Benefits Overview
- Information About the Hiring Process
- Reasonable Accommodation
- Right to Work
- Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
Where to Apply
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal.
- Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.
- Type "1310" into the "Search by class or keyword" field
- Click the link to open the job ad
- Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen
Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notifications@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records.
Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. If you have any questions, you may contact Angela Ng at Angela.Ng@sfmta.com.
Recruitment ID: ETP-1310-169008
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
Company Description
THIS IS A CITYWIDE RECRUITMENT FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current category 16, 17, and 18 exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the 1310 Public Relations Assistant classification. This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
Application Opening: Monday, November 2, 2026
Deadline to Apply: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Monday, November 9, 2026 and will close any time thereafter.
Compensation Range: $75,426 to $91,598 annually (For more information, click here)
San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.
Job Description
Under general supervision, the Public Relations Assistant prepares and distributes public information materials through press releases, memoranda, speeches, schedules, surveys, and reports for a City department; assembles material for files; assists in the preparation of public information and publicity reports.
Examples of Important and Essential Duties
According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
- Creates drafts of public relations materials or publicity releases; prepares and distributes public relations materials as directed for the coordination of public information and other related program activity.
- Prepares and maintains accurate and up-to-date departmental publicity mailing lists; mails pamphlets, booklets and other material to interested parties.
- Compiles, gathers and proofreads data used in the preparation of annual reports, pamphlets and other reports related to departmental public relations and community activities.
- Gathers, categorizes and organizes media advisories; maintains files of newspaper, radio, television and internet research of interest to the public relations department.
- Assists with advertising strategies and arranges for and takes part in special events such as workshops, retirement ceremonies, contests, conferences, etc.
- Makes regular contacts with the public, other departments, and outside organizations to arrange/conduct department tours, and to furnish and obtain a large variety of public information.
- Answers telephones and e-mails; responds to the public and refers questions or problems regarding media advisories or publicity releases to departments or agencies.
- Maintains computer files, databases and lists of relevant groups (e.g. media) and generates computerized reports.
- Conducts online research regarding department media and publicity activities, as directed.
- Tracks and monitors contract invoices and other section costs.
Nature of Work:
Some positions may be subject to adverse weather conditions, walking long distances, and driving a vehicle to project sites and meetings. May require work on nights, weekends and/or holidays.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
- City Employment Status: Current Category 16, 17, or 18 Exempt Employee in Class 1310 who has worked at least 2,080 hours in class 1310; AND
- Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Education Substitution:
Experience in public relations, public affairs, public information, editorial, newspaper, magazine, radio, television, social media, digital engagement, advertising, marketing or similar work directly responsible for the preparation, and/or dissemination of news and information in a variety of formats for internal and external communications may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.
Verification of Education and Experience:
Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Note:
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
SELECTION PROCEDURES:
- Job Application - Applicants must fully complete the job application for this recruitment on the City and County of San Francisco's website. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the job application, the Minimum Qualifications Supplemental Questionnaire, or the Training & Experience Assessment.
- Preliminary Questionnaire - Training & Experience Assessment (Weight – 100%) – Candidates will be required to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire (PQ) and a Training & Experience Assessment (T&E) as part of the application and exam process. The questions on the T&E will be used to determine your score and rank and the eligible list. Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their exempt City service (in Category 16, 17, and/or 18) in the 1310 job class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.
Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.
[Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.
Additional Information
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
- Copies of Application Documents
- Conviction History
- Disaster Service Worker
- Diversity/Equal Employment Opportunity
- Employee Benefits Overview
- Information About the Hiring Process
- Reasonable Accommodation
- Right to Work
- Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
Where to Apply
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal.
- Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.
- Type "1310" into the "Search by class or keyword" field
- Click the link to open the job ad
- Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen
Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notifications@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records.
Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. If you have any questions, you may contact Angela Ng at Angela.Ng@sfmta.com.
Recruitment ID: ETP-1310-169008
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
See All 14 Entry Level Public Relations Associate Jobs
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Sports & Recreation
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Government & Public Sector
Entry Level Public Relations Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level public relations associate job?
Entry level public relations associate roles go to candidates who can show practical communication skills, often through internships, campus PR work, or a portfolio of writing samples and media pitches. Employers at this stage look for strong writing ability, familiarity with press release formats, and comfort working across social media and email outreach. A relevant degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing is common but not always required if your portfolio is strong.
Which companies hire entry level public relations associates?
Companies hiring entry level public relations associates right now include Ecm Enterprises, BairesDev, and Power Digital Marketing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring comes from a wide range of organizations, including PR agencies, in-house corporate communications teams, nonprofits, and consumer brands building their media presence.
Are there remote entry level public relations associate jobs?
Yes, though most entry level roles still favor in-office or hybrid arrangements. About 31% of entry level public relations associate openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, giving new candidates some flexibility depending on the employer and industry. Agency roles and startup positions tend to offer more remote options than large corporate communications departments.
Are these new grad public relations associate jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior public relations associate roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or volunteer communications work toward that threshold, or accepts a portfolio in place of a long work history. If a listing does not require prior full-time PR experience, it is generally open to new grads.
Which industries hire the most entry level public relations associates?
Entry Level public relations associate roles concentrate in Sports & Recreation, Consulting & Professional Services, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they rely on consistent media outreach, brand storytelling, and stakeholder communication, creating steady demand for junior PR talent who can support campaigns and manage day-to-day press activity.