Public Relations Jobs in Tennessee
Public relations jobs in Tennessee are consistently active, with steady demand across healthcare, entertainment, higher education, and state government from entry-level coordinators through senior communications directors. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville anchor most of the hiring, where organizations like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, and Tennessee Valley Authority maintain established communications teams. Corporate communications, crisis communications, and media relations are among the most sought-after specialties, reflecting the state's mix of large healthcare systems and entertainment industry presence. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Public Relations JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 6+ Public Relations jobs
The Tombras Touchpoints Program Manager provides operational and program leadership for the Tombras School’s engagement, outreach, and special programs. Working closely with the Charles Tombras Sr. Endowed Professor and the school director, this position develops and implements initiatives that advance the school’s strategic goals, strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, support student success and professional development, enhance recruitment and brand visibility, and assist with academic operations.
Community Engagement & Outreach
In collaboration with the Tombras Endowed Professor, develop new outreach and engagement initiatives and implement existing programs that support the school’s strategic goals.
Lead execution of the Tombras Touchpoints Strategy, ensuring alignment with goals for prospective, undergraduate, and graduate student engagement.
Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to expand the Tombras School’s visibility, partnerships, and impact.
Prepare and submit nominations and applications for internal and external awards and recognitions. This includes identifying relevant award opportunities both in industry and academia, collecting relevant information, and compiling the application packets in compliance with award criteria.
Provide operational leadership for the Tombras School summer program, The Content Creator's Toolkit, including recruitment, space coordination, and supervision of student assistants.
Liaise with CCI’s Communication and Marketing team to ensure branding, messaging, and communication strategies are implemented consistently in the school. This includes preparing marketing materials, submitting marketing requests, meeting with the appropriate team members to discuss program needs, and serving as the point person for school faculty and staff for branding questions.
Plan and execute Tombras School visits, tours, and participation in school fairs; represent the school directly or arrange for appropriate faculty, staff, or student representation at external fairs and events.
Represent the school at university and community events, including open houses, fairs, and other outreach activities.
Prepare and deliver presentations about the Tombras School and Tombras Touchpoints initiatives to a variety of audiences.
Track, collect, prepare, and analyze assessment and evaluation data for outreach and engagement programs, making improvement recommendations to the Tombras Endowed Professor and Director of the Tombras School.
Drive broader college outreach and engagement initiatives by aligning school-level efforts with the CCI Director of Access and Engagement.
Manage large-scale school events such as the annual showcase and speaker series.
Drive execution of the purpose project by monitoring deliverables, tracking timeline milestones, and providing progress updates to key stakeholders.
Partners with faculty to research, design, develop, and evaluate training, workshops and other learning opportunities for students and community partners.
Create learning activities and content to support outreach and engagement initiatives.
Student Success
Manage the Tombras School Ambassadors program, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of student ambassadors.
Manage the Tombras Talks workshop series, including planning, coordination, and execution.
Coordinate with CCI’s Office for Academic Affairs and Student Success to ensure Tombras students are informed about and connected to available college- and university-level opportunities and resources.
Plan and deliver additional professional development opportunities for students.
Communicate with student support resources and professional development opportunities to faculty.
Academic Program Support
Supervise the Academic program coordinator in their assessment and event planning responsibilities.
Co-chair of the school’s access and engagement committee.
Serve on the college’s access and engagement committee and on university-related committees as needed.
Assist the director and the school’s assessment and curriculum in collecting assessment data and documentation for program reviews, evaluations, and catalog updates.
Support the director in providing learning and development opportunities for faculty, especially as relates to industry changes and institutional policies and standards.
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree (Any Field. Preferred: Advertising, Public Relations, or Closely Related Field.)
Experience: 4 years of experience executing programs or projects.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Strong oral and written communications skills, including editing and writing experience across long- and short-form print, web, video, or social media pieces and platforms.
Exceptional organization skills and demonstrated ability to manage a series of projects concurrently.
Strong knowledge of the academic and applied fields of advertising and public relations.
Ability to work with diverse audiences.
Excellent time management skills.
Advanced knowledge of industry-standard publishing tools including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office suite, WordPress, etc.
Ability to direct vendors, including printers, writers, photographers, media buyers, and multi-media teams.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree
Experience : 6 years of experience executing programs or projects in a higher education setting. Relevant experience in multiple specialty areas, such as event planning, design, copywriting, social media strategy, or media planning.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Expertise in multiple specialty communications areas (design, writing, media relations, marketing, communications strategy, etc.).
Ability communicating and marketing initiatives at an institution of higher education, government agency, or company.
Evidence of strategic visioning to reach and engage diverse populations.
Work Location
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Onsite
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR 11
Anticipated hiring range: $65,000 - $68,000
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:
Resume
Cover Letter
The Tombras Touchpoints Program Manager provides operational and program leadership for the Tombras School’s engagement, outreach, and special programs. Working closely with the Charles Tombras Sr. Endowed Professor and the school director, this position develops and implements initiatives that advance the school’s strategic goals, strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, support student success and professional development, enhance recruitment and brand visibility, and assist with academic operations.
Community Engagement & Outreach
In collaboration with the Tombras Endowed Professor, develop new outreach and engagement initiatives and implement existing programs that support the school’s strategic goals.
Lead execution of the Tombras Touchpoints Strategy, ensuring alignment with goals for prospective, undergraduate, and graduate student engagement.
Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to expand the Tombras School’s visibility, partnerships, and impact.
Prepare and submit nominations and applications for internal and external awards and recognitions. This includes identifying relevant award opportunities both in industry and academia, collecting relevant information, and compiling the application packets in compliance with award criteria.
Provide operational leadership for the Tombras School summer program, The Content Creator's Toolkit, including recruitment, space coordination, and supervision of student assistants.
Liaise with CCI’s Communication and Marketing team to ensure branding, messaging, and communication strategies are implemented consistently in the school. This includes preparing marketing materials, submitting marketing requests, meeting with the appropriate team members to discuss program needs, and serving as the point person for school faculty and staff for branding questions.
Plan and execute Tombras School visits, tours, and participation in school fairs; represent the school directly or arrange for appropriate faculty, staff, or student representation at external fairs and events.
Represent the school at university and community events, including open houses, fairs, and other outreach activities.
Prepare and deliver presentations about the Tombras School and Tombras Touchpoints initiatives to a variety of audiences.
Track, collect, prepare, and analyze assessment and evaluation data for outreach and engagement programs, making improvement recommendations to the Tombras Endowed Professor and Director of the Tombras School.
Drive broader college outreach and engagement initiatives by aligning school-level efforts with the CCI Director of Access and Engagement.
Manage large-scale school events such as the annual showcase and speaker series.
Drive execution of the purpose project by monitoring deliverables, tracking timeline milestones, and providing progress updates to key stakeholders.
Partners with faculty to research, design, develop, and evaluate training, workshops and other learning opportunities for students and community partners.
Create learning activities and content to support outreach and engagement initiatives.
Student Success
Manage the Tombras School Ambassadors program, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of student ambassadors.
Manage the Tombras Talks workshop series, including planning, coordination, and execution.
Coordinate with CCI’s Office for Academic Affairs and Student Success to ensure Tombras students are informed about and connected to available college- and university-level opportunities and resources.
Plan and deliver additional professional development opportunities for students.
Communicate with student support resources and professional development opportunities to faculty.
Academic Program Support
Supervise the Academic program coordinator in their assessment and event planning responsibilities.
Co-chair of the school’s access and engagement committee.
Serve on the college’s access and engagement committee and on university-related committees as needed.
Assist the director and the school’s assessment and curriculum in collecting assessment data and documentation for program reviews, evaluations, and catalog updates.
Support the director in providing learning and development opportunities for faculty, especially as relates to industry changes and institutional policies and standards.
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree (Any Field. Preferred: Advertising, Public Relations, or Closely Related Field.)
Experience: 4 years of experience executing programs or projects.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Strong oral and written communications skills, including editing and writing experience across long- and short-form print, web, video, or social media pieces and platforms.
Exceptional organization skills and demonstrated ability to manage a series of projects concurrently.
Strong knowledge of the academic and applied fields of advertising and public relations.
Ability to work with diverse audiences.
Excellent time management skills.
Advanced knowledge of industry-standard publishing tools including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office suite, WordPress, etc.
Ability to direct vendors, including printers, writers, photographers, media buyers, and multi-media teams.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree
Experience : 6 years of experience executing programs or projects in a higher education setting. Relevant experience in multiple specialty areas, such as event planning, design, copywriting, social media strategy, or media planning.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Expertise in multiple specialty communications areas (design, writing, media relations, marketing, communications strategy, etc.).
Ability communicating and marketing initiatives at an institution of higher education, government agency, or company.
Evidence of strategic visioning to reach and engage diverse populations.
Work Location
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Onsite
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR 11
Anticipated hiring range: $65,000 - $68,000
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:
Resume
Cover Letter
See All 6 Public Relations Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Public Relations JobsPublic Relations Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Public Relations Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in public relations jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing media relations strategies and press materials
- Strong writing and editing skills across press releases, pitches, and digital content
- Proficiency with media monitoring tools and social media management platforms
- Ability to manage multiple campaigns simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
- Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential preferred by many Tennessee employers
Public Relations Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a public relations professional in Tennessee?
Public relations is not state-licensed in Tennessee, so the path runs through education and credentialing rather than a licensing board. Most Tennessee employers require a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, or journalism. The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential, awarded by the Public Relations Society of America, is a recognized mark of professional standing that strengthens your candidacy with larger Tennessee employers, particularly in healthcare and corporate communications.
How much do public relationses make in Tennessee?
Public relationses in Tennessee earn a median of about $60,900 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $37,450 for the lowest 10% to over $98,370 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire public relations professionals in Tennessee?
Employers hiring public relations professionals in Tennessee right now include Ripley PR, Four Seasons, and JDA Worldwide, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's concentration of major healthcare systems, entertainment companies, and state government agencies means communications roles turn over regularly across a wide range of industries.
Which Tennessee cities have the most public relations jobs?
Nashville, Memphis, and Savannah have the most public relations openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads due to its density of healthcare headquarters, music industry labels, and corporate communications teams, while Memphis draws demand from logistics, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors, and Knoxville benefits from the University of Tennessee system and Oak Ridge National Laboratory anchoring institutional communications roles.
Are there remote public relations jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, and they are more common in public relations than in many fields, since much of the work involves writing, media outreach, and digital strategy that can be done off-site. About 50% of public relations openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. Media relations coordination, content strategy, and social media management are the specialties most frequently listed as fully remote.
How can I get hired as a public relations professional in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an internship or coordinator role with a Tennessee university communications office, a Nashville-area agency, or a nonprofit. Large healthcare systems like Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA Healthcare run structured communications internship programs that convert to full-time roles. A portfolio of writing samples, press releases, and any published media coverage is the credential that opens doors most consistently when formal experience is thin.
Where can I find and apply to public relations jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to public relations jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to each employer.
See All 6 Public Relations Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Public Relations Jobs