Public Relations Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
PR roles can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship, but USCIS sometimes questions whether the position requires a specific bachelor's degree. Large PR agencies like Edelman and Weber Shandwick, along with corporate communications departments at major companies, are the most likely sponsors. Specialized PR work in healthcare, technology, or crisis communications has a stronger visa case than generalist media relations. O-1B is an alternative for PR professionals with exceptional industry recognition. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Public Relations JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,060+ Public Relations jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 1,060+ Public Relations Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Relations roles.
Get Access To All JobsAbout Ropes & Gray:
Ropes & Gray is a preeminent global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top three on The American Lawyer's prestigious A-List for eight consecutive years and #1 on Law.com's UK A-List twice in the past three years - rankings that honor the "best of the best" law firms.
The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.
The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring.
Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.
Overview:
The Senior Manager of Public Relations is responsible for developing and executing integrated external communications plans that promote the firm’s attorneys, practices, pro bono activities, and special initiatives. This role oversees daily PR operations, manages proactive and reactive public relations efforts, and leads a team that includes a PR Manager and PR Specialist to ensure high performance and achievement of strategic objectives in a collaborative, results-driven environment. Acting as a strategic communications advisor to firm leadership, practice chairs, and partners, the Senior Manager provides counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy. The position utilizes AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools to generate insights and drive measurable impact across communications initiatives, drawing on extensive experience in an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment to translate complex legal achievements and high-stakes matters into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media.
Responsibilities:
- Act as a strategic, trusted communications advisor to firm leadership, practice group leaders, and partners, providing ongoing counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy
- Develop and implement comprehensive, high-impact public relations campaigns to build the firm's profile in key growth practices including Private Equity, M&A, Asset Management, Life Sciences, and Health Care
- Write and edit press releases, briefing sheets, holding statements, and media pitches
- Serve as a key point of contact for inbound media inquiries
- Partner closely with the Director of Communications and Public Relations to manage complex, sensitive issues and provide rapid, clear-headed crisis communications guidance
- Translate complex legal achievements, corporate transactional matters, and high-stakes litigation victories into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media
- Cultivate and expand deep, long-standing relationships with key national, international, business, and legal trade journalists, influencers, and media outlets across print, broadcast, and digital platforms
- Position firm attorneys as go-to authoritative sources and stay current on trending topics across multiple practice areas to identify timely opportunities for media engagement
- Prepare, brief, and coach partners and senior leadership ahead of media interviews; provide proactive counsel on communications efforts and effective media strategies
- Develop and deliver comprehensive media training workshops and messaging frameworks
- Secure speaking engagements and other thought leadership opportunities for firm attorneys
- Source and place partner-authored bylined articles and legal alerts
- Lead, mentor, and develop communications colleagues, including direct management of the PR Manager and PR Specialist. Provide ongoing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to ensure team members are engaged, productive, and aligned with department goals. Foster a collaborative team culture and actively support the growth and success of direct reports.
- Collaborate with external PR agencies and consultants, oversee budgets and contracts, identify new technology and software, set clear KPIs to evaluate performance and maximize ROI
- Collaborate across Marketing & Business Development department to create integrated communications strategies that leverage PR and digital platforms
- Ensure consistency of brand voice, messaging, and tone across all PR efforts in alignment with the firm's brand guidelines and objectives
- Establish performance reporting frameworks utilizing AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools
- Track the effectiveness of PR campaigns, measure and analyze media coverage, and prepare detailed quarterly reports providing actionable insights, trends, campaign performance metrics, and overall PR impact to executive leadership
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required; Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree highly preferred
- 10–15 years of progressive public relations experience, including at least five years with a PR agency, law firm, professional services organization, or media outlet
- Extensive experience within an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment strongly preferred
- Demonstrated success leading PR initiatives for world-class organizations
- Impeccable professional judgment and ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential information
- Exceptional writing, editing, and research skills, with proficiency in synthesizing complex information into clear, compelling content for attorneys and senior executives
- Strong project management abilities and proficiency with media databases, monitoring tools, and standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Established relationships with print, broadcast, and social media influencers
- Experience working with C-level executives and senior partners
- Proven track record in developing, mentoring, and managing junior colleagues, including the PR Manager and PR Specialist
- Creativity in developing and executing strategic PR plans, securing media coverage, and leveraging social media channels
- Ability to align communications initiatives to firmwide business objectives
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, and proactive problem-solving
- Capacity to operate confidently and make sound decisions under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong collaboration skills, with ability to work across practices, functions, and seniority levels within a large global organization
- Adaptability and intellectual curiosity regarding evolving technologies such as generative AI and their application to communications and marketing
- Enthusiasm for identifying and telling new stories
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop direct reports
Compensation and Total Rewards Package:
Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below and represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.
New York: $161,000 - $257,600
Working Conditions:
This position requires hybrid on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Consistent and predictable on-site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.
About Ropes & Gray:
Ropes & Gray is a preeminent global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top three on The American Lawyer's prestigious A-List for eight consecutive years and #1 on Law.com's UK A-List twice in the past three years - rankings that honor the "best of the best" law firms.
The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.
The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring.
Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.
Overview:
The Senior Manager of Public Relations is responsible for developing and executing integrated external communications plans that promote the firm’s attorneys, practices, pro bono activities, and special initiatives. This role oversees daily PR operations, manages proactive and reactive public relations efforts, and leads a team that includes a PR Manager and PR Specialist to ensure high performance and achievement of strategic objectives in a collaborative, results-driven environment. Acting as a strategic communications advisor to firm leadership, practice chairs, and partners, the Senior Manager provides counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy. The position utilizes AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools to generate insights and drive measurable impact across communications initiatives, drawing on extensive experience in an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment to translate complex legal achievements and high-stakes matters into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media.
Responsibilities:
- Act as a strategic, trusted communications advisor to firm leadership, practice group leaders, and partners, providing ongoing counsel on executive visibility, media positioning, and thought leadership strategy
- Develop and implement comprehensive, high-impact public relations campaigns to build the firm's profile in key growth practices including Private Equity, M&A, Asset Management, Life Sciences, and Health Care
- Write and edit press releases, briefing sheets, holding statements, and media pitches
- Serve as a key point of contact for inbound media inquiries
- Partner closely with the Director of Communications and Public Relations to manage complex, sensitive issues and provide rapid, clear-headed crisis communications guidance
- Translate complex legal achievements, corporate transactional matters, and high-stakes litigation victories into clear, sophisticated, and newsworthy content for business, legal, and trade media
- Cultivate and expand deep, long-standing relationships with key national, international, business, and legal trade journalists, influencers, and media outlets across print, broadcast, and digital platforms
- Position firm attorneys as go-to authoritative sources and stay current on trending topics across multiple practice areas to identify timely opportunities for media engagement
- Prepare, brief, and coach partners and senior leadership ahead of media interviews; provide proactive counsel on communications efforts and effective media strategies
- Develop and deliver comprehensive media training workshops and messaging frameworks
- Secure speaking engagements and other thought leadership opportunities for firm attorneys
- Source and place partner-authored bylined articles and legal alerts
- Lead, mentor, and develop communications colleagues, including direct management of the PR Manager and PR Specialist. Provide ongoing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to ensure team members are engaged, productive, and aligned with department goals. Foster a collaborative team culture and actively support the growth and success of direct reports.
- Collaborate with external PR agencies and consultants, oversee budgets and contracts, identify new technology and software, set clear KPIs to evaluate performance and maximize ROI
- Collaborate across Marketing & Business Development department to create integrated communications strategies that leverage PR and digital platforms
- Ensure consistency of brand voice, messaging, and tone across all PR efforts in alignment with the firm's brand guidelines and objectives
- Establish performance reporting frameworks utilizing AI-enabled media monitoring, media databases, and predictive analytics tools
- Track the effectiveness of PR campaigns, measure and analyze media coverage, and prepare detailed quarterly reports providing actionable insights, trends, campaign performance metrics, and overall PR impact to executive leadership
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required; Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree highly preferred
- 10–15 years of progressive public relations experience, including at least five years with a PR agency, law firm, professional services organization, or media outlet
- Extensive experience within an Am Law firm or specialized professional services environment strongly preferred
- Demonstrated success leading PR initiatives for world-class organizations
- Impeccable professional judgment and ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential information
- Exceptional writing, editing, and research skills, with proficiency in synthesizing complex information into clear, compelling content for attorneys and senior executives
- Strong project management abilities and proficiency with media databases, monitoring tools, and standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Established relationships with print, broadcast, and social media influencers
- Experience working with C-level executives and senior partners
- Proven track record in developing, mentoring, and managing junior colleagues, including the PR Manager and PR Specialist
- Creativity in developing and executing strategic PR plans, securing media coverage, and leveraging social media channels
- Ability to align communications initiatives to firmwide business objectives
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, and proactive problem-solving
- Capacity to operate confidently and make sound decisions under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong collaboration skills, with ability to work across practices, functions, and seniority levels within a large global organization
- Adaptability and intellectual curiosity regarding evolving technologies such as generative AI and their application to communications and marketing
- Enthusiasm for identifying and telling new stories
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop direct reports
Compensation and Total Rewards Package:
Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below and represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.
New York: $161,000 - $257,600
Working Conditions:
This position requires hybrid on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Consistent and predictable on-site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.
See all 1,060+ Public Relations Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Relations roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Public Relations Jobs
Build measurable campaign results to support your petition
Quantified outcomes like media impressions, share of voice increases, or successful crisis response metrics give immigration attorneys concrete evidence of your specialized contributions. Documented campaign results make a stronger case than generic job descriptions when proving the role requires professional expertise.
Develop expertise in a high-demand PR specialty
Healthcare communications, technology PR, financial services communications, and ESG messaging are areas where specialized knowledge creates a stronger sponsorship argument. Employers in these sectors can more easily demonstrate that the role requires expertise beyond general public relations skills.
Target global PR agencies with established sponsorship processes
The top global PR firms by revenue - Edelman, Weber Shandwick, BCW, FleishmanHillard, and Ketchum - all operate internationally and have experience navigating U.S. immigration processes. Applying to firms that already employ international talent reduces the friction of requesting sponsorship.
Leverage multilingual skills for international media roles
PR professionals who can manage media relations across multiple languages and cultural contexts bring capabilities that are difficult to find domestically. Pitching stories to international press, managing global brand narratives, and navigating cross-cultural communications are tangible skills that strengthen a specialty occupation argument.
Start building U.S. media relationships early
Having established relationships with U.S. journalists and media outlets before you need sponsorship demonstrates value that is hard to replace. Attend industry events like PRSA conferences, contribute to PR trade publications, and develop a network of media contacts during OPT to make yourself indispensable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do PR agencies sponsor work visas for international professionals?
Large PR agencies like Edelman, Weber Shandwick, BCW, and FleishmanHillard have sponsored H-1B visas for specialized roles including media strategists, digital PR managers, and account supervisors. Agency sponsorship tends to favor candidates with niche expertise, such as crisis communications, healthcare PR, or technology media relations. Smaller boutique agencies are less likely to sponsor due to the cost and administrative burden.
What makes a public relations role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
USCIS evaluates whether the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field like public relations, communications, or journalism. PR roles focused on strategic planning, media analytics, crisis management, or campaign development are stronger candidates than general publicity or event coordination roles. The employer must demonstrate that the position's complexity and specialization require professional-level knowledge.
Can I use OPT to work in public relations after graduating from a U.S. university?
Yes, graduates with a communications, public relations, or journalism degree can use 12 months of post-completion OPT for PR roles. Public relations is not classified as a STEM discipline, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available. This means you have a narrower window to secure H-1B sponsorship compared to STEM graduates.
How to find Public Relations jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Public Relations jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate to search specifically for PR roles at large corporations, tech companies, and international agencies that commonly sponsor H-1B, O-1 visa, or other work visas. Focus on companies with global operations, as they're more likely to have established visa sponsorship programs for communications and marketing professionals.
Are in-house PR roles or agency roles better for visa sponsorship?
In-house PR roles at large corporations often offer more stable sponsorship prospects because these companies tend to have dedicated immigration legal teams and predictable budgets. Agency roles can also lead to sponsorship, especially at major global firms, but agency turnover rates and project-based staffing can complicate long-term visa planning. Consider which environment better aligns with your career goals and visa timeline.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Public Relations jobs?
When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a public relations in California will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.