Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a national nonprofit organization that helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We build their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convene and connect them on key issues, and provide legal representation to help them win in court for residents. Since its founding in 2017, PRP has recovered significant financial relief for marginalized people; built a nationwide network of government offices, elected officials, and community-based organizations; trained prosecutors and government lawyers across the country; and secured court victories on rights for abortion, immigrants, workers, and voting. Learn more about our work.

JOB SUMMARY

Public Rights Project (PRP) is seeking a Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations , a senior executor who can move fast, write well, and operate across multiple communications functions with a high degree of autonomy.

This is not a strategy-first role. It is a doing role for someone who is excellent at the craft of communications: drafting sharp press statements under deadline, pitching and placing stories with national reporters, developing editorial content that positions PRP's leadership and partners as trusted voices, and leading the organization's rapid response when news breaks. You will be the person who gets things done—producing high-quality external communications across media relations, rapid response, and editorial—while also bringing the judgment and experience to make smart decisions independently.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will directly supervise the Media Relations Coordinator while working closely with PRP’s legal team, and broader Communications & Marketing team. You will be a key partner in translating PRP's litigation and advocacy work into public narratives that reach national and regional audiences—and in ensuring PRP shows up accurately, compellingly, and on time whenever the news cycle demands it.

This is an opportunity for a sharp, versatile communications professional who thrives in fast-moving environments, loves the work of writing and placing stories, and wants to do consequential work at the intersection of law, civil rights, and public discourse.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Rapid Response Communications

• Serve as PRP's primary rapid response lead, monitoring the news cycle in real time and driving fast, accurate communications responses to breaking legal, legislative, and policy developments.
• Partner closely with PRP's legal and program teams to understand active litigation, court filings, and rulings, and translate those developments into timely press statements, reactive pitches, and media moments.
• Develop and maintain rapid response infrastructure: message frameworks, holding statements, escalation protocols, and spokesperson activation systems that allow PRP to move quickly without sacrificing accuracy.
• Coordinate with PRP's network of local government partners during fast-moving moments, helping elected officials and government attorneys respond to media inquiries and speak publicly with confidence and clarity.
• Monitor relevant news cycles, court decisions, federal actions, and opposition narratives, identifying moments that require a PRP response and recommending when and how to engage.

Media Strategy & Press Relations 

• Develop and drive PRP's media strategy—in partnership with the Director of Communications and Manager, Media Relations—identifying the highest-value media opportunities across PRP's issue areas and ensuring the team is focused on the right outlets, reporters, and moments.
• Cultivate and maintain high-value journalist relationships across civil rights, immigration, democracy, criminal justice, and local government beats, serving as a senior media contact for PRP and a trusted resource for reporters.
• Support PRP's network of local government partners, including mayors and other elected officials in developing and executing their own public relations strategies, amplifying their voices on civil rights and justice issues.
• Manage embargoed releases, press conferences, and media briefings, ensuring timely and accurate coordination across internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with PRP's external media relations consultants to align on strategy, coordinate outreach efforts, and maximize media opportunities.

Editorial and External Communications

• Lead the drafting and editorial review of press releases, media advisories, op-eds, statements, talking points, and other external materials, ensuring clarity, accuracy, strategic alignment, and a consistent organizational voice.
• Apply strong editorial judgment to all external communications, maintaining high standards for tone, structure, and accuracy even under tight deadlines.
• Support thought leadership strategies for PRP's executive leadership, including identifying op-ed opportunities, drafting content, and preparing leaders for media appearances and public engagements.
• Advise on organizational public statements, including developing criteria, process, and messaging for when and how PRP speaks publicly on key issues.
• Prepare PRP staff and local government leaders for high-profile media appearances, including developing briefing materials, talking points, and interview coaching.

Strategy & Analytics

• Lead media monitoring and analysis using Meltwater , generating insights that inform and shape strategy, including updating the annual media strategy and individual media plans based on coverage trends and performance data, and demonstrate PRP's impact.
• Track news cycles, court calendars, and issue area developments, identifying opportunities for both proactive media engagement and rapid response.
• Produce regular media coverage reports and present findings to leadership, connecting media performance to organizational goals.
• Contribute to PRP's annual media strategy, using coverage trends, news cycle analysis, and performance data to inform planning.

People Management

• Directly supervise the Media Relations Coordinator, providing day-to-day guidance, ongoing feedback, and professional development support.
• Set clear goals and priorities for the Coordinator, delegating effectively and creating opportunities for growth.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture consistent with PRP's values.
• Partner with the Director of Communications on team planning, capacity, and performance management.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in communications, media relations, rapid response, or public affairs, ideally within a legal, civil rights, advocacy, or policy environment.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of training, education, and experience.
• At least three (3) years of experience directly supervising or managing staff within a communications, media relations, or public affairs function, with a demonstrated ability to develop team members and drive high-quality work through others.
• Demonstrated track record of high-volume, high-quality communications execution.
• Demonstrated track record of leading rapid response communications in fast-moving, high-stakes environments, including experience responding to breaking news, litigation developments, or legislative moments.
• Editorial background and experience drafting, editing, and finalizing press releases, op-eds, statements, and other external materials to a publication-ready standard.
• Significant success securing earned media placements in national and regional outlets.
• Experience preparing organizational spokespersons—including elected officials or government leaders—for media appearances and high-profile press engagements.
• Proficiency with Meltwater or comparable media monitoring and analytics platforms is required.
• Familiarity with the legal and civil rights landscape, and comfort translating complex litigation and policy issues for broad audiences.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent Executor — gets things done, produces high-quality work under pressure, and does not need to be managed closely to deliver. This is the most important quality for this role.
• Rapid Responder — thrives in fast-moving environments; able to assess a breaking development, draft an accurate statement, and activate media relationships under tight time pressure without sacrificing quality.
• Exceptional Writer and Editor — produces clear, compelling, and publication-ready materials with strong editorial judgment, even on tight deadlines.
• Strong Media Instincts — a keen sense of newsworthiness, timing, and how to position PRP's work within the broader news cycle.
• Strategic Storyteller — able to translate complex legal and technical issues into accessible, human-centered narratives that highlight real-world impact.
• Relationship Builder — cultivates trusted relationships with journalists and media partners and understands how to be a reliable, valuable resource without being transactional.
• People Manager — experienced in supervising and developing staff, with a coaching mindset and ability to delegate effectively while maintaining high standards.
• Collaborative and Proactive — works well across teams, communicates clearly about priorities and progress, and brings solutions rather than problems.
• Highly Responsive and Detail-Oriented — able to manage multiple priorities, adapt quickly to shifting news cycles, and deliver accurately under tight deadlines.
• Systems User — Strong proficiency in Meltwater, Cision or MuckRack, Asana, Salesforce, G-Suite, Microsoft Office, Slack, and Zoom.
• Mission-Driven — passionate about civil rights and justice, with a strong commitment to PRP's values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

Reports to the Director of Communications. Directly supervises the Media Relations Coordinator.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, talking and listening for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Fully remote organization and team. Although employees may work from anywhere in the United States, this role requires Pacific Time as the primary / core working hours to support team collaboration and business needs. This role may require travel a few times a year to PRP events or meetings. We currently have remote staff in Oakland, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), and Washington, D.C., as well as other cities.

APPLICATIONS

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in this role and how your experience aligns with the qualifications. Apply directly via the PRP website.

COMPENSATION

The determined salary range for this Level 4 role is set between $105,600 - $158,400. Exact salary will be based on candidate experience. For internal equity purposes, PRP will not negotiate with candidates outside of the role’s designated range.

PRP HIRING COMMITMENT

PRP is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace, both at PRP and within the government offices we serve, is a key ingredient for achieving our mission of building equitable enforcement capacity within state and local government. 

We aim to assemble a team that reflects the world we live in and the communities we serve with respect to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and immigration status. People with personal or family experience with the type of harms we seek to combat, including wage theft, predatory lending, fraud, discrimination, and environmental degradation are particularly encouraged to apply.