Public Relations Project Manager

Providence is a full-service communications firm headquartered in Bakersfield, California.
Providence specializes in developing strategic communications plans with extensive expertise in public affairs campaigns designed to produce successful project permitting.
Our firm provides public relations support, website development and manages multiple social media accounts for our clients daily.
Our current clients include those in the agriculture, water, oil and gas, transportation, healthcare, nonprofit, retail and telecommunications industries.
POSITION SUMMARY: The Public Relations Project Manager, based in our Bakersfield office, plays a crucial role in driving our agency's public relations and marketing campaigns within Kern, Fresno, and adjacent counties.
This position demands a skilled communicator and strategist capable of developing comprehensive communication plans, effectively managing client portfolios, and leading our team in executing high-impact PR activities.
The ideal candidate will excel in building strong media relationships, crafting compelling content, and steering digital and design projects to meet client goals.
Beyond project execution, this role involves significant managerial responsibilities, including team mentorship, budget oversight, and business development, all while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice.
Working hours are generally from 8 a.
m.
– 5 p.
m.
, Monday through Friday, with the flexibility to accommodate evening and weekend work to meet client needs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: _To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, including all important aspects of the job - whether performed daily, weekly, monthly, or annually; and any duty that occurs at irregular intervals.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
_ * Develop strategic communications plans and branding/message frameworks * Lead execution of PR and marketing/communications activities * Mentor and manage workloads of account team members * Communicate with clients to provide counsel, deliver results, foster a positive relationship and manage expectations * Understand client opportunities, including paid, earned, owned and shared channels * Build consensus and foster collaboration for client initiatives * Craft and edit original content including public relations plans, press releases, pitches, collateral material, video scripts, social media content and more * Deliver on clients’ design and digital needs with company’s in-house experts by developing creative briefs and overseeing client feedback on creative and digital projects * Establish and nurture relationships with media and key social media influencers * Oversee influencer communications and scheduling * Pitch news and trend stories with confidence * Strategize and secure partnerships with influential organizations * Oversee account budgets, managing projects and company efforts within budget * Manage outside vendors and contractors * Identify and secure new business, including development of appropriate strategies for presentations and written proposals * Engage in company promotion, professional development and team building * Maintain a utilization metric of 70-75% * Provide assistance to employees and help in manage them effectively * Complete other duties as assigned *MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:* * Hire, train, develop, and maintain employees to help the organization achieve its goals * Perform duties ethically and consistently according to organizational policies, procedures, and legal statutes * Create a positive work environment * Act as a legal agent for the organization * Clearly communicate performance standards and expectations * Provide regular, balanced, and candid feedback * Listen to employees * Involve others in departmental improvements * Maintain professional demeanor in and out of work * Support organizational policies and managerial decisions, refraining from disagreeing in front of employees ("walk the talk") MARGINAL FUNCTIONS (IF ANY): None MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: * Bachelor’s degree in public relations or related field * Minimum five (5) years of public relations experience, agency experience is a plus * Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills * Ability to think strategically and see the big picture * Experience pursuing and pitching new business opportunities * Proven track record of securing media coverage * Ability to manage stress and perform in high-stress environments * Solid understanding of social media and digital strategies * Experience managing employees, volunteers and projects * Valid California driver’s license and reliable vehicle * Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite * Proficiency in English, both written and spoken * Flexibility in working hours for occasional evening meetings and events PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Speak, read and write in Spanish Job Type: Full-time Pay: $66,560.
00 - $74,560.
00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Paid time off * Vision insurance Schedule: * 8 hour shift * Monday to Friday * Weekends as needed Education: * Bachelor's (Required) Experience: * Project management: 5 years (Required) * Public relations: 5 years (Required) Work Location: In person