Manager, Media Relations & Special Projects

Position Type: Full-time
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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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.

Job Description

The Manager, Media Relations & Special Projects, based in our Bakersfield office, serves as a senior-level contributor responsible for driving media visibility and leading strategic initiatives that elevate both client brands and Providence’s profile. This role blends advanced earned media strategy, leadership across multidisciplinary teams, and high-impact project management. The ideal candidate is a seasoned communicator and strategist with agency experience, a robust network of media contacts, and a proven ability to craft and execute high-stakes messaging and initiatives.

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 accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Manage and nurture client relationships, ensuring that media and communications initiatives align with their business objectives and strategic goals
  • Act as a trusted media advisor to clients, offering proactive insights that enhance visibility, reputation, and stakeholder engagement
  • Develop and execute strategic media relations plans that generate earned coverage across relevant local, state, and national platforms
  • Lead cross-functional teams—including creative, digital, content, and outreach—to deliver integrated communications projects on time and within budget
  • Write and edit press releases, media pitches, executive remarks, opinion pieces, and other public-facing content
  • Monitor campaign performance and media KPIs, analyze results, and provide data-informed recommendations to optimize future outreach
  • Coordinate and lead special strategic projects and initiatives—such as major announcements, reputation management, and executive communications
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff, conducting quarterly check-ins and annual performance reviews while fostering professional growth
  • Identify upselling opportunities within existing accounts and support new business development efforts through pitch strategy and proposal development
  • Ensure seamless collaboration between departments by communicating priorities, resolving challenges, and aligning shared outcomes
  • Stay informed on industry trends, media shifts, and competitor strategies to deliver innovative, forward-thinking solutions for clients and the agency
  • Own and manage all media lists, email marketing and press release programs (company and client), ensuring accuracy, strategic segmentation, regular updates, staff training and effective integration into campaign efforts
  • Manage contractors and freelancers as needed, ensuring clarity of scope, alignment with project goals, and quality of deliverables
  • Other duties as assigned

 

Key Areas of Responsibility

Client Strategy, Project & Team Management

  • Serve as the lead strategic advisor for assigned client accounts, ensuring communications and media strategies align with their evolving business goals and timelines
  • Own and drive project lifecycles—from proposal through execution—by building scopes, managing deadlines, and ensuring internal accountability across departments
  • Lead cross-functional internal teams and external collaborators, setting clear expectations, defining deliverables, and managing workloads to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery
  • Foster long-term client relationships by deeply understanding their industry, key stakeholders, and organizational objectives
  • Provide high-level counsel on earned media, public engagement, and crisis response while guiding clients through strategic decision-making and change management
  • Proactively lead client meetings, present integrated strategic plans, and deliver consistent communication and follow-up that strengthens trust and transparency

Media Relations & Campaign Execution 

  • Lead the development and execution of earned media strategies across traditional and digital platforms
  • Draft and edit media materials, including press releases, op-eds, talking points, and executive messaging
  • Oversee campaign timelines and KPIs, ensuring all deliverables meet expectations for quality, budget, and impact
  • Coordinate closely with internal teams—creative, digital, and outreach—to deliver integrated campaigns
  • Own and manage all media lists, ensuring they are accurate, regularly updated, strategically segmented, and effectively integrated into campaign efforts

Team Leadership & Staff Development

  • Supervise coordinators and interns, assigning work, providing feedback, and supporting their development
  • Conduct quarterly check-ins and annual performance reviews, and mentor staff on media best practices and client service
  • Collaborate with department leadership to define growth paths and identify internal training needs
  • Ensure all team members, including contractors, meet brand and client standards

Business Development & Strategic Growth 

  • Identify new opportunities within existing accounts to expand scope or introduce new services
  • Contribute to new business proposals, pitch development, and strategic positioning
  • Leverage media insights and industry trends to inform agency offerings and generate new client opportunities

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • Client Satisfaction & Retention – Maintain strong relationships with a 90%+ client satisfaction rating and high retention rates.
  • Campaign Effectiveness – Ensure campaigns meet or exceed key performance metrics, including ROI, engagement, and conversion goals.
  • Revenue Growth – Contribute to a minimum of 15% growth in existing accounts through upsell opportunities and strategic recommendations.
  • Project Management Success – Deliver 95% of projects on time and within budget, ensuring seamless execution.
  • Business Development Contribution – Support at least two successful new business pitches annually.

30-60-90 Day Onboarding Plan

First 30 Days:

  • Meet with key stakeholders, including clients, internal teams, and agency leadership.
  • Review active accounts, past campaign performance, and client business goals.
  • Build relationships with account teams and gain insights into agency processes and client needs.
  • Assess existing campaign strategies and identify initial areas for improvement.

60 Days:

  • Develop and implement account growth strategies to enhance client satisfaction and business success.
  • Take full ownership of ongoing campaigns, ensuring alignment with client goals and agency standards.
  • Identify and propose opportunities for additional services or strategic adjustments.
  • Begin contributing to business development initiatives, including new pitches or account expansion opportunities.

90 Days:

  • Lead major account initiatives, showcasing your ability to drive strategic success.
  • Present growth strategies and performance optimization recommendations to senior leadership and clients.
  • Establish long-term plans for client relationship management and ongoing account development.
  • Set personal and team goals for continued success within the agency.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
  • 8+ years of experience in public relations or marketing, preferably in an agency setting
  • Proven success in media outreach, campaign execution, and new business development
  • Strong writing, communication, and presentation skills
  • Strategic thinker with experience managing teams, budgets, and projects
  • Proficient in digital and social media strategy; Microsoft Office Suite
  • Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
  • Experience supervising employees, interns, or volunteers
  • Valid driver’s license, access to a personal vehicle, and active auto insurance
  • Willingness to travel up to 25% within California
  • Flexible schedule to support occasional evening events or meetings
  • Fluent in spoken and written English

Benefits & Perks

Benefits

(Availability and employer contributions may vary based on the employee’s overall compensation package)

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • 401(k) with employer match 
  • Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays (per California law)
  • Profit sharing based on overall company financial performance
  • Cell phone and internet stipend

Perks

  • Weekend Headstart: Early release every other Friday to support work-life balance
  • Hybrid work flexibility and schedule, when appropriate for the role
  • Professional development support (conferences, certifications, and training)

 

Providence Strategic Consulting, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinance.

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