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.
• Rapid Response Communications - 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.
• Rapid Response Communications - 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.
• Rapid Response Communications - 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.
• Rapid Response Communications - 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.
• Media Strategy & Press Relations - 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.
• Media Strategy & Press Relations - 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.
• Media Strategy & Press Relations - Manage embargoed releases, press conferences, and media briefings, ensuring timely and accurate coordination across internal and external stakeholders.
• Media Strategy & Press Relations - Partner with PRP's external media relations consultants to align on strategy, coordinate outreach efforts, and maximize media opportunities.

Requirements

• 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.