Coordinator, Communications

San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

San Jose Earthquakes is seeking a seasoned Communications professional to lead media relations for our club and PayPal Park events. You will craft compelling stories, manage press requests, and expand outreach to local, national, and international outlets.

The role emphasizes writing excellence, relationship building, and meticulous media asset management, with opportunities to support Earthquakes II and community initiatives. Flexible hours and travel may be required.

Qualifications

• At least 3–5 years of experience in sports communications, preferably in professional soccer.
• Preexisting relationships with reporters across sports and entertainment media.
• Ability to develop compelling storylines and pitch to reporters; manage inbound media requests.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration with players, coaches, staff and departments.
• Demonstrated writing expertise with samples (AP style press releases, game notes, bios, media guides).
• Meticulous attention to detail and organized media assets.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, and Google Docs.
• Spanish fluency preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with Director and Manager of Communications to build and execute robust media relations strategies for the Earthquakes and PayPal Park events.
• Draft and distribute press releases, advisories, and game notes; proactively pitch storylines to outlets; manage media requests for players, coaches and staff.
• Maintain and organize media archives, photo archive, and press materials like the Media Guide.
• Strengthen media relationships locally, nationally and internationally; expand outreach to new contacts across sports and non-sports outlets.
• Provide communications support for all Earthquakes home and away matches; may travel for select road games.
• Lead PR initiatives for Earthquakes II MLS NEXT Pro team; manage press materials and earned media opportunities.
• Support communications for the Quakes Foundation and community relations activities.
• Track KPIs and provide regular reporting to leadership for strategic planning.
• Be prepared to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Skills

Media relations

Storytelling

Writing

Relationship building

Project management

Detail oriented

Spanish fluency

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Canva

Google Docs

Job description

About The San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes have a mission to establish our home as the epicenter of American soccer by uniting Northern California with big dreams, big hustle and big impact.

About The Position

The Communications department serves as a key bridge for all departments in the front office—including Sporting, Marketing, Sponsorship, Creative and Social—to ensure communications are integrated into major initiatives, generate meaningful earned media coverage and shape unified stories that spotlight our club, players and coaches for fans, partners and the wider cultural landscape.

Who You Are:

We are looking for people that want to hustle big.

• Hustle: Having the desire to authentically connect people, willing to always show up for our fans and having an innate pride in their work
• Big: Devoted to quality in execution, don’t be afraid to swing big and owning the result

Successful Candidates:

The successful candidate will be a creative, organized, and resourceful person who will immerse themselves in our club culture to best comprehend how we want to be perceived and deemed relevant locally, nationally, and internationally. This person will be an excellent listener who understands the value of service and is just as proficient in taking orders as they are in giving them.

Finally, the ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of how media ecosystems, mailing lists and credentialing work, as well as have an SID‑like mind/approach when it comes to stats and game notes (with experience in broadcast or print/digital media a plus). Finally, this person loves the minutiae of grammar and syntax, has a breadth of writing skills with experience ranging from press releases and media advisories to features and club statements, and most of all, is not afraid to accept a challenge.

Job Competencies Include

• Detail-Oriented
• Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Awareness
• Building Collaborative Relationships
• Sense of Urgency
• Thoroughness
• Initiative
• Passionate
• Work Ethic
• Persistent

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director and Manager of Communications to build and execute robust media relations strategies for the San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal Park events.
• Draft and distribute press releases in English, media advisories, and game notes; proactively pitch storylines to targeted outlets; and help manage incoming media requests for players, coaches and staff.
• Maintain and organize media and statistical archives, including our photo archive and certain press materials like our annual Media Guide.
• Strengthen existing media relationships while expanding outreach to new local, national and international contacts across sports and non-sports outlets.
• Serve as communications support for all Earthquakes home and away matches, including potential travel to select road games.
• Manage matchday and weekly media operations—from press box setup and media availability coordination to postgame press conferences, the credentialing process for home matches and information distribution.
• Lead PR initiatives for our Earthquakes II MLS NEXT Pro team, from press releases and match recaps to garnering earned media when opportunities arise.
• Support PR initiatives for the Quakes Foundation and oversee communications needs tied to community relations activities.
• Track communications KPIs and performance results, providing regular reporting to leadership to guide strategic planning.
• Ability to work and travel non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays (this position will require working Earthquakes and PayPal Park events)

Qualifications

A proactive communications professional with at least 3-5 years of experience in sports, preferably within professional soccer. Additional experience in broadcast or print/digital media outlets is welcomed.

• Preexisting relationships with reporters across sports and entertainment media, with a knowledge of how the media ecosystem works.
• Skilled in developing compelling storylines for media, pitching to reporters, preparing spokespeople and managing inbound media requests.
• Strong relationship‑builder and collaborative team player capable of working seamlessly with players, coaches, staff and departments across the Earthquakes’ front office.
• Relentless work ethic and initiative/resourcefulness to ensure tasks are completed and the ability to solve problems before they begin materializing.
• Demonstrated writing expertise, supported by samples such as press releases (AP Style), comprehensive game notes, articles, biographies and media guides.
• Meticulously attentive to detail and organized, as evidenced by labeling/sorting photos and other media assets.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Canva and Google Docs.
• Spanish fluency preferred but not required.

This position is open only to candidates who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Employment eligibility documentation will be required at the time of hire.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.