Interim PR/Media Contractor

AAUW; Tacoma (WA); Remote; USD 56,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

AAUW is seeking a PR/Media Contractor to amplify its voice across higher education, politics, business, lifestyle, and culture. The engagement focuses on proactive storytelling, earned media, and audience growth through AAUW's four pillars: funding, advocacy, partnerships, and culture.

This fractional role is approximately 10-15 hours per week for 9-12 months, starting no later than November 2026, with remote work but based out of AAUW's Washington, D.C. office.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of PR or communications experience with a demonstrated track record in earned media — individual consultant or boutique agency welcome.
• Deep, existing media relationships across higher education, political, mainstream business, culture, and entertainment outlets — this is required, not preferred.
• Digital publishing and podcast experience required; higher education media experience preferred.
• Proven experience supporting events and webinars with a focus on audience growth and brand reach expansion.
• Cross-industry PR experience spanning culture, entertainment, and business strongly preferred.
• Collaborative and nimble — ability to work effectively alongside an in-house team with a proactive pitch mentality, not just reactive press management.

Responsibilities

• Earned Media & Press Strategy: Develop and execute a year-round PR calendar; draft and pitch press releases; proactively pitch stories across higher education, political, business, lifestyle, and culture verticals; and secure coverage in mainstream national and trade outlets. Manage press relationships and media list development on behalf of AAUW.
• Pillar-Specific Storytelling: Support campaigns across four pillars — Higher Education, Political, Business, and Lifestyle/Culture — including potential development of a short-form alumnae media series. Proactively pitch stories aligned to AAUW's fellowships and grants cycle, policy work, programs, and mission priorities.
• Executive & Thought Leadership: Position AAUW leadership as voices on equity, higher education, and economic empowerment. Secure speaking engagements, podcast interviews, op-ed placements, and awards/recognition submissions.
• Events & Webinars: Support the planning and promotion of AAUW events and webinars, expanding audience engagement and growing brand reach beyond existing networks.
• Reporting & Infrastructure: Manage media lists and press relationships on behalf of AAUW.
• Deliver monthly coverage reports, KPI tracking, and transferable communications assets at engagement close. Provide regular syncs with the AAUW leadership team and maintain responsive, collaborative communication with a lean marketing team.

Skills

Earned media

Media relations

Strategic storytelling

Podcast experience

Event promotion

Job description

Do you have deep, existing relationships with journalists and editors across higher education, politics, business, lifestyle, and culture? Are you a proactive storyteller who earns coverage — not just responds to it? If so, AAUW wants to hear from you.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. As the nation's leading provider of graduate funding for women, AAUW has spent more than 140 years breaking barriers and driving bold policy solutions. We're seeking a PR/Media Contractor — an individual consultant or boutique agency — to amplify AAUW's voice outside our current networks, attract new supporters to our mission, and build sustained, proactive storytelling across all pillars: funding, advocacy, partnerships, and culture.

This engagement is focused on three strategic priorities:

• AAUW Funding Awareness & Reach — Expand audience to penetrate mainstream media and build AAUW's profile as the country's leading provider of graduate funding for women.
• Government Advocacy Awareness & Reach — Increase national visibility around AAUW's public policy priorities, positioning the organization as a trusted, nonpartisan authority on issues affecting women and girls.
• Partnership Growth — Elevate AAUW's credibility and visibility to attract new sponsors, donors, and institutional partners across new industries.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Earned Media & Press Strategy: Develop and execute a year-round PR calendar; draft and pitch press releases; proactively pitch stories across higher education, political, business, lifestyle, and culture verticals; and secure coverage in mainstream national and trade outlets. Manage press relationships and media list development on behalf of AAUW.
• Pillar-Specific Storytelling: Support campaigns across four pillars — Higher Education, Political, Business, and Lifestyle/Culture — including potential development of a short-form alumnae media series. Proactively pitch stories aligned to AAUW's fellowships and grants cycle, policy work, programs, and mission priorities.
• Executive & Thought Leadership: Position AAUW leadership as voices on equity, higher education, and economic empowerment. Secure speaking engagements, podcast interviews, op-ed placements, and awards/recognition submissions.
• Events & Webinars: Support the planning and promotion of AAUW events and webinars, expanding audience engagement and growing brand reach beyond existing networks.
• Reporting & Infrastructure: Manage media lists and press relationships on behalf of AAUW.
• Deliver monthly coverage reports, KPI tracking, and transferable communications assets at engagement close. Provide regular syncs with the AAUW leadership team and maintain responsive, collaborative communication with a lean marketing team.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of PR or communications experience with a demonstrated track record in earned media — individual consultant or boutique agency welcome. Nonprofit, advocacy, or mission-driven experience preferred.
• Deep, existing media relationships across higher education, political, mainstream business, culture, and entertainment outlets — this is required, not preferred.
• Digital publishing and podcast experience required; higher education media experience preferred.
• Proven experience supporting events and webinars with a focus on audience growth and brand reach expansion.
• Cross-industry PR experience spanning culture, entertainment, and business strongly preferred.
• Collaborative and nimble — ability to work effectively alongside an in-house team with a proactive pitch mentality, not just reactive press management.

ABOUT THE ROLE & COMPENSATION

This is a fractional contract engagement of approximately 10-15 hours per week for a period of 9-12 months, beginning no later than November 2026, with the possibility to extend 3-4 months during leadership transition. This role reports to the Director. The position is remote, based out of AAUW's Washington, D.C. office, Compensation: Up to $5,500 per month, commensurate with experience.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

The engagement will be considered successful when AAUW achieves:

• Development and execution of a year-round strategic PR calendar aligned with AAUW's fellowships and grants cycle, public policy priorities, institutional partnerships, major programs, and organizational milestones.
• Consistent earned media coverage across priority verticals — higher education, public policy, business, lifestyle, culture, and mainstream national media.
• Elevated positioning of AAUW and its leadership as trusted thought leaders evidenced through speaking engagements, podcast appearances, media interviews, and opinion placements.
• Increased public awareness of AAUW's role as the nation's leading provider of graduate funding for women and a leading advocate for gender equity policy.
• A strengthened media infrastructure including updated media lists, cultivated journalist relationships, documented pitching strategies, and transferable communications assets.