Press Officer (9055)

SEPTA; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 73,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare benefits

Retirement and pension plans

Paid time off and holidays

Public transit pass

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

SEPTA in the Philadelphia region seeks a Press Officer to respond to media inquiries, promote SEPTA initiatives, and highlight the agency's role in the community.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience in major market journalism or public relations, with strong writing and media-relations skills. The role includes managing beat coverage and drafting releases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required and a minimum of three (3) years experience in major market journalism and/or public relations required.
• Excellent professional writing skills.
• Professional computer skills, web content management experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and speaking skills, ability to communicate professionally and comfortably with varied audiences, especially the media required.
• Willingness to be permanently assigned to early morning shift, beginning at 6 a.m., or late shift ending at 7 p.m.
• Willingness to respond to emergencies 24/7 – 365 required.

Responsibilities

• Responds to requests from journalists about all aspects of SEPTA operations and management. Involves maintaining professional relations with all levels of SEPTA management.
• Maintains assigned “beat” responsibilities, gaining expertise on certain specific technical, procedural or policy areas of SEPTA.
• Researches, writes and distributes press releases and statements to all variety of media.
• Supports media interviews and other requests, including preparing talking points along with scheduling and logistics
• Writes feature articles about SEPTA employees, accomplishments and other topics for transit industry publications.
• Monitors breaking SEPTA and related news from all outlets; compile daily news reports.
• Creates and curates content for Media Relations channels on social media
• Performs as a “duty” press officer, periodically assigned to be on-call to the media 24/7.
• Responds to emergencies, as required 24/7- 365.
• Be available to work any shift between 6a.m. and 7p.m.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills

Writing skills

Interpersonal & speaking skills

Media relations

Communication with varied audiences

Emergency readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Web content management

Job description

Secure Your Future with SEPTA – A Leader in Transportation!

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the sixth-largest transportation system in the U.S., connecting communities across a 2,200-square-mile service region. SEPTA is at the forefront of innovation in the transit industry, ensuring reliable and efficient services while driving economic growth in the Philadelphia region.

Only candidates who are authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship, will be accepted at this time.

We are proud to be recognized as:

2023 FORBES Best in State Employer

Philadelphia Employer of Choice for 2024

We are seeking to hire candidates for our Press Officer (9055).

Opening Date: 09/17/2026

Closing Date: 09/24/2026

Job Grade: SAM 38

Salary Range: $73,164.00-$91,442.00

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

Responsible for responding to media inquiries, proactively engaging the media about SEPTA service, initiatives and other programs, and publicly highlighting SEPTA’s important role in the Philadelphia region.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responds to requests from journalists about all aspects of SEPTA operations and management. Involves maintaining professional relations with all levels of SEPTA management.
• Maintains assigned “beat” responsibilities, gaining expertise on certain specific technical, procedural or policy areas of SEPTA.
• Researches, writes and distributes press releases and statements to all variety of media.
• Supports media interviews and other requests, including preparing talking points along with scheduling and logistics
• Writes feature articles about SEPTA employees, accomplishments and other topics for transit industry publications.
• Monitors breaking SEPTA and related news from all outlets; compile daily news reports.
• Creates and curates content for Media Relations channels on social media
• Performs as a “duty” press officer, periodically assigned to be on-call to the media 24/7.
• Responds to emergencies, as required 24/7- 365.
• Be available to work any shift between 6a.m. and 7p.m.
• Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree required and a minimum of three (3) years experience in major market journalism and/or public relations required.
• Excellent professional writing skills.
• Professional computer skills, web content management experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and speaking skills, ability to communicate professionally and comfortably with varied audiences, especially the media required.
• Willingness to be permanently assigned to early morning shift, beginning at 6 a.m., or late shift ending at 7 p.m.
• Willingness to respond to emergencies 24/7 – 365 required.

Why Join Our Team? Enjoy Outstanding Benefits!

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage – Medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans with little to no employee premiums.
• Retirement Security – Participate in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a 457B Deferred Compensation Plan to build your financial future.
• Work-Life Balance – Enjoy paid parental leave, generous vacation time, and paid holidays to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
• Employee Wellness – Access wellness programs and resources to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Invest in Your Growth – We offer tuition reimbursement to support your education and career advancement.
• Student Loan Assistance – Our positions qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, helping you manage and reduce student debt.
• Free Travel Perks – Receive a FREE SEPTA Transportation Pass, giving you unlimited access to all SEPTA services!

Join us and take advantage of these incredible benefits while making a difference in your community!

SEPTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEPTA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.