Public Relations Lead, Association & Membership

PGA of America; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The PGA of America in San Francisco seeks a Public Relations Lead, Association & Membership, to elevate the visibility of more than 30,000 PGA Golf Professionals and the Association’s work. You will oversee media relations, craft strategic communications, and serve as a connector between internal teams, media, and the community.

Responsibilities include writing and editing press materials, developing messaging, maintaining editorial calendars, and coordinating with Governance, Education, Career

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, English, public relations or related field.
• Five years experience in public relations, journalism, or corporate communications.
• Portfolio demonstrating published writing experience required.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with AP style.
• Proven ability to write for multiple formats and audiences (press releases, social copy, executive messaging, long-form articles).
• Experience working with media outlets and building relationships with reporters and editors.
• Familiarity with the golf industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and proofread press releases, media pitches, scripts, executive talking points, and Q&A documents that clearly and accurately represent the approved strategy.
• Develop and maintain a consistent editorial voice across all earned media materials, ensuring adherence to AP style and PGA of America brand guidelines.
• Prepare and update media kits, fact sheets, bios, and backgrounders to support both proactive outreach and respond to media inquiries.
• Develop and nurture relationships with traditional, new, and non-traditional media outlets, including local, regional, national, and diverse publications, by pitching relevant stories and customizing messaging for each audience and platform.
• Collaborate with teams across the PGA, such as Membership, Governance, Career Services, Education, PGA Sections and REACH Foundation, to identify newsworthy stories and ensure messaging accuracy.
• Manage editorial calendars and deadlines to ensure timely, high-quality content delivery.
• Serve as the primary liaison for internal teams, PGA Sections, and PR agencies—collaborating on strategic plans, generating awareness, securing media coverage, and overseeing the PR hub and calendar for internal news release coordination.
• Collaborate with agencies on monthly and quarterly media coverage reporting, including editing and distributing reports to leadership.
• Partner with Digital and Marketing teams to distribute content, generate awareness, and track engagement across digital platforms.
• Support and coordinate media interviews and speaking opportunities for senior management and leadership.

Skills

Writing

Editing

AP style

Media relations

Strategic communications

Public speaking

Journalism

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, English, Public Relations, or related field

Tools

Gmail

Google Drive

Google Docs

AI tools

Job description

Join a team of proud, passionate, and caring people that together share their diverse talents and backgrounds to serve our members and grow the game of golf. Being at the PGA of America means you are supported, respected, and appreciated for your contributions.

The Public Relations Lead, Association & Membership promotes and elevates the visibility of more than 30,000 PGA Golf Professionals and the Association’s work. This role oversees media relations and strategic communications to tell the story of PGA Members, highlight major Association initiatives, and build awareness of key programs; including Governance, Career Services, Education, Coaching & Player Development, and the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The position serves as a connector between internal teams, external media, and the broader community, ensuring consistent and engaging communications that support the organization’s strategic priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Specific areas of responsibility include but are not limited to):

Write, edit, and proofread press releases, media pitches, scripts, executive talking points, and Q&A documents that clearly and accurately represent the approved strategy.

Develop and maintain a consistent editorial voice across all earned media materials, ensuring adherence to Associated Press style and PGA of America brand guidelines.

Prepare and update media kits, fact sheets, bios, and backgrounders to support both proactive outreach and respond to media inquiries.

Develop and nurture relationships with traditional, new, and non-traditional media outlets, including local, regional, national, and diverse publications, by pitching relevant stories and customizing messaging for each audience and platform.

Collaborate with teams across the PGA, such as Membership, Governance, Career Services, Education, PGA Sections and REACH Foundation, to identify newsworthy stories and ensure messaging accuracy.

Manage editorial calendars and deadlines to ensure timely, high-quality content delivery.

Serve as the primary liaison for internal teams, PGA Sections, and PR agencies—collaborating on strategic plans, generating awareness, securing media coverage, and overseeing the PR hub and calendar for internal news release coordination.

Collaborate with agencies on monthly and quarterly media coverage reporting, including editing and distributing reports to leadership.

Partner with Digital and Marketing teams to distribute content, generate awareness, and track engagement across digital platforms.

Support and coordinate media interviews and speaking opportunities for senior management and leadership.

Maintain a strong understanding of the PGA of America’s strategic plan, golf industry issues, and external opportunities to inform and prioritize PR planning.

Coordinate interview tracking and Association fact sheets, and support media monitoring and daily distribution of industry headlines to keep stakeholders informed.

Use wire services, MailChimp, and other PR technologies for distribution and reporting metrics.

SHARED VALUES

Embody the organization’s shared values and help ensure the organization’s values-based culture thrives by proactively identifying and addressing any shared values challenges and opportunities impacting you and your team. Keep Leadership aware of the pulse of the workforce; recognizing, discussing, and addressing any cultural concerns.

INCLUSIVE STATEMENT

Contribute to a respectful and inclusive team environment by welcoming and respecting others’ beliefs, backgrounds, identities, abilities, and individuality to help ensure a supportive and engaging experience for Association Members, partners, customers, and guests. PGA of America respects the uniqueness of each employee and offers everyone the means to find their place and thrive.

SUPERVISION:

No supervisory responsibilities.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

Assist with the development and management of the annual budget for the Public Relations department, as well as management of purchase requisitions and needed contracts.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in Journalism, Communications, English, Public Relations or related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Five years experience in public relations, journalism, or corporate communications.

Portfolio demonstrating published writing experience required.

Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with close attention to grammar, clarity, and AP style.

Proven ability to write for multiple formats and audiences (press releases, social copy, executive messaging, long-form articles).

Experience working with media outlets and building relationships with reporters and editors.

Familiarity with the golf industry is preferred.

Job Knowledge/Technology:

Must have knowledge of national, regional, and local media, gained through experience in public relations or a related field. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with cross-functional teams, providing valuable insight into project timelines and communication needs. Proven track record of building and sustaining media contacts. Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple writing assignments and deadlines simultaneously. Proficiency with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs required. Basic fluency in artificial intelligence (AI) tools and concepts is also expected, including the ability to use AI to enhance business operations and drive innovation, supporting our mission to better serve Members and stakeholders.

Ability to travel up to 5%

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

PGA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, to ensure full equality of opportunity in all operations and activities of the organization, every staff member employed by the PGA shall be selected under fair employment procedures that provide equal employment opportunities to all people. DFWP.