Senior Media Relations Manager

Runyon Saltzman & Einhorn, Inc.; Rancho Cordova, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Professional development support

Job summary

Runyon Saltzman & Einhorn, Inc. in Rancho Cordova, CA is seeking a Senior Media Relations Manager with 10–15 years of PR and a proven track record in earned media. You will develop strategic media campaigns, mentor teams, and counsel executives across national and California outlets.

You will lead storytelling initiatives, manage crisis communications, and collaborate with account teams to deliver integrated campaigns that move audiences and shape public perception.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• 10–15 years of PR, media relations, journalism, or strategic communications experience.
• Proven track record securing high-quality earned media coverage.
• Deep, established relationships with California and national journalists, editors, and producers.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, research, and interviewing skills.
• Strong executive presence and confidence advising senior-level clients.
• Significant issues and crisis communications experience.
• Agency experience strongly preferred; bilingual or multilingual communications skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute earned media strategies that generate meaningful coverage across print, digital, television, radio, and podcasts.
• Leverage and expand relationships with California media, as well as national, trade and other influential outlets.
• Find compelling stories within complex programs, policies, research, data, and human experiences, turning them into narratives journalists want to tell.
• Write pitches, press releases, statements, talking points, op-eds, and executive communications.
• Prepare executives and subject-matter experts for high-stakes interviews and public communications.
• Advise clients through emerging issues, reputational challenges and crisis situations across earned, owned and social channels.
• Partner across teams to create integrated campaigns where earned media strengthens the overall idea.
• Mentor teammates and elevate writing and strategic planning standards.

Skills

Writing

Storytelling

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive advisory

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, PR, marketing

Job description

Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
Experience: 10–15 years
Schedule: Full-time; hybrid, four days in office/one remote

About Us

RSE is a forward-thinking, full-service PR, marketing, and advertising agency doing work that matters. From public health and education to economic development, government, and some of the most compelling non-profit and business organizations, we help our clients tell important stories, build trust, and move people to action.

We believe the best work happens when smart, curious people come together, from strategists to storytellers, creatives and media experts challenging one another to see what others don’t and create something extraordinary.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an exceptional Senior Media Relations Manager who knows what makes a great story and how to get it in front of the right people.

You’ve spent your career building trusted relationships with journalists, editors, producers, and other influential voices. You understand the media landscape and have relationships spanning local newsrooms throughout the state to major markets, and national outlets.

Most importantly, you’re more than a great pitcher. You’re a storyteller, client strategist, and trusted advisor.

You can uncover the human story inside complex issues, find the evidence that makes it credible, and shape a narrative people will care about. You can counsel an executive before an important interview, recognize a reputation risk before it becomes a headline, and help a client navigate a fast-moving crisis with confidence.

Key Responsibilities

Media Relations & Storytelling

• Develop and execute earned media strategies that generate meaningful coverage across print, digital, television, radio, and podcasts.
• Leverage and continually expand strong relationships with California media, as well as national, trade and other influential outlets.
• Find compelling stories within complex programs, policies, research, data, and human experiences, turning them into narratives journalists want to tell.
• Write exceptional pitches, press releases, statements, talking points, op-eds, and executive communications.

Strategy & Thought Leadership

• Prepare executives and subject-matter experts for high-stakes interviews and public communications.
• Anticipate opportunities and risks and bring strategic responses and proactive solutions.

Issues & Crisis Management

• Advise clients through emerging issues, reputational challenges and crisis situations across earned, owned and social channels.
• Quickly assess the communications environment and develop clear messages, statements, Q&As and response strategies.

Culture of Collaborations

• Partner across Account Management, Creative, Digital, Social and Media teams to create integrated campaigns where earned media makes the entire idea stronger.
• Elevate our PR capabilities through mentorship, media intelligence and a high bar for writing and strategic planning.
• Bring curiosity, optimism, initiative, and generosity to a team that cares deeply about both the work and one another.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• 10–15 years of PR, media relations, journalism, or strategic communications experience.
• A demonstrated record of securing high-quality earned media coverage.
• Deep, established relationships with California and national journalists, editors, and producers.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, research, and interviewing skills.
• Strong executive presence and confidence advising senior-level clients.
• Significant issues and crisis communications experience.
• Agency experience strongly preferred; bilingual or multilingual communications skills are a plus.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

You’ll have the opportunity to shape stories that matter, advise organizations that make an impact, and help build the next generation of a legacy Sacramento agency with an ambitious future.

We offer comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) with employer match, generous paid time off, professional development support and a competitive salary of $110,000–$135,000, based on experience and qualifications.

If you know how to find the story, earn the trust and get people talking, we want to meet you.