Senior PR Strategist & Media Relations Leader

Hawke Media; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Medical, Dental, Vision coverage

HSA/FSA option

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Career progression

Job summary

Hawke Media in Santa Monica, CA, is seeking a Senior Manager of Public Relations to lead strategic PR programs for multiple clients from our in-office HQ. You will oversee media outreach, craft tailored pitches, and advise on positioning, messaging and earned media opportunities.

This hands-on role combines strategy with execution and client leadership. You will guide senior stakeholders, manage contractors, and drive results across campaigns, while shaping reputational strategy and crisis

Qualifications

• 6+ years of public relations/communications experience, with significant agency experience as part of work history.
• Demonstrated experience independently owning PR strategy and client relationships across multiple accounts.
• Strong track record of developing media strategies, pitching journalists, and securing meaningful earned media coverage.
• Experience managing contractors, specialists and/or junior team members and holding others accountable for quality and deadlines.
• Excellent strategic writing and editing skills, including pitches, messaging, strategic plans, executive communications and client-facing materials.
• Experience advising clients or senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive or high-stakes communications.

Responsibilities

• Own PR strategy and results for an assigned portfolio of clients, connecting communications strategy to each client's broader business and brand objectives.
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to clients, guiding conversations around positioning, messaging, media strategy, reputation, and emerging opportunities.
• Lead client meetings and strategic planning conversations, translating business priorities into clear PR strategies and tactical plans.
• Proactively identify trends that create opportunities or risks for clients and adjust strategy when needed.
• Establish meaningful client KPIs, regularly evaluate performance against them and adjust strategy as conditions warrant.

Skills

PR strategy

media relations

pitching journalists

crisis communications

client management

team leadership

Tools

media databases

monitoring platforms

measurement/reporting tools

Job description

Hawke Media in Santa Monica, CA, is seeking a Senior Manager of Public Relations to lead strategic PR programs for multiple clients from our in-office HQ. You will oversee media outreach, craft tailored pitches, and advise on positioning, messaging and earned media opportunities.

This hands-on role combines strategy with execution and client leadership. You will guide senior stakeholders, manage contractors, and drive results across campaigns, while shaping reputational strategy and crisis