Sr. Public Relations Specialist

Arizona Financial Credit Union; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Financial Credit Union is seeking a Public Relations and Executive Communications leader to strategize and execute communications initiatives that strengthen brand reputation and visibility. You will manage day-to-day media relations, executive messaging, and content development while collaborating with internal teams and external agencies.

The role focuses on developing PR plans, managing leadership communications, and coordinating with a PR agency to maximize earned media

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or corporate communications.
• Experience writing for executives and supporting media relations required.

Responsibilities

• Develops short- and long-term PR strategy with segment VPs to set goals.
• Manages executive social media growth, engagement strategy, and content calendars.
• Develops executive communications for internal audiences and leadership messaging.
• Writes press releases, media alerts, and executive talking points.
• Identifies community awards opportunities and submits applications.
• Prepares crisis communication plans and ensures readiness.
• Coordinates with external PR agency for earned media and metrics.
• Builds relationships with media, community partners and stakeholders.
• Monitors media coverage and provides insights to leadership.
• Produces monthly/quarterly performance reports and optimization plans.
• Supports cross-functional communications for campaigns and priorities.

Skills

PR strategy

Media outreach

Executive messaging

Press releases

Crisis comms

Media monitoring

Reporting KPIs

Stakeholder relations

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/PR

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Media monitoring tools

Job description

Job Summary Overview

The position is responsible for strategizing and executing public relations and executive communications initiatives that support brand reputation, visibility, and organizational objectives. This role manages day-to-day media relations, executive messaging, and content development while partnering with internal stakeholders and external agencies to deliver effective communication strategies.

Essential Job Functions

• Creates short-term and long-term public relations strategy and works with segment VPs to create and manage PR goals.
• Accountable for managing executive social media growth, engagement strategy and goals, including development of content calendars, messaging, and content execution.
• Develops and delivers executive communications for internal audiences, including employee messaging and leadership communications.
• Writes press releases, media alerts, and executive talking points to support media opportunities and public-facing initiatives.
• Identifies and manages opportunities for community awards and recognition, including researching, writing, and submitting applications.
• Develops, maintains, and prepares crisis communication plans to ensure organizational readiness and message consistency.
• Partners with external PR agency to increase brand visibility and earned media opportunities, including coordinating press release distribution, media outreach, and interview coordination. Holds PR agency accountable for earned media and PR metrics.
• Builds and maintains relationships with media contacts, community partners, and key stakeholders. Sets goals and creates plans to maximize current partnerships and build new relationships.
• Monitors media coverage, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Produces monthly and quarterly reporting to track performance, analyze results, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Supports cross-functional teams with communications strategy for campaigns, initiatives, and organizational priorities.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Position Required Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field and three to five (3-5) years of experience in public relations, media relations, or corporate communications. Experience writing for executives and supporting media relations required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong ability to develop and execute public relations strategies and media outreach plans.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting executive-level messaging.
• Experience managing social media platforms and developing content calendars.
• Strong understanding of media relations, press release development, and interview preparation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Analytical skills with experience measuring and reporting on PR performance and KPIs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required; familiarity with media monitoring and content management tools preferred.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders, media representatives, and agency partners.

Licenses, Training, and Certifications Required

None.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in financial services or regulated industries. Experience supporting crisis communications and executive visibility strategies preferred.

Hybrid Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to operate a computer and standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Must be able to travel independently to department and branch locations.

NOTE: The job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Requirements listed in the above qualifications and physical requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, abilities, physical demands, or work environment required or encountered that must be met by an employee to successfully perform each duty and each function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Employees who work from home must have business operational internet to complete work tasks and communicate via video call or chat messaging systems in a dedicated workspace.