Media Relations Manager

You: A live wire who thrives on speed, relationships, and results. You’re quicker on the draw than a 1980s Wall Street trader. You live and breathe the news cycle, know what makes a story irresistible, and can get it in front of the right reporter before the competition even sees it coming. You have the instincts of a journalist, the charm of a publicist, and a passion for advancing liberty. 

Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies stripping Americans of their rights every day. There’s a lot of government overreach out there, and it’s backed by seemingly endless resources. But fortunately, like all lumbering giants, abusive government is most vulnerable when countered by individuals who act strategically and nimbly, take calculated risks, have each other’s backs, and are confident in, and passionate for the cause—the very sort of swashbucklers we employ in spades here at PLF.  

Us: We fight back. Pacific Legal Foundation is the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories out of 21 cases litigated at the Court—so far. We have nearly 200 hundred active cases nationwide and a growing number of legislative and administrative policy wins.

We are a next-generation public interest law firm. What does “next-generation” mean for a legal nonprofit? It means we aren’t interested in doing the same thing as everyone else. We aspire to be the best player in a constantly changing game.

Here’s what you get to do in this role: 

As PLF’s next Media Relations Manager, you’ll have one mission: securing prestige and attention for our work—fast. Earning it by pitching stories, booking interviews, and building trust with journalists who can shape national conversations. You’ll move quickly to spot opportunities, weighing what a moment calls for and then making it happen. In every case, success depends on relationships—with reporters, editors, and producers who can put PLF’s work in front of the audiences who matter most — and a keen understanding of the news media.

This role reports to the Media Relations Director.

Your specific job duties will likely include: 

• Crafting and delivering compelling earned media pitches tied to case launches, legal rulings, and other newsworthy developments
• Booking PLF attorneys and other spokespeople for interviews and media appearances
• Monitoring the news cycle to identify opportunities to inject PLF’s work into current events
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with editorial contacts at key media outlets—including reporters, producers, and bookers

This role is ideal for someone with: 

• A team-oriented, can-do attitude, and the willingness to pitch in however needed
• 3+ years of experience in earned media (e.g., pitching, booking, journalism, PR); background in broadcast journalism is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, especially the ability to distill complex ideas into concise, persuasive pitches
• A sharp eye for news and the instincts to act quickly when opportunities arise
• The ability to handle multiple assignments at once, work quickly, and meet deadlines on time
• Familiarity or experience with Agile/Scrum methodology is a plus
• Experience using project management software in a team setting (we use Asana) is a plus

General information:

Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Using strategic and principled litigation, communications, and research, we battle for freedom in the nation’s courts and the court of public opinion. 

As a national nonprofit organization, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, although approximately half of the staff works from home offices across the country. Working from the Arlington, Virginia, office is a plus for this role, although candidates will be considered for work from any office or home office.

Minimal travel required, including attendance at annual staff retreats (locations vary) and occasional press conferences. We take work-life balance seriously with our generous paid leave and flextime policies. We have a flexible, collaborative, and collegial work culture. We take pride in investing in your future and encouraging internal advancement. PLF is the place for someone principled, tenacious, and determined to succeed in positively shaping the future of our country and restoring real limits on government power. 

Salary range and benefits: 

PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent nationwide and offers a total compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a generous 403(b) company contribution, life and disability insurance, paid leave and wellness leave, and 3 weeks of paid time off. This is a full-time, permanent position with a starting salary range of $60,000–$80,000. This is a wide salary range; compensation will be commensurate with experience. Exceptions may be considered for candidates with exceptional experience, education, professional background, or proven results in previous roles. Salary negotiations and details on PLF’s benefits package will be discussed with finalist candidates. 

How to apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials:

• Your resume, including your relevant professional experience
• A cover letter explaining why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants
• A short pitch that you would send to a reporter to get them to cover a PLF case

We kindly ask that candidates refrain from contacting us directly regarding this role. To ensure a fair and consistent review process, only applications submitted through this job posting will be considered. We appreciate your interest in joining PLF!