PR & Media Manager Gulfport 5086

Keesler Federal team members enjoy competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care)

• Employee and dependent life insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan with a 100% match on the first 5% of employee contributions

• Paid time off and leave benefits

• Tuition reimbursement

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

Some benefits may require employee contributions. Eligibility and coverage details are provided during the onboarding process.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Work visa sponsorship is not available.

Position: PR and Media Manager

Department: Marketing

Reports To: Director – PR and Communications

FLSA: Exempt

SUMMARY:

The PR & Media Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategic communication initiatives that enhance the organization’s brand reputation, media presence, and public image. This role oversees media relations, press communications, reputation management, and storytelling across all channels. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator with exceptional writing skills, keen media instincts, and the ability to manage high‑visibility communications in a fast‑paced environment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for the PR and Media Team, interns and coordinators, including but not limited to interviewing, selecting, and hiring. Scheduling, assigning, training, and directing work; evaluating performance; coaching, counseling, rewarding, and disciplining employees; recommending employees for transfers, promotions, and terminations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Media Relations & Reputation:

• Own the press program: build and maintain relationships with local, regional, and industry reporters; proactively pitch stories that advance brand reputation and trust.
• Manage inbound media inquiries with timely, accurate responses; coordinate SME interviews and media briefings.
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, and Q&As.
• Monitor media coverage and brand sentiment; use CISION to produce monthly/quarterly media reports and insights, including share of voice, message pull-through, and competitive comparisons.
• Plan and execute press moments such as branch openings, sponsorship announcements, financial education events, and CSR initiatives.

Storytelling & Content Development:

• Develop compelling narratives that highlight member impact, financial wellness, product differentiation, technology innovation, and community investment.
• Write and edit bylines, op-eds, executive messages, blog posts, and internal news items.
• Partner with Digital teams to adapt stories for social media, web, email, and short‑form video, ensuring cohesive and consistent messaging across channels.

Community & CSR Communications:

• Amplify community partnerships—including education, military, and nonprofit initiatives—through integrated earned and owned communication strategies.
• Coordinate event communications including media kits, speeches/remarks, photography needs, talking points, and post‑event recaps.

Issues & Crisis Communication Support:

• Maintain crisis communication readiness, including the development and upkeep of holding statements, response playbooks, and media FAQs for events such as service disruptions, fraud spikes, severe weather, or regulatory inquiries.
• Support real-time incident response through rapid drafting, routing, approval, and controlled distribution of communications.

Governance & Cross‑Functional Collaboration:

• Ensure communications adhere to brand standards and comply with regulatory expectations, especially within NCUA/CFPB contexts.
• Serve as a cross‑functional liaison with Marketing, Community Development, Member Experience, HR, and Compliance teams.
• Coordinate with external vendors and agencies, including media databases, monitoring platforms, and local PR/event support partners.
• Responsible for compliance with all Federal regulations including Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education:

Equivalent to a college degree (BS or BA) in English, Journalism, Communications, or equivalent work or educational experience.

Experience and Other Requirements:

• 5–7 years in PR, news journalism, media relations, or corporate communications (financial services, banking/credit union, fintech, or highly regulated industry preferred).
• Proven media results (clips/placements portfolio) and strong reporter relationships at local/regional outlets; familiarity with trade media.
• Exceptional writing and editing (AP Style proficiency); skilled in turning complex topics into clear, member‑friendly messages.
• Crisis/issue experience (drafting statements, coordinating responses, working under tight deadlines).
• Measurement fluency: able to define KPIs and report outcomes (reach, SOV, message pull‑through, quality of coverage).
• Tools: media database and monitoring platforms (e.g., Muck Rack/Cision/Meltwater), social listening basics, Microsoft 365/SharePoint.
• Must be willing to travel as needed.

Computer Skills:

• Experience using Adobe Acrobat Professional; Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
• Experience with multimedia channels, including videos, intranet, blogs, etc.

Interpersonal Skills:

A significant level of trust and diplomacy is required in addition to normal courtesy and tact. Work involves extensive personal contact with others and may involve motivating or influencing others. Internal contacts become important and fostering sound relationships is necessary and often requires the ability to influence and/or sell ideas to others.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

None required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Extensive use of personal computer is required. The noise level in the work environment is usually that of a normal office environment.

DECLARATION:

The Human Resources Department retains the sole rights and discretion to make changes to this job description.