Associate, Public Relations, External Affairs & Communications

Bridgewater Associates • Westport, CT

1d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate, Public Relations is a member of Bridgewater’s External Affairs & Communications team and plays a critical role within the Press & Media pillar. The role is responsible for helping translate firm priorities and external communications strategy into high-quality execution across media engagements, external messaging, and press operations. Reporting to the Head of Public Relations and working closely with stakeholders across the firm, this role supports both reactive and proactive media efforts, manages core press operations, and helps ensure Bridgewater’s external communications are accurate, thoughtful, well-coordinated, and aligned with firm priorities. The Associate will be deeply involved in drafting and refining external-facing materials, coordinating media interactions, and supporting employees and senior leaders in high-stakes, fast-moving situations. This role requires strong judgment, excellent written communication skills, and the ability to operate with ownership in a complex, dynamic environment. Successful candidates are highly organized, comfortable managing multiple workstreams, and motivated by delivering consistently high-quality outcomes while navigating risk, sensitivity, and ambiguity. You will be a click for the role if you: Have a strong interest in press, media relations, and external communications, and are motivated by shaping how complex organizations engage externally. Are highly organized and operationally strong, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and follow-through materials. Take an ownership mindset — you don’t just execute tasks, you think ahead, flag risks, and look for ways to improve outcomes materials. Bring sound judgment and discretion, especially when working on sensitive, confidential, or reputationally significant topics. Are a collaborative partner who can work effectively across teams and levels, including with senior leaders. Thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and approach challenges with pragmatism, rigor, and professionalism.

Requirements

• 4+ years of professional experience in press, media relations, or strategic communications, ideally within an agency or similarly fast-paced, high-accountability environment.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with media, including pitching stories, managing relationships, and handling inbound requests.
• Strong written communicator with the ability to draft and refine external-facing content with clarity, precision, and sound judgment.
• Highly organized and reliable, with a proven ability to manage multiple workstreams in high-stakes environments.
• Exhibits sound judgment and discretion around sensitive, confidential, or reputationally significant topics; understands when to escalate and ask for help.
• Comfortable partnering with senior stakeholders and executives, including preparing materials and representing the Press/Media function with professionalism and expertise.
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across Communications, Content, Digital, Commercial, and other internal and external partners.
• Operates with an ownership mindset, taking accountability for outcomes and proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day execution across the Press/Media pillar, operating within strategy and direction set by senior leadership while exercising sound independent judgment.
• Execute inbound media requests, including risk assessment, coordination, drafting talking points, and follow-ups.
• Support proactive outbound media engagement in support of firm priorities, including senior leader prep, interview coordination, and conference and speaking opportunities.
• Draft, edit, and refine external-facing written materials (e.g., talking points, briefing documents, backgrounders) with precision, judgment, and attention to risk.
• Support risk management efforts by proactively identifying sensitivities, flagging potential issues, and helping manage fast-moving or confidential situations.
• Own core Press/Media operations, including media scans, client media monitoring, conference tracking, stakeholder updates, meeting preparation, and vendor coordination.
• Maintain organized systems and documentation that enable transparency, continuity, and scalability within the Press/Media function.
• Demonstrate an ownership mindset by continuously identifying opportunities to improve processes, quality, and impact.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees