Media Relations Manager
About The Position
Olomana Loomis is an integrated communications agency rooted in Hawaiʻi. The firm helps organizations navigate complexity, strengthen public trust, and communicate clearly across marketing, public relations, digital, and community-facing channels. We are looking for a Media Relations Manager who will support a major client where media visibility, operational reliability, and public confidence are closely connected. The client operates in a highly visible, highly regulated environment with statewide community impact. The position will report to our communications manager. Olomana Loomis is looking for a media-savvy communications professional who can manage news relationships, develop strong story angles, and support issues and crisis response when fast, accurate communication matters most. This person will play a central role on a client account that demands sound judgment, excellent writing, strong local awareness, and the ability to stay composed under pressure. The ideal candidate understands Hawaiʻi’s media environment, knows how to move comfortably between planning and response mode, and can translate operational or technical subject matter into clear public-facing language. Experience in transportation, utilities, infrastructure, maritime, or other regulated sectors would be especially valuable.
Requirements
- Minimum a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
- 5 - 10 years of experience in media relations, public relations, strategic communications, or a related role.
- Strong writing, editing, and message development skills across multiple formats.
- Experience pitching media, managing press inquiries, and building relationships with journalists.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and work effectively in high-pressure situations.
- Familiarity with Hawaiʻi’s media landscape strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in communications, with a proven track record of managing projects, generating content, and supporting clients effectively.
- Strong writing skills, with command over tone, grammar, punctuation, and style.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets).
- Experience with project management tools such as Asana or similar platforms.
- Candidates must be ready to begin work within a month of offer; therefore only candidates currently on island (or en route to return/relocate to Hawaii) will be considered.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in transportation, utilities, infrastructure, maritime, or other regulated sectors would be especially valuable.
- Background in crisis communications, issues management, or reputation strategy.
- Experience supporting clients in regulated or operationally complex industries.
- Comfort working across agency teams and with senior client stakeholders.
- Familiarity with media monitoring, analytics, and reporting tools.
Responsibilities
- Build and maintain productive relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and assignment desks across Hawaiʻi.
- Identify timely story opportunities and help shape outreach that earns meaningful coverage for clients.
- Draft press materials, statements, briefing documents, talking points, and executive messaging.
- Support spokesperson readiness by preparing backgrounders, Q&A, and interview prep materials.
- Track relevant news coverage, industry developments, and emerging issues that could affect client reputation or operations.
- Prepare recurring coverage summaries and insight reports that help clients understand media traction, themes, and perception.
- Contribute to crisis readiness efforts, including scenario planning, message development, response protocols, and communications playbooks aligned with client operational plans.
- Support live response during incidents by helping gather facts, draft materials, route approvals, and coordinate communications across agency and client teams.
- Work closely with senior agency leaders and client stakeholders to ensure messaging is accurate, strategic, and appropriate for the moment.
Benefits
- Parking subsidy or monthly Bus Pass
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Health insurance coverage (including Acupuncture and Massage) paid by employer
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Supplemental Insurance available
- Flex Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
- Year-end performance bonus
- Paid Vacation, Holiday and Sick Pay
- Professional development supported
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
