PR & Social Coordinator

Mercy Chefs•Portsmouth, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Mercy Chefs is seeking a PR & Social Coordinator to support media relations, storytelling, and on-the-ground communications during deployments and key initiatives. This role works closely with the Communications team to coordinate media opportunities, develop compelling stories, and support real-time content creation that amplifies impact.

Requirements

Experience in PR, communications, journalism, or social media
Strong writing and storytelling skills (AP Style preferred)
Ability to work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments (especially during disaster response)
Basic photo/video capture and editing skills
Strong organizational and coordination skills
Willingness to travel and deploy
Adaptable and flexible in rapidly changing environments
Strong communicator with the ability to represent the organization well
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Self-starter who can take initiative in the field
Team-oriented with a willingness to jump in wherever needed
Calm under pressure and able to problem-solve in real time
Passion for mission-driven work and serving others

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in media, nonprofit communications, or field-based storytelling
Familiarity with disaster response or humanitarian work
Passion for mission-driven storytelling and serving others

Responsibilities

Coordinate media requests in collaboration with the Public Relations Director and external PR partners during deployments and major initiatives
Schedule interviews between journalists and Mercy Chefs spokespersons
Provide interview briefs and talking points for on-site spokespersons
Support on-site media coordination, ensuring smooth execution of interviews and coverage
Support the Public Relations Director with social media execution
Cross-trained in all social media responsibilities, including: Writing and scheduling posts, Creating Graphics or photo posts in Canva and Compelling Instagram Stories, Community engagement (comments, messages), Supporting campaign rollouts
Partner with the Public Relations Director to prepare background materials for interviews
Develop talking points, key statistics, and impact highlights
Ensure spokespersons are equipped with accurate, up-to-date information on Mercy Chefs operations
Serve as spokesperson for interviews if needed
Organize and distribute photo/video assets for media use
Maintain updated media highlights and coverage libraries
Build “best of” b-roll packages for media and storytelling use
Work closely with the Content Team to source stories, testimonials, and visuals
Coordinate with Marketing and Development teams to align messaging with campaigns and fundraising goals
Identify compelling stories from deployments and Community Kitchens
Assist in developing media pitches and storytelling angles
Serve as a point of contact for content offload during deployments
Provide on-the-ground support for photo and video capture when needed
Assist with basic editing of photo/video content
Support real-time storytelling efforts from the field