Public Relations Specialist

HGA•Boston, MA

5d•$94,800 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

HGA is seeking a Public Relations Specialist to share stories about the firm’s projects, people, and ideas and to elevate its reputation as a national leader in architecture, engineering, and design. The role is part of the Brand & Communications team and works with design leaders, subject matter experts, marketing professionals, clients, and internal stakeholders to develop stories, conduct media outreach, cultivate journalist and influencer relationships, and secure earned media coverage. The position reports to the Senior PR Manager and is based in San Francisco or Santa Monica, California, or Boston, Massachusetts. The specialist supports public relations planning and campaign execution, develops and edits story pitches and press materials, coordinates media inquiries and interviews, and manages the firm’s annual rankings program. The role also monitors and analyzes media coverage, shares results internally, amplifies earned media through social and other communications, and represents HGA at selected events. HGA describes its work environment as flexible and collaborative, with employees working in the office three days a week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
5–7 years of public relations or strategic communications experience in an agency or in-house setting, supported by formal PR education or training.
Demonstrated success securing local, regional, and national earned media coverage, with a strong understanding of media strategy, storytelling, and journalist and editor relationships.
Effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and build alignment across internal teams and with senior leaders.
Familiarity with media research, monitoring, and measurement tools such as Meltwater, Cision, or Muck Rack.
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills across press materials, social media, and thought-leadership content.
Ability to think strategically, plan and manage multi-phase PR campaigns, and maintain close attention to detail.
Proactive and resourceful approach, with the ability to work independently, adapt to changing priorities, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Familiarity with digital publishing and social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Senior PR Manager on the annual PR strategy and editorial calendar, and coordinate campaigns aligned with firmwide and sector priorities.
Identify story opportunities with internal teams and clients that connect HGA’s work and impact to industry and community conversations.
Draft, edit, and proofread pitches, press releases, media advisories, key messages, and related content.
Research media outlets, editorial calendars, and news trends to guide proactive outreach and national media submissions.
Cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, and relevant influencers to secure local, regional, and national media coverage.
Manage media inquiries and coordinate interviews, background materials, and talking points for HGA leaders.
Help internal teams assess story readiness and messaging alignment, and inform PR leadership about emerging narratives, opportunities, and risks.
Coordinate the annual rankings program, including deadlines and stakeholder engagement, and amplify rankings, people, and project awards.
Use media monitoring tools for research, list maintenance, coverage monitoring, and industry insights; analyze and share PR results through dashboards and internal updates.
Curate and share social media posts highlighting coverage and reinforcing HGA’s brand positioning, and support related internal and external communications.
Attend selected in-person events, project-related milestones, interviews, and networking opportunities.