Senior Public Relations Specialist

Garney Construction•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

A Senior Public Relations Specialist position is available at Garney Construction in N. Kansas City, MO . The Senior Public Relations Specialist will be responsible for elevating Garney’s brand visibility and strengthening its reputation through strategic external communications and storytelling. This role leads day-to-day public relations execution, including media outreach, project storytelling, award submissions, and conference abstract development. The position partners closely with internal leaders and subject matter experts to translate complex technical work into clear, compelling narratives that support Garney’s strategic priorities across the water industry.

Requirements

Strong expertise in public relations, media relations, and external communications.
Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to translate technical information into engaging content.
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Confident communicator capable of building relationships with senior leaders and subject matter experts.
Ability to manage workflows and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English, or related field.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in public relations or external communications.
Experience in the AEC industry.

Responsibilities

Lead external communications initiatives that support Garney’s reputation, visibility, and strategic priorities.
Identify proactive story opportunities and develop pitch angles for trade and business media.
Coordinate media outreach, manage follow-ups, and maintain relationships with editors and reporters.
Support and coordinate media interviews, including scheduling, preparation, and development of background materials and talking points.
Write and edit press releases, media pitches, project spotlights, leadership bios, and related PR content.
Interview internal subject matter experts and leaders to develop compelling project and people-focused stories.
Draft and submit award applications, executive nominations, and project recognition materials.
Develop and submit conference abstracts for national and regional conferences in partnership with subject matter experts.
Maintain an editorial, awards, and submissions calendar to ensure deadlines are tracked and met consistently.
Build and maintain media lists and outreach tracking tools.
Use media monitoring platforms to track coverage, measure impact, and report outcomes.
Manage workflows and deliverables using project management tools to support cross-functional collaboration.
Recommend improvements to public relations processes, tools, and storytelling approaches.
Stay informed on industry trends, media opportunities, and best practices in public relations.