A Public Relationship Manager is the mediator between a company and its customer base.
Public Relations professionals handle communications for employees or externally for customers, stakeholders, etc.
Companies usually hire Public Relationship professionals to keep their reputation in good standing.
If you enjoy working with clients, writing, and a fast-paced environment, a career in public relations could be great for you!
Public Relationship Manager Job Information
| Official Job Title | Public Relations Manager |
| Average Salary | $117,847 |
| Stress Level | High |
| Work/Life | Average |
| Job Satisfaction | Above Average |
| Career Advancement | Above Average |
Public Relationship Manager Job Description
What is a Public Relationship Manager?
A Public Relationship Manager manages a company’s or an organization’s communication needs and media relations.
Being in a manager position, this person will probably oversee a PR department, with other public relations specialists underneath them.
What Does a Public Relationship Manager Do Daily?
Daily, Public Relationship Managers will be doing any of the following tasks:
- Managing and developing PR/Marketing Plans
- Managing PR budgets
- Researching media outlets
- Creating media lists with contact information
- Writing press kits or press releases
- Organizing and planning Events
- Representing their organization during events
Responsibilities, Duties & Roles of a Public Relationship Manager
A Public Relationship Manager is usually responsible for managing a company’s reputation, acting as the spokesperson for the company, or being in charge of all communications for the company.
In many cases, Public Relationship Managers will be expected to handle crisis communications for crises, sometimes making this job a little high-stress.
Duties may include:
- Holding press conferences
- Creating media lists, and other media materials
- Booking media interviews
- Planning company events
- Managing PR plans and budgets
- Developing PR campaigns
- Meeting with clients
- Managing a team of PR professionals
Public Relationship Manager Salary
Average Salary
According to Salary.com, the average salary for a Public Relationship Manager is $117,847 in the United States.
Starting Salary
Entry-level public relations practitioners can earn around $40,911, according to GlassDoor.com.
Senior Salary
Senior-level salaries can range from $133,000 to $197,000 a year, according to GlassDoor.com.
How to Become a Public Relationship Manager
The Entry Level: Certifications, Training & Degree
Most Public Relationship Managers must have a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or other related fields.
It isn’t required to complete an internship during college to get a job in the field, but many employers like to see in-college experience.
This shows you took the initiative to do an internship on top of your coursework.
Since Public Relationship Managers are in a higher-level position, most positions will require candidates to have five to seven years of experience.
While it is not required to practice public relations, an Accreditation in Public Relations or APR is a prestigious title for public relations professionals.
To earn an APR, candidates need at least five years of professional experience and at least one bachelor’s degree or higher.
Other Skillsets, Requirements & Qualifications
While there are no other requirements to practice public relations, Public Relationship Managers should love working with the public and in teams.
They are communicators–they should enjoy talking to people if they want to survive in this field.
Public Relationship Managers will also need to have an eye for detail, be able to work under pressure, and be excellent writers, editors, and creative professionals.
Some positions may require Public Relationship Managers to take on a creative role, requiring knowledge about design, graphic design programs, and social media marketing.
For this position, it’s good to know all of these, just in case.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Public Relationship Manager?
It should take four years for college and training, and depending on the position, it will take three to seven years to gain enough experience in the field to prepare for a management position.
Is It Hard to Become a Public Relationship Manager?
It isn’t too difficult to become a Public Relationship Manager.
You must be able to keep up with current business trends, take your college coursework seriously and stay an excellent communicator; you can succeed!
Public Relationship Manager Career Paths
The Public Relationship Manager Roadmap
Once undergrad is completed, entry-level public relations professionals usually earn positions as Public Relations Assistants, Consultants, or other creative job positions.
Once public relations professionals have experienced different industry aspects, they will be ready for a Public Relationship Manager role.
Many move on to Director of Communications, Director of Public Relations, or even executive roles.
Projections for Growth in Public Relationship Managers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an 8 percent growth of Public Relationship Manager jobs through 2031, a faster-than-average rate.
In Summary: Is a Public Relationship Manager a Good Career?
We say yes!
Public relations will always be relevant in business, especially in the emerging technological and social media age.
Public relations professionals are paid well, have excellent employer benefits, and have a great chance for career advancement.
Working Conditions
Can a Public Relationship Manager Work Remotely From Home?
Yes! While many higher-level public relations professionals usually work in an office, many have had to work remotely from home since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thankfully, many client and team meetings can be held through Zoom, and there are programs online to help teams collaborate remotely.
How Many Hours Does a Public Relationship Manager Work?
Most Public Relationship Managers will be required to work the typical 9 to 5 workweek, but many put in more hours due to deadline requirements or other emergency communications.
Can a Public Relationship Manager Work Part-Time?
Most Public Relationship Managers work full-time hours or more.
While a small business or organization may hire a Public Relationship Manager, they might not need you to work 40 hours based on their needs.
But most people in this position have a heavy workload that requires 40 hours of work.
What are the Average Vacation Days for a Public Relationship Manager?
Public Relationship Managers usually receive two weeks of paid vacation days a year, depending on where and how many years they have worked there.
Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to a Public Relationship Manager
- Communications Director
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Marketing Consultant
- SEO Manager
- Content Marketing Manager
- Marketing Coordinator
- Marketing Specialist
- Market Research Analyst
- Public Relations Specialist
Public Relationship Manager Resume Tips
Public relations professionals are known to be professional communicators.
It’s important to have a well-written, easy-to-read resume.
People in this field are expected to present perfect content to the public; it’s only normal for them to have an error-free resume.
Double-check and triple-check the copy of your resume to see if you’ve missed any spelling errors or sentence errors.
Some positions may require a creative aspect of the job requirements.
If this is the case, consider designing a unique and creative resume template that draws attention to the best parts of your resume.
If you’ve earned any certifications, employers will want to see them!
Make sure you list any relevant certifications or awards–standing out from the crowd is good in this field.
Public Relationship Manager Interview Questions
Q1: Describe a time you managed a PR campaign. What went well? What went wrong?
Why It Works: If you are applying for a management position, employers will want to see that you’ve worked on media or PR campaigns in previous jobs.
Q2: How do you stay current with public relations trends?
Why It Works: Business and media are constantly changing.
It’s essential for any public relations professional to stay up-to-date with what works in their industry.
Q3: Do you have any experience with crisis communications?
Why It Works: Many companies hire Public Relationship Managers to handle crises and negative media attention.
In this position, you will most likely be responsible for crises.
Q4: How can social media influence your PR strategy?
Why It Works: Social media is becoming bigger and bigger every day.
Current Public Relationship Managers will need to know a lot about social media channels for their position.
Q5: How do you manage a team?
Why It Works: Since a Public Relationship Manager is a more senior-level position, you will probably be required to manage a team of public relations professionals under you.
Jobs Related to Public Relationship Manager
Interested in other types of public relations jobs? Similar jobs include:
- Account Executive
- Media Buyer
- Spokesperson
- Publicist
- Communications Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Creative Director
- Public Affairs Manager
- Media Relations
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Journalist
For HR Managers: Tips for Hiring a Public Relationship Manager
Key Characteristics to Look for in a Public Relationship Manager
Potential candidates should be excellent communicators, work well in teams, handle constructive feedback, and have no fear of talking to the public.
Other characteristics should include an eye for detail, a creative mind, and excellent speaking skills.
Minimum Level of Education & Experience
At a minimum, Public Relationship Managers will need a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience for a management position.
Depending on the duties will depend on the amount of experience needed.