Public Relations Specialist

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable, and to share the process as a model for the world. TreePeople is among the largest independent environmental organizations in California. Sustained by a team of educators, foresters, organizers, and administrators as well as thousands of trained “Community Foresters,” TreePeople plays a leading role in mobilizing individuals, private businesses, and government agencies to work together to create resilient communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change. For 50 years, TreePeople has partnered with community volunteers to plant and care for millions of trees throughout the cities and mountains of Southern California.

The Public Relations Specialist will support the Marketing & Communications Department by communicating the purpose and mission of TreePeople via media releases, advisories, and messaging materials, planning and executing press events, and working with TreePeople teams across Southern California to tell their stories. The position will draft and edit promotional and fundraising communications while managing multiple projects simultaneously with a high level of precision.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Drafting, editing, and distributing press/media releases and advisories.
• Planning, coordinating, and executing press events to amplify TreePeople’s work.
• Draft and refine talking points and messaging materials for external use.
• Cultivating connections with media outlets, reporters, editors, and pitching stories.
• Maintaining media distribution lists.
• Serving as a liaison between the Marketing & Communications team and other departments to ensure consistent messaging.
• Collaborate with staff across departments to identify and shape compelling, story-driven content.
• Train and support staff on best practices for media appearances.
• Assist with organizing and covering in-person volunteer, cultural, and fundraising events as needed.
• Drafting and editing TreePeople promotional and fundraising communications for various platforms.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• 2-3 years prior experience in public relations, communications, or related field.
• Strong understanding of the current media landscape, particularly related to environmental issues in both print and digital media.
• Pre-existing relationships with journalists, editors, and content creators preferred.
• Highly-organized, proactive, and adaptable with the ability to learn quickly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including listening, negotiating, public speaking, and writing.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Spanish fluency is preferred.
• Must be comfortable working some weekends, as needed.