Public Relations Coordinator

Position Summary:

Penn Foster Group is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented PR Coordinator to support the execution of our public relations strategy and agency partnership. Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications, this role will serve as the operational backbone of the PR function - ensuring deliverables move forward, deadlines are met, and internal coordination happens seamlessly.

The PR Coordinator will work closely with our external PR agency and cross-functional internal stakeholders to manage timelines, prepare materials, source supporting documentation and statistics, coordinate testimonials, and maintain visibility into upcoming conferences and speaking opportunities. This role is ideal for someone early in their communications career who thrives on organization, follow-through, and ensuring great ideas turn into executed output.

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as the primary internal coordinator for PR deliverables, ensuring timelines, approvals, and materials are gathered and shared with our agency partner on schedule.
• Maintain and regularly update a centralized PR calendar including conferences and speaking opportunities.
• Coordinate with our agency to prepare and organize briefing documents, backgrounders, messaging documents, executive bios, and supporting materials for media opportunities and events.
• Work with colleagues to source relevant statistics, proof points, and company data to strengthen pitches, press materials, and thought leadership.
• Coordinate with colleagues to secure learner, partner, or employer testimonials as needed to support media outreach, award entries, and speaking engagements, including managing permissions and documentation.
• Track media coverage, monitor placements, and maintain a clean archive of earned media assets.
• Attend and document weekly PR agency meetings, capturing action items, deadlines, and ownership to ensure accountability and follow-through.
• Assist in editing press releases, pitch materials, and internal communications as needed, as managing the approval process.
• Support reporting efforts by gathering metrics, impressions, and performance data for monthly and quarterly summaries from our agency and measuring against business goals.
• Act as a reliable point of coordination across Marketing, Product, Legal, and Leadership teams to ensure PR initiatives, including Influencers, have necessary inputs and approvals.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• 2 years of experience in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field (internship experience considered).
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail; able to manage multiple timelines simultaneously without dropping details.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to draft clear, concise documents and emails.
• Comfortable understanding research and synthesizing data into usable proof points.
• Ability to coordinate across stakeholders and follow up proactively to keep projects moving.
• Strong meeting management and note-taking skills, with the ability to translate discussion into clear action steps.
• Professional judgment and discretion when handling executive materials and media-related documentation.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment while maintaining responsiveness and accountability.
• Growth mindset and eagerness to learn the fundamentals of media relations, executive communications, and agency partnership management.
• Interest in education, workforce development, or mission-driven organizations preferred.

About Us: At Penn Foster Group, we are transforming online learning to help learners by bringing together Penn Foster, CareerStep, Ashworth College, James Madison High School, the New York Institute of Photography, the New York Institute of Art and Design, and other education platforms. Together, we create an accelerated path to greater economic mobility through real-world skills and knowledge that enable learners to achieve long-term success in the workplaces of the future.  Our history dates back to 1890 when our founder, Thomas Foster, pioneered distance education by offering training by mail for coal miners to get the necessary skills for safer jobs. Today, with the partners who use our education and training programs, we continue that mission of providing accessible training and education for in-demand skills and are building a workforce that’s prepared for the future job market.

Equal Employment Opportunity: We strive toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn Foster Group by intentionally building diverse teams – in identities, lived experiences, and ideas to create a culture where people feel connected to each other and have a sense of belonging. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion because it is the foundation that enables us to achieve what we set out to do as an organization – from maximizing the number of learners who can reach their goals while giving them the kinds of experiences we want them to have, to becoming the type of company we want to work in.

What We Offer: We offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, generous paid time off, sponsored volunteer opportunities, a 401K with a company match, and free access to our online programs.