Part-Time Media Relations Specialist

Davis Elen Public Relations is seeking a high-impact Media Relations Specialist for a year-long, part-time contract dedicated to the McDonald’s account. This role is for a dedicated "earned media engine"—someone who lives for the thrill of the pitch, maintains deep-seated journalist relationships, and understands the unique landscape of Food & Beverage and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).

This role supports all Davis Elen PR markets for McDonald's, including the Pacific Northwest and the Mid-Atlantic (Philadelphia and the DMV) .

The Role at a Glance

• Status: Part-Time Contract (1-Year Duration)
• Location: 100% Remote (Candidates preferred in SoCal, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Philadelphia, or DC)
• Reports to: Communications Director
• Focus: McDonald's Earned Media, Community Story Sourcing, and Crisis Support

Key Responsibilities

• Community & Philanthropic Story Mining: Proactively source stories from our Owner/Operators regarding their local community engagement, non-profit partnerships (including RMHC), and charitable initiatives. You will be responsible for identifying the "heart" behind the business.
• Multicultural Storytelling: Apply a multicultural lens to all story sourcing and crafting, ensuring our earned media efforts authentically represent and reach the diverse communities McDonald's serves.
• Creative Narrative Development: Transform brand initiatives and charitable acts into compelling pitches. You don’t just send press releases; you create hooks that align with food trends, local news cycles, and human-interest segments.
• Earned Media Generation: Lead the charge in securing high-quality coverage across national, regional, and trade outlets. You are solely responsible for meeting earned media KPIs for the McDonald's business.
• Media Architecture: Build and leverage a "gold-standard" media list spanning Food & Beverage, lifestyle, business, and multicultural press across West Coast and Mid-Atlantic markets.
• Crisis Management Support: Act as a critical media relations secondary during sensitive issues, assisting in managing inbound inquiries and maintaining brand reputation.

Qualifications & Technical Proficiency

• Portfolio Requirement: Candidates must provide a portfolio or case studies demonstrating successful earned media placements, creative pitch examples, and storytelling prowess.
• F&B & Community Expertise: Deep understanding of the Food & Beverage media landscape and experience highlighting corporate social responsibility (CSR) or non-profit collaborations.
• Master Storyteller: A proven ability to identify the "human" element in a corporate initiative and the writing skills to pitch it successfully to diverse media outlets.
• Market Knowledge: Proven experience pitching media in the PNW (Seattle/Portland) and/or the Mid-Atlantic (Philly/DC) regions.
• Crisis Experience: Comfortable assisting in high-stakes environments and maintaining brand voice during reputational challenges.
• Tool Kit: Well-versed in relationship management and reporting tools. Preference for those with experience in Sprout Influencer and Cohley , though comparable PR software proficiency is accepted.

Why Join Davis Elen?

This is a unique opportunity to lead earned media for one of the world's most iconic brands while highlighting the local impact of independent Owner/Operators. You will have high accountability and the autonomy to own the McDonald's earned media narrative across the US while maintaining the flexibility of a remote, part-time schedule.