Pat’s Run Media Relations Consultant

Employment type Contractor/Consultant Department Operations Work location Remote Compensation $15,000 – $20,000 annually
Final compensation will depend on the location and level at which the candidate is hired

About this job
The Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF) selects exceptional military service members, veterans, and spouses and invests in them for life through scholarships, leadership development, career architecture, and community and events. They are the next generation of public- and private-sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Inspired by Pat Tillman, who proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country, family, and friends, the Pat Tillman Foundation was established following Pat’s death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Over the last 22 years, PTF has supported over 1,000 Tillman Scholars as they’ve furthered their education and increased their impact in the world.

Role Overview
PTF is seeking a seasonal Media Relations Consultant to drive awareness and registration for Pat’s Run, the Foundation’s signature event in Tempe. This role is Arizona-focused. You will own Pat’s Run media in the Valley: our official media partners, Arizona’s Family (AZ Family) and Bonneville Phoenix/KTAR, Phoenix-area earned media, and race-day media operations.

You will work closely with the Foundation’s marketing team, which provides oversight, sets brand guidelines, and approves external materials. That team also handles national pitching. National relationships are a plus, but this role is measured on Arizona coverage and Pat’s Run registration.

This is a seasonal contract, December 2026 through April 2027, covering launch, lead-up, media pitching, and race day. Estimated 15 to 20 hours per week, heavier in race week. Some evenings and weekends. $15,000 to $20,000 flat fee for the full engagement, based on experience, paid in installments per the services agreement.

Two objectives:

Drive Pat’s Run registration through Valley media, from launch through race day.

Connect Arizona audiences to Pat’s legacy and the Tillman Scholars carrying it forward, with an emphasis on Scholars and runners with Arizona ties.

Who You Are
PTF Core Values

Reputable

Mission Driven

Professional

Connected in the Valley. You have working relationships in Phoenix TV, radio, print, and digital newsrooms, and producers and assignment editors take your call.

Hands-on. You write the pitch, book the segment, and stand next to the camera on race morning.

Storyteller. You know what makes a story land with local audiences and can turn a Scholar interview into a segment.

Trusted representative. You use sound judgment and represent the Foundation well with media, partners, and the public.

All in for the season. You can commit to December through April, including race week and race day.

Scope of Work
You will join Pat’s Run planning meetings as needed and own the deliverables below.

Brand & Marketing Alignment

Hold a standing check-in with PTF Marketing throughout the season

Follow PTF brand guidelines and messaging rules in every pitch, release, and talking point

Route press releases, media alerts, and other external materials to PTF Marketing for approval before they go out

Share coverage, partner deliverables, and story leads with PTF Marketing so Foundation channels can amplify them

Serve as the day-to-day Pat’s Run contact for AZ Family and KTAR

Build and run a shared media calendar with both partners from registration launch through race day

Use every contracted asset (interviews, on-air mentions, digital and social, promo spots, talent, live broadcasts) and track delivery against the agreements

Pitch stories and segments beyond the scheduled inventory

Coordinate talent appearances, interviews, and remote broadcasts

Arizona Earned Media

Build and execute the Arizona earned-media plan for Pat’s Run

Pitch Phoenix-area outlets, including:

Local TV and radio beyond our official partners

Arizona print and digital news

ASU and Sun Devil media

Arizona Cardinals and local sports media

East Valley and community outlets

Local military and veteran media

The Valley running and fitness community

Tie pitches to local hooks: ASU, the Cardinals, the in-stadium finish, Arizona-based Tillman Scholars and local teams and runners

Flag stories with national potential to the Foundation marketing team, which owns national pitching

Registration Campaign

Work with the Pat’s Run team and Foundation marketing to plan media around key registration moments:

Team registration

Special guest announcements

Race week

Final registration push

Keep Pat’s Run in Valley news all season, with coverage spread well beyond race weekend

Line up earned media with paid, social, and email so each push reinforces the others

Watch registration trends and adjust when a push is needed

Story Development

In partnership with the Pat’s Run team, find and interview Tillman Scholars, runners, volunteers and sponsors with local story potential

Write press releases, media alerts, talking points, interview prep and pitches

Keep the Pat’s Run media kit current: facts, photos, video and bios

Make sure all communications reflect the Foundation’s mission, voice and values

Race Week & Race Day

Build and run the race-week media plan

Manage media credentials, interview requests, broadcast locations and media access

Serve as the primary on-site media contact on race day

Coordinate interviews with Foundation leadership, Scholars, notable runners, sponsors and special guests

Send race-day stories, photos, and moments to outlets not on site, and pursue post-race coverage

How Success Is Measured

Registration lift tied to media moments across the season (tracked through promo codes, tracking links, and daily registration data)

Full delivery of AZ Family and KTAR contracted assets

Volume and quality of Arizona earned coverage secured

Smooth race-day media operations

Qualifications
Required:

3+ years in public relations, media relations, broadcast, or journalism, with meaningful time in the Phoenix market

Established relationships with Phoenix-area media

A track record of securing local earned coverage

Strong writing and pitching skills

Comfortable working within brand guidelines and an approval process

Lives in the Phoenix metro and can be on site for media events, race week, and race day

Available for the full engagement, December through April

Able to work as an independent contractor (W-9 required), using your own equipment and workspace

Preferred:

National media relationships

Experience in sports, live events, nonprofit communications or military and veteran organizations

Experience working with TV and radio media partners

Connections to ASU or Arizona sports media

Experience preparing spokespeople for interviews

If you’re interested in working to support our mission, browse our open roles and apply to be part of our team. We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. If you believe you have the skills to succeed in one of our roles, regardless of industry, we encourage you to apply.

Voluntary Self-Identification
We’re committed to building a culture where everyone feels welcome, supported, and empowered to thrive. We believe that a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and identities strengthens our team and helps us create the kind of workplace—and world—we want to see.

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We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

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