Account Director, Earned Media Strategy

Weber Shandwick is looking for a Director, Media Relations with Consumer and Food PR experience to join our consumer team in Chicago.

We Are Seeking: 

We’re seeking a dynamic Director with a strong passion for Consumer and Food PR to join our Media Relations team within our Consumer Practice. This role involves working with large CPG brands, leading media relations strategy and execution alongside high-performing teams, fostering media relationships, and being immersed in pop culture and emerging trends to drive impact for brands.

With a minimum of 7+ years of experience, you will play a lead role on integrated account teams to create earned media strategies that transform stories into trending topics. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams, serving as a trusted media relations advisor to ensure ideas are earned-worthy and drive significant media engagement.  

Other responsibilities include effectively coaching mid and junior-level team members and having a solid grasp of both traditional and digital media, including social platforms. Ideally, you will have agency or in-house experience (or a mix of both) in the food and beverage categories.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Crafting and telling compelling stories
• Creating and guiding smart earned-led media strategies across various programs
• Building and maintaining excellent relationships with national and regional news, food, lifestyle and entertainment reporters
• Developing a deep understanding of our client’s business and target audiences. and working in close collaboration with our Creative, Insights and Client Experience teams
• Assisting in the evaluation of creative during planning and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure ideas are earned-worthy
• Counseling junior members of the team to effectively work with the media and developing their skill sets in the agency setting
• Allocating agency resources in accordance with our client's budget
• Bringing a client-focused attitude that results in work being performed to the highest quality standards
• Presenting to clients on a consistent basis to show crafted strategies for client status calls, new business presentations, and special projects
• Proactively looking for and telling impactful stories for clients that further business objectives
• Providing ongoing insights to colleagues and clients on specific reporters and the state of the media

• Participating in RFPs and contributing to the development of agency brand POVs

What We’re Looking For:

• Senior lifestyle/CPG/Food+Beverage media strategist with a minimum of 7 years of experience and increased responsibility overseeing earned media strategy development and execution
• Knowledge and expertise in food, women’s and men’s lifestyle, entertainment and sports is preferred
• Experience in other verticals such as corporate, social impact, tech or healthcare is a bonus, but not required
• Proven ability to garner earned-first coverage (especially in food and lifestyle outlets) and conversation on behalf of brands
• Several close relationships with top-tier food and lifestyle media at the national level and a history of successful placements
• A working style that is self-motivated, well-organized and resilient to ever-changing timelines, requests and deliverables
• Management of earned media campaigns including thought leadership, product launches, business campaigns, celebrity partnerships, etc.
• BA or BS in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or related field
• Proven aptitude to solve problems, handle crises, and make quick decisions with incomplete information
• Exceptional client service record with ability to counsel and interact effectively with senior management at client organizations with flawless earned media strategy
• Working in and/or with large, marketing-oriented companies
• Effective team supervision and leadership
• Excellent communication skills; verbal and written
• Ability to media train senior clients
• Can integrate earned media strategy seamlessly with digital, social and paid
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to craft strategy for new business presentations
• Ability to effectively balance and prioritize multiple projects and deliverables

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money - $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

Illinois Salary range: $95,000 - $125,000

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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