Associate PR Director

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

What does innovative PR look like for today’s fastest growing B2B brands? If your answer includes more than media hits, let’s talk. 

Walker Sands is looking for a strategic, results-driven associate public relations director to join our growing strategic communications team in Seattle. As an Associate PR Director, you will develop and execute smart strategies for some of the most exciting B2B brands in cybersecurity, AI, IT and more — building awareness and credibility, and driving reputation across a growing mix of earned and shared channels. 

Beyond the assumed (specifics below), we’re looking for three things: 

1. Curiosity and a challenger mindset: You’re never satisfied with the status quo. You bring hunger for results, curiosity about the evolving media landscape, and a relentless ambition to push new PR approaches forward. You’re energized by change and driven to roll up your sleeves and try new, creative tactics. 
2. Industry obsession: You’re known to geek out about the latest trends in tech, AI and cybersecurity, and are well-versed in translating technical topics into compelling stories that command attention. 
3. Leadership rooted in trust, growth and collaboration: Relationship building gets you out of bed in the morning. You inspire confidence in clients, empower team members to stretch and succeed, and have authentic rapport with reporters and influencers. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day execution for high-value PR programs with a focus on identifying differentiated story ideas, recommending new strategies, and rolling them out across earned media, social media, analyst and influencer relations. 
• Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to senior-level client contacts.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of your clients’ industries, businesses and audiences. Develop deep subject matter expertise and ensure programs align to clients’ marketing and business objectives.
• Help establish KPIs for client programs, with a focus on generating results that meet clients’ goals, and bringing a sophisticated understanding of various metrics that clearly demonstrate the impact of communications programs.
• Manage a team of PR Managers and Media Relations Specialists, fostering a culture of continuous learning, curiosity and collaboration. 
• Take an agency-first mindset to support business growth, including assisting with proposal development and presentation for new PR business.
• Advance Walker Sands’ innovative approach to PR and communications by keeping a pulse on the evolving media landscape and embracing technology like AI to bolster creativity. 

About You

• 5-6 years of experience leading client accounts in a PR agency, or in-house equivalent, with some level of exposure to aspects of digital marketing.
• Experience supporting PR programs for the B2B and/or technology spaces, with expertise in cybersecurity and/or AI preferred. 
• Experience developing client strategies that blend earned placements with shared/paid amplification and branded content.
• Execution excellence with a history of successful collaboration with media and analysts.
• Demonstrated success leading a PR campaign amplified by other channels.
• Understanding of shifts in media consumption and experience proactively identifying opportunities across digital publishers, podcasts, newsletters, and social platforms.
• Experience using AI to enhance media targeting and insights, media list building, sentiment analysis, content generation.
• Experience directly managing junior team members with a specific focus on client work, professional development and prioritization/time management.
• Successful track-record of building trusting relationships with executive-level and C-level client contacts.
• Curiosity and commitment to evolving your work with new tools and technologies, including generative AI and measurement platforms. 

Compensation & Benefits:

• We strive for salary range transparency in our hiring process. This is a major step towards not only complying with regulations where required, but also to make sure pay equity and DEI are top of mind during the hiring process. Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package - this role will also be eligible for a bonus based on company performance, as well as benefits. Below is the starting salary for this role:
  Starting Salary: $93,500 - 104,500 a year
• Placement on the salary scale will be determined by various factors, such as, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, education, business or organizational requirements and internal equity.
• Starting salaries are not inclusive of a full range of compensation for this role and are instead meant to reflect the expected beginning salary for a new hire. Merit-based increases can be earned after time in role.

Total Rewards Package:

• 🩺 Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
• 💰 Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
• 🌴 Flexible PTO: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
• 🏡 Hybrid Work: Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
• 🎉 Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
• 👶 Family Support: Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
• 📚 Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
• 🌟 Culture: Our agency values our supportive, collaborative culture where we work hard to achieve the best outcomes for clients. Read more on our website here!

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