The Director of Media Relations is responsible for leading the firm’s media strategy and execution to elevate clients’ visibility with financial, business, and trade press. This role sits at the intersection of investor relations and corporate communications, working closely with account teams and senior leadership to shape narratives that support clients’ capital markets objectives and reputation.
Key responsibilities
- Develop integrated media relations strategies that support clients’ IR and corporate positioning, including message frameworks, storylines, and annual media plans.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with financial, business, and sector-specific journalists, editors, producers, and key influencers.
- Lead proactive media outreach around earnings, transactions, financings, corporate milestones, executive changes, and strategic announcements.
- Partner with IR account leads to align media messaging with investor communications, including earnings scripts, investor presentations, fact sheets, and conference materials.
- Oversee the development of press releases, Q&As, media briefing documents, op-eds, bylined articles, and executive talking points; provide rigorous editorial review and quality control.
- Advise C‑suite executives and IR leaders on media strategy, message discipline, and interview best practices; lead media training and prep sessions as needed.
- Manage issues and reputation-related media support in coordination with crisis, legal, and IR teams, including reactive statements and holding lines.
- Act as the main point of contact for media inquiries and provide timely and accurate information to the press.
- Set goals and KPIs for media programs (e.g., quality and reach of coverage, message pull-through, share of voice) and report outcomes to clients with clear insights and recommendations.
- Lead and mentor a team of media and IR professionals; provide guidance on pitching, relationship-building, and best practices in financial and corporate media engagement.
- Stay current on market, regulatory, and media trends affecting public and pre‑IPO companies, and translate those insights into actionable counsel for clients.
- Contribute to new business development efforts, including prospect research, pitch development, capabilities presentations, and participation in finalist meetings.
- Ensure all media activity is compliant with applicable disclosure requirements and coordinated with client legal, IR, and corporate communications teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, business, finance, or a related field; an advanced degree is an asset but not required.
- 5–10+ years of experience in media relations, corporate communications, financial communications, or investor relations, preferably with agency experience and direct exposure to public companies.
- Established relationships with financial and business media; experience working with national, regional, international and sector-specific outlets.
- Strong understanding of capital markets, public-company communications, earnings cycles, and disclosure considerations.
- Demonstrated track record of developing and executing media strategies that support business and investor objectives.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex financial or technical information into clear, compelling narratives.
- Experience counseling C‑suite executives and boards on sensitive media and reputation-related issues.
- Proven leadership experience, including managing and developing high-performing teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple client engagements, and deliver consistently high-quality work.
- High level of professionalism, judgment, and discretion when dealing with confidential information and market-sensitive topics.
Personal attributes
- Strategic thinker with a bias for action and strong attention to detail.
- Confident, credible presence with senior executives and media.
- Collaborative team player who works well across disciplines (IR, corporate communications, digital, and research).
- Comfortable operating in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, business, finance, or related field
- Advanced degree (asset)
- 5-10+ years of experience in media relations, corporate communications, financial communications, or investor relations
- Agency experience and direct exposure to public companies
- Established relationships with financial, business, and sector-specific media
- Strong understanding of capital markets, public-company communications, earnings cycles, and disclosure considerations
- Demonstrated track record of developing and executing media strategies supporting business and investor objectives
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, translating complex financial/technical information into clear narratives
- Experience counseling C-suite executives and boards on sensitive media and reputation issues
- Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple client engagements
- High level of professionalism, judgment, and discretion with confidential and market-sensitive information
What We Do
Alliance Advisors is an independent advisory firm specializing in shareholder engagement, proxy solicitation, corporate governance, and investor relations. They provide year-round guidance to public and private companies, helping them navigate complex corporate landscapes, M&A, and activist situations. With a global reach, the firm offers strategic support to boards and C-suite executives to maximize shareholder value and cultivate strong investor relationships.








