The Role
The Senior Publicist is responsible for developing and executing PR/media campaigns, managing media relations, writing materials, and maintaining client communication. They lead team efforts and mentor junior staff, while engaging with media for client exposure.
Summary Generated by Built In
This is a remote position.
Love books? Love publicity? Love getting an author the right media opportunity at exactly the right time?
This is a role for someone who already knows the fundamentals of book publicity and is ready to operate with a high degree of independence. You’ll develop campaign strategy, create compelling media angles, pitch national and regional media, continue to build relationships with journalists and producers, lead client conversations, and work closely with our publicity leadership to develop smart, creative campaigns.
You’ll also have opportunities to mentor and support other publicists as you grow with the company.
About PR by the Book
PR by the Book is an established boutique book publicity firm specializing in earned media and strategic publicity campaigns for authors and experts, with a 24-year history. We work with traditionally published, hybrid, and self published authors across a wide range of genres, including fiction, memoir, business, health and wellness, lifestyle, self-help, children's, and more.
PR by the Book is an established boutique book publicity firm specializing in earned media and strategic publicity campaigns for authors and experts, with a 24-year history. We work with traditionally published, hybrid, and self published authors across a wide range of genres, including fiction, memoir, business, health and wellness, lifestyle, self-help, children's, and more.
We’re a family-owned company that has been in business since 2002, with a team of experienced publicists. Our publicists aren't anonymous cogs in a giant agency machine. You’ll have a meaningful role in your clients’ campaigns, direct access to leadership, and the opportunity to contribute ideas and shape strategy.
We’re fully remote, highly collaborative, and serious about doing excellent work. Check out our Mission, Vision, Values, and Culture here.
About the Role
As a Senior Book Publicist, you will independently manage and execute publicity campaigns from strategy through execution. You’ll work directly with authors, develop campaign messaging and media angles, pitch media, manage opportunities, and help clients make the most of the coverage they earn.
As a Senior Book Publicist, you will independently manage and execute publicity campaigns from strategy through execution. You’ll work directly with authors, develop campaign messaging and media angles, pitch media, manage opportunities, and help clients make the most of the coverage they earn.
You’ll manage multiple campaigns at once, so strong organization, communication, follow-through, and judgment are essential.
This role is a particularly good fit for someone who:
- Understands how book publicity works and can hit the ground running.
- Knows the difference between good media and simply getting a name mentioned somewhere.
- Enjoys developing creative, timely, newsworthy angles—not just sending pitches.
- Is comfortable pitching national media and wants to continue building top-tier media relationships.
- Can confidently lead an author through a campaign and set realistic expectations.
- Believes that how we treat clients and colleagues matters just as much as the coverage we land.
- Thrives with autonomy but also enjoys being part of a collaborative team.
- Takes pride in being responsive, organized, thoughtful, and thorough.
What You'll Do
Campaign Strategy & Execution
- Develop and execute strategic media relations campaigns for authors and experts through creative, timely, and newsworthy media angles.
- Identify target media, reporters, podcasts, broadcast opportunities, contributed content opportunities, and other relevant outlets.
- Write and customize compelling media pitches.
- Pitch and secure earned media opportunities, including national, regional, print, online, podcast, radio, and television outlets.
- Respond to and manage incoming media requests professionally and efficiently.
- Research current events, news cycles, trends, seasonal opportunities, and other timely hooks that can support client campaigns.
- Build and maintain relationships with journalists, producers, editors, and other media contacts.
Client Management
- Ensure the client that you understand their book and are their cheerleader to the media.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned clients.
- Lead monthly client meetings and provide clear campaign updates, recommendations, and next steps.
- Guide authors through the publicity process and maximize media opportunities.
- Set realistic expectations and communicate proactively when campaign strategy needs to shift.
- Help clients develop a consistent and compelling public-facing brand.
- Handle client challenges thoughtfully and professionally.
Team & Leadership
- Collaborate closely with the Director of Publicity on campaign strategy and execution, forming a productive working relationship.
- Share ideas, media opportunities, and industry knowledge with the team.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to less-experienced publicists as appropriate.
- Contribute to improving team processes, campaign strategy, and best practices.
- Bring a senior-level perspective to problem-solving and campaign decisions, with a positive attitude.
What We're Looking For
- A positive “can do” attitude that works productively and positively with the existing team.
- 5+ years of relevant publicity experience, including demonstrated independent campaign leadership
- Demonstrated experience independently managing publicity campaigns from strategy through execution.
- Experience pitching media and securing earned media coverage.
- Strong writing and editing skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong understanding of how news media works and what makes a story pitchable.
- Ability to manage multiple clients (a minimum of 6-7 at a time) and competing deadlines without losing the details.
- Strong organizational skills and follow-through.
- Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment.
- A genuine interest in books, authors, publishing, and media.
- A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to problems.
- High professional standards and strong judgment.
- Existing relationships with national, regional, or top-tier media.
- Experience securing television, radio, podcast, print, and/or major online media.
- Experience with expert positioning and thought-leadership campaigns.
- Familiarity with Muck Rack or similar media databases.
Why Work Here?
We know there are a lot of publicity jobs out there. Here's what makes ours different.
Work From Home - We're a fully remote team. No commute and no office politics. We value results, communication, and accountability, not who is online earliest or latest.
Work With Interesting Authors - Every campaign is different. One month you might be pitching a physician about a health topic, a business leader about entrepreneurship, and a novelist about a timely cultural conversation. You won't be stuck promoting the same product day after day.
Have a Voice in the Work - We're a boutique agency, which means your ideas matter. You'll have the autonomy to develop angles, make strategic recommendations, and help shape campaigns.
Work With Experienced Publicists - You'll be surrounded by people who know publicity and publishing. Our senior team brings over a century of combined experience to the work, and we believe the best campaigns come from sharing ideas and learning from one another.
Room to Grow - We're looking for someone who wants to build a career with us, not someone looking for a short stop on the way to the next thing. As a senior publicist, you'll have opportunities to take on greater responsibility, mentor others, contribute to agency strategy, and grow your role over time.
We know there are a lot of publicity jobs out there. Here's what makes ours different.
Work From Home - We're a fully remote team. No commute and no office politics. We value results, communication, and accountability, not who is online earliest or latest.
Work With Interesting Authors - Every campaign is different. One month you might be pitching a physician about a health topic, a business leader about entrepreneurship, and a novelist about a timely cultural conversation. You won't be stuck promoting the same product day after day.
Have a Voice in the Work - We're a boutique agency, which means your ideas matter. You'll have the autonomy to develop angles, make strategic recommendations, and help shape campaigns.
Work With Experienced Publicists - You'll be surrounded by people who know publicity and publishing. Our senior team brings over a century of combined experience to the work, and we believe the best campaigns come from sharing ideas and learning from one another.
Room to Grow - We're looking for someone who wants to build a career with us, not someone looking for a short stop on the way to the next thing. As a senior publicist, you'll have opportunities to take on greater responsibility, mentor others, contribute to agency strategy, and grow your role over time.
Benefits & Perks
- Fully remote work with a flexible schedule
- Two weeks of paid vacation/PTO to use throughout the year
- One full week of paid sick leave
- Paid holiday week between Christmas and New Year's
- 8 paid holidays throughout the year
- Half-day Fridays each summer so you can kick off the weekend a little early
- $150/month health insurance stipend for employees who carry qualifying Marketplace health insurance
- 401(k) participation to help you plan for the future
- Year-end profit-sharing bonus when company performance allows—we want our team to share in the success they help create
- $20/month mobile phone allowance
- Company-provided MacBook for your work
- A supportive, collaborative team that actually knows each other despite working remotely.
The Bottom Line
We're looking for an experienced publicist who knows their stuff, cares about their clients, enjoys the hunt for great media, and wants to be part of a team for the long haul.
We're looking for an experienced publicist who knows their stuff, cares about their clients, enjoys the hunt for great media, and wants to be part of a team for the long haul.
If you're the person who sees a news story and immediately thinks, “I know an author who could speak to that,” we're interested in meeting you.
Apply if you're ready to do elevated publicity work with a team that values both the work and the people doing it.
Compensation Package: $65,000-$75,000/year base salary, plus quarterly performance bonuses and year-end profit sharing
Applicants must reside in a U.S. state where PR by the Book is authorized to employ. At this time, we are unable to hire employees residing in California, Washington, Colorado, or Oregon.
Benefits
Skills Required
- 5+ years of PR campaign management and execution
- Self-starter with initiative and literary creativity
- Excellent communication skills
- Understanding of Muck Rack media database
- Creative writer
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The Company
What We Do
PR by the Book is a boutique publicity firm specializing in literary media relations, social media campaigns, and influencer marketing to empower authors and enhance their visibility and market reach.
