What are the responsibilities and job description for the VP, Communications and PR position at Build-A-Bear?
Build-A-Bear’s VP of Communication and PR plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s reputation, influencing perception, and driving customer engagement. Through strategic communication plans, they ensure consistent messaging that strengthens brand loyalty, aligns internal and external teams, and positions the company as a market leader.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive communication and public relations strategy that aligns with the organization’s business strategy helps drive revenue growth
• Lead and manage the team in executing the strategy
• Stay informed about evolving trends and adapt to emerging opportunities, ensuring the brand stays relevant
• Provide guidance on corporate messaging, announcements, and leadership visibility
• Build positive relationships with media outlets, influencers, and industry stakeholders
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless alignment of PR efforts
• Act as the primary spokesperson for Build-A-Bear
• Manage media and agency relationships
• Develop and implement a crisis management strategy to deal with sudden ad significant negative events, while maintaining business continuity
• Properly plan and manage the marketing budget
• Provide strategic leadership by anticipating, planning, and driving meaningful change
• Lead, mentor, and inspire the Communications / Public Relations team
• Manage stakeholder communications
• Leverage data-driven insights to develop campaigns that increase brand awareness and drive growth
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in communications or a related field such as Public Relations, Business Administration, or Journalism
• Minimum 10 years’ management experience in public relations, corporate communications, or media relations
• Expert in technical writing, formatting, and proof-reading
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• MBA or Master’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, or Marketing
• 10 years management experience in a public relations agency or similar
BEHAVIORAL TRAITS FOR SUCCESS:
• Leads with a confident extraverted style that can enliven, engage, and positively impact individuals and groups
• Driven to achieve outstanding results
• Enjoys meeting and interacting with new people
• Displays strong initiative and self-direction
• Comfortable making rapid decisions in ambiguous situations
• Motivated to build high-performing people and teams
• Maintains a positive outlook when encountering challenging circumstances
• Thrives in creating a fun and interactive experiences
• Able to remain calm under pressure
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Hybrid work schedule
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO
• Limited Domestic Travel
YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE MEASURED ON:
Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following.
• Decision-making and judgment
• Creation, support, and development of a high-performing team
• Deadlines, Accuracy, and Quality
• Representing Build-A-Bear in a way that aligns to our mission, vision, and values
• Ability to communicate with a clear vision and align teams
• Use of resources
• Collaboration
• Narrative development
• Consumer engagement
• Ability to spot and mitigate risk
• Crisis management
• Market influence
• Stakeholder Feedback
