Director of Communications And Public Relations

Director of Communications and Public Realtions

Reports to: Head of PR

MUST be proactively pitching and securing daily/weekly. Everyone at Zen Media is hands deep into their expertise still 15-20 years later. If your skill here are rusty or not as well practiced - this role is not for you.

MUST have experience inside a major market or delivered successfully to clients inside major markets (ie, New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, or similar)

SUMMARY:  

This is a pivotal hands on, actively in it, leadership role within the PR team at Zen Media, responsible for driving media results, overseeing the PR team, and managing high-value client relationships. You can dual focus: actively pitching and landing impactful media placements while ensuring the team is consistently delivering exceptional results.

As the right hand to the Head of PR, you will take ownership of day-to-day operations, freeing leadership to focus on high-level strategy, sales, and other key leadership activities with enterprise or VIP accounts. You are a rare results-driven PR professional with a proven ability to secure coverage in both B2B and B2C environments and lead a team to do the same. No, we do not mean basic securing media opportunities. We can do that - well - all day.

REPORTING AND CAREER GROWTH: 

You will report directly to the Head of PR and partners with department heads across Social Media, Content, and Brand teams. You will act as a senior representative on all accounts, regularly engaging with client executives (e.g., CEOs, CMOs, Founders). Own it.

You will be integral to Zen Media's mission of modernizing PR and has the potential to evolve into a senior leadership position.

You will have the opportunity to evolve into becoming a stable right hand of Sarah Evans (Head of PR) supporting advanced PR clients. Zen Media is leading the modernization of PR for B2B and B2C and we expect you to be very excited and hungry to evolve as an established PR professional.  

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:  

 Media Strategy & Execution (Top Priority)

• Pitching & Landing Coverage: Secure high-impact media placements across targeted B2B, B2C, mainstream, trade, and industry outlets.
• Ability to support and create fully integrated marketing campaigns and campaign development.
• Live event, trade show and other events oversight and on-site support when needed to maximize coverage for clients (some travel required).
• Develop storylines, angles, and pitches that resonate with top-tier media.
• Ensure all pitches align with client goals and messaging, avoiding generic templates.
• Lead the team in identifying and executing thought leadership opportunities, including bylines, podcast interviews, and proactive/reactive media outreach.
• Incorporate AI tools and trends into media outreach to amplify results.
• Maintain industry-leading knowledge on the modernization of PR and the evolution of marketing - it's changing, and Zen Media represents leading that change. We don’t have all the answers, but we know traditional PR alone is dying as a singular tactic (and so do our clients). We want modern thinkers who aren’t scared to change regularly! 

2. Client Leadership

• Serve as the day-to-day client-facing account lead, building trust and managing client expectations.
• Regularly lead client calls, ensuring professionalism and expert-level insights.
• Oversee active campaigns and provide real-time updates on media progress.
• Translate client goals into actionable media strategies while keeping the Head of PR informed and aligned.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, including AI Agents or other tools that can keep client communication best in class.
• Facilitate agendas, meetings, presentations, and client-related discussions, ensuring alignment with Zen Media’s standards without the need of the Head of PR.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive PR strategies that align with client objectives and leverage industry trends, including AI advancements and pitch them to the PR team for soundboard and support in order to maximize impact for the client
• Act as a “goto”trusted advisor to clients, providing proactive insights, managing expectations, and addressing crises with the upmost professionalism.

3. Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead the PR team in daily activities, ensuring everyone is aligned on priorities and pitching effectively related to the portfolio of accounts.
• Act as a mentor to junior team members, fostering growth and providing constructive feedback.
• Hold standards with team workflows in tools like ClickUp and Slack to maintain accountability and efficiency.
• Represent the PR department in cross-functional alignment sessions, collaborating on interdepartmental processes with a clear understanding that the best process and recommendation may not be yours and can come from a team member.

4. Operational Excellence

• Oversee team processes to ensure seamless execution and alignment across accounts.
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Content, Social) to integrate PR efforts into broader marketing campaigns.
• Provide regular performance reports to clients, showcasing measurable results and actionable insights.
• Manage deadlines for client deliverables, ensuring all tasks are completed on time and at a high standard.
• Soundboard with people and resources to ensure the PR team meets deadlines and delivers measurable results - we are a team and always supporting each other.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:  

Required Experience

• Minimum 8-12 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, or a related field.
• Proven ability to secure high-impact media placements across trade, industry, and podcast platforms.
• We want to see what media you pitched and secured over the past year.
• Proven ability to secure opportunities in non-traditional spaces, like newsletters, podcasts, influencers, closed groups and others…
• Agency experience in B2B or B2C PR is preferred.
• Executive level presence and communications best practice is required
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, PR, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field (equivalent experience may be considered).

Technical Proficiency

• Advanced proficiency in Slack, Agility PR, Muck Rack, Propel, and Google Drive.
• Experience with ClickUp or similar project management tools is essential.
• Experience with AI tools for media amplification is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Mastery of B2B and B2C PR strategies, including the customer journey and integration with other marketing disciplines.
• Strong ability to manage scope creep and set client expectations effectively.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain relationships with business, trade, and tech media.
• Highly organized, with the ability to pivot between multiple clients and tasks while meeting deadlines.
• Proven expertise in securing media placements thought leadership opportunities, and high-impact PR campaigns.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITY FACTORS:  

The Senior PR & Communications Manager will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Media Results:

• Demonstrating measurable success in proactive and reactive PR strategies, including securing media placements, podcasts, bylines, and trade coverage.
• Driving consistent, high-impact results that align with client goals.

1. Client Satisfaction:

• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients, managing expectations, and delivering ROI and KPI reporting.

1. Team Leadership:

• Effectively drive alongside PR team resources and workflows to meet deadlines and deliver exceptional results.

1. Operational Efficiency:

• Maintaining seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams using tools like ClickUp and Slack.

1. Innovation:

• Integrating AI and other innovations into PR strategies to maximize client impact.
• We think differently - we also need you to be willing to combine your expertise with PR modernization approach at Zen Media.  

 DISCLAIMER:  

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are not all-inclusive. Zen Media reserves the right to add additional tasks or responsibilities and to change the scope of the job as necessitated by business demands.