PR Manager - Global Professional Services Co.

Do you have 6 years of PR-Media Relations experience? Worked in professional services? Able to serve as an internal consultant? Our client, a top-tier professional services firm, seeks a PR Manager - Professional Services. Global experience an asset. Immediate hire.

Job Description:

Primary responsibility for media relations in the Americas:

• Enterprise and develop story angles for media pitches and press releases connected directly to strategic focal points identified by VP, Corporate Communications.
• Respond promptly to media inquiries, evaluate proper responses, develop messages and prep appropriate spokesperson.
• Manage PR agency resources based in Chicago and Sao Paulo.
• Foster strong relationships with key journalists
• Help establish company as go-to source for media seeking quotable insight on leadership and talent in every business sector.
• Actively manage external speaking engagements and mutually beneficial sponsorships on behalf of our Americas-based consultants and firm leaders.
• Seek, identify, and propose prominent, strategically aligned speaking opportunities for practice leaders and consultants.
• Qualify potential speaking engagement for consultants.
• Serve as advisor to consultants.
• Shape message and content for maximum impact and memorability.
• Lead and manage media relations in conjunction with speaking events.

Coordinate global PR activities within Marketing team and agency partners to:

• Maintain a cadence of news releases and story placements to maximize positive exposure, and avoid competing news activities.
• Maintain consistency and quality globally in external communications, including press releases.
• Provide flexibility for local market PR activities to target in-region coverage with appropriate tone and color.
• Ensure key messages are clearly and consistently conveyed in press releases and by spokespeople.
• Track and report key media metrics (media mentions, share of voice) monthly.
• Co-lead media training of Partners and senior executives to serve as effective firm spokespeople.
• Further elevate media relations’ effectiveness in the Americas and Globally.
• Work with the VP, Corporate Communications and regional Marketing teams to develop productive working relationships with key journalists and editors.
• Keep forward-looking editorial calendar and share news release ideas regularly with regional and agency counterparts.
• Collaborate with regional and agency counterparts, facilitate idea and best-practices sharing.
• Keep regional and agency counterparts well apprised of key messages and sensitivities.
• Maintain dashboard to track coverage and share of voice within competitive set—globally and regionally.
• Generate consistent monthly report with trailing 12-month trend and year-over-year comparisons.
• Media train a steady flow of spokespeople.
• Follow-up with progressively more challenging media interviews, as opportunities warrant, to further develop company’s best spokespeople.
• Increase visibility of company’s brand by rationalizing opportunities for speaking engagements to ensure company selects best venues and audiences for consultants to share knowledge and ideas.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree—Communications, Journalism or Business.
• Minimum of six years’ experience in media relations, preferably in professional services environment. Global experience preferred.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-performing, and client-focused environment.
• Experience as a consultant/advisor in analyzing client needs; setting and managing expectations and influencing decisions.
• Develop and/or standardize processes, with focus on client experience. 
• Provide highest levels of client service internally or externally. 
• Understand and appreciate importance of building trust-based relationships with key stakeholders. 
• Strong comfort level with shifting priorities. 
• Dedicated to teamwork & collaboration, experience in coaching & developing others. 
• Strong presence and ability to influence at all levels. 
• Confidence to have a strong point of view and express it even if it proves unpopular. 
• Knowledge and experience of the business and able to communicate in business terms. 
• Able to build long-term, trusting relationships with clients, journalists & marketing colleagues. 
• Excellent communication skills; listening, speaking, writing.