Senior Public Relations Strategist

Since 1984, Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management - The Strategic Firm® - has been an agency built around leaders serving leaders. Our mission is simple: to tackle complex challenges for visionary leaders through strategic communications advice, counsel and program management. We are building a "destination firm" - one that is top of the list among prospective clients looking for support, among referral sources who advise them, and among the best and brightest professionals looking for career opportunities.

We are looking for a senior public relations strategist to join our team no later than Dec. 1, 2024. The senior public relations strategist will build and lead the implementation of tailored public relations and marketing communications programs for key client accounts according to our Five Steps to Professional Success. This role is part strategy, part execution. You will take the initiative to develop and deliver innovative solutions, drive the team to meet deadlines and pivot quickly when plans change. Experience managing people and projects in a fast-paced environment is a must.

Reporting to the public relations director, you will also support firm-wide delivery of client services, mentor junior team members and continually seek opportunities to advance the way we operate. The senior public relations strategist is a leader on our team, expected to:

• Manage and mentor account teams, ensuring cost-effective success against client metrics.
• Participate in professional development activities and facilitate the growth of our team.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for business development with new and potential clients.
• Exhibit thought leadership through blog posts, social media engagement, presentations and related opportunities.
• Remain aware of emerging trends, issues and opportunities for our company and clients.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Program Management - Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic communications plans to achieve client goals and objectives. Delegate tasks and supervise work by account teams. Ensure programs are managed efficiently and within budget.
• Media Relations - Drive the development of newsworthy story angles, build relationships with reporters and content creators, and brainstorm new initiatives that create positive media attention for our clients. Manage and support team members in securing local and national coverage.
• Client Relations/Consulting - Maintain regular communication with clients to review progress against strategic plans, and to identify emerging opportunities and issues. Counsel clients on strategic approaches to stakeholder relationships and reputation management.
• Team Management and Mentoring - Delegate work and manage team members to achieve results, including the "managing up" of firm officers who work on our accounts. Mentor and facilitate the professional growth of junior team members by creating opportunities for development through client work, offering feedback and providing input to firm officers for performance reviews.
• Business Development -Generate opportunities to expand our scope of work for existing clients, initiate new client relationships, and develop and present new business proposals in partnership with firm officers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations or a related field (Accreditation in Public Relations preferred).
• 5-8 years of professional experience managing public relations projects and teams, preferably within an agency setting.
• Success pitching and securing local and national media coverage, and working with influencers/content creators.

To be considered for this role, you must submit a cover letter including specific examples of your experience that align with the requirements for this position.

Working at Curley & Pynn

At Curley & Pynn, you will join a team offering decades of collective experience managing award-winning public relations and marketing communications programs for clients in diverse industries. We pride ourselves on hiring the best, growing the best and demanding the best from ourselves and others, so we can be essential to the brands we represent. Professional development is central to our culture and to our work. No one issues or takes orders here. We work together, succeed together, fail together and learn together.

Five values define our culture, including how we hire and manage performance:

1. People First: We have each other's backs. We work to live, not live to work. We behave as partners, not vendors, and recognize our clients are people, too.
2. Give a Shit: Show you care. Learn from mistakes; don't repeat them. Display pride in your work. Do (and demand) the right thing, always.
3. Hustle: Take the wheel and step on the gas. Quality means nothing when deadlines are missed. Essential = excellence at speed.
4. Win as a Team: We, not me. Credit the assist even if you score the goal. Aim for performance, not pedestals. Be confident and humble in equal measure.
5. Commit to Candor: Counselors tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. No points for shy; ask uncomfortable questions and make bold recommendations.

Curley & Pynn observes a hybrid work schedule, working in our Orlando office Monday through Wednesday and virtually on Thursday and Friday. Our working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except for Friday when we stop work at 3 p.m. pending all work is on track.

In addition to medical benefits and 401(k) match, our competitive compensation package also includes:

• Four weeks of vacation time (including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day), and flexibility with personal appointments.
• A supportive environment where career growth is nurtured through regular meetings with senior team leaders and paid involvement in professional development events.
• Casual office dress code requiring employees to "dress up" only when appropriate for scheduled meetings and events.