VML South Africa is hiring: Public Relations Director in Kansas City

Who we are looking for: The Connections Director, Public Relations is responsible for leading key PR programs and teams for a key client. This includes leading projects, building client relationships, managing team members and working with integrated teams. This position will primarily focus on animal health communications, overseeing both veterinary media outreach and global public relations initiatives for a pet-related client. Prior experience in the animal health sector is preferred, along with a background in corporate communications and familiarity with global markets. Additionally, experience in issues management and training is also highly desired. What you’ll do: Actively seek out, partner, and build relationships with colleagues across teams (Client Engagement, Strategy, Creative, Paid Media, Discoverability, etc.) Build and maintain strong client relationships, serving as a client resource and providing client counsel both responsively and proactively Participate in strategic planning to identify PR “jobs to be done” and to make sure PR is included/represented Join Creative briefing and ideation sessions to provide recommendations for enhancing campaigns/activations with earned media and develop integrated go-to-market tactics Lead strategic PR plan and communications campaign development, creating actionable PR objectives, strategies and tactics Develop high-level PR materials, including integrated programs, content strategy, executive communications, stakeholder materials, etc. Create and manage brand building and protection programs, including thought leadership, executive visibility, issues management and more Cultivate and maintain relationships with key reporters, editors and producers at print, digital and broadcast media outlets in both consumer and trade spaces Stay on top of and assess industry trends to identify opportunities to inject clients into news cycles and drive story idea development Support client teams at major trade shows, conferences and virtual events, as directed, and coordinate activities in partnership with other team members Develop and manage client budgets and support budget development, tracking and communications Demonstrate ability to provide feedback on key written materials, including client communications, media materials and strategic plans Manage and assign projects to team members, providing support, feedback and regular check ins on progress Manage team members, serving as a resource and mentor to help develop team members and increase their knowledge/abilities Be at the forefront of industry issues and provide client counsel for effective issues management Develop relationships and coordinate correspondence with external audiences: third-party organizations, industry professionals, etc. Lead new business opportunities, including PR-focused efforts as well as integrated proposals Who you are: Skilled strategic thinker who can anticipate issues and trends, while translating those insights into actionable ideas Strong project manager and editor with ability to direct the creation of PR materials and plans Collaborative team member and leader with experience managing people, preferably in an agency setting Problem solver focused on managing multiple projects, team members and deadlines What you’ll need: 10+ years of relevant experience in agency or PR-related field with proven track record of success Strong written and verbal communication skills Solid interpersonal skills and ability to build strong client relationships Ability to work collaboratively within PR team and cross agency department teams Familiarity with PR, influencers, and social media trends What we offer: Passionate, driven people |We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work. Consciously cultivated culture |We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusivecommunity that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery. Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness. Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally. VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal. #J-18808-Ljbffr