Senior Publicist Job at J Public Relations Inc in Los Angeles

Founded in 2005, J/PR is an international powerhouse public relations agency specializing in hospitality, travel and luxury lifestyle with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Nashville, Denver and London. J/PR is a trusted resource for its insider status, next-level strategy, brand partnerships and its in-house social division, which navigates the dynamic media landscape with rigor.

The agency secures unparalleled media placements and digital partnerships worldwide and has garnered countless industry awards as one of the top agencies in its field, including “Power 50” PR Agency List by New York Observer, Top Places to Work by PR News and San Diego Magazine’s list of Coolest Companies.

J/PR's leadership team is backed by more than 100 of the best storytellers, trend-setters and industry experts. When it comes to the travel, tourism, luxury lifestyle, and culinary realms, team members not only speak the language, they write the script on a daily basis. We are seeking top-tier candidates who are poised to articulate the lexicon, meet the high caliber of our clientele and bring innovation to the J/PR ranks.

Who are you?

Creative, collaborative, connected. You bring a time-tested roster of travel and lifestyle media relationships and proven experience pitching successful storylines for brands. You have the pulse on what’s trending in the travel & hospitality industry, know what questions to ask your clients to find compelling, timely storylines, and aim for coverage that drives meaningful placements. You are results-driven and thrive in a deadline-driven environment. You love ideating partnerships and collaborations for your clients to bring awareness to the target audiences that matter most.

The Role

You are seasoned in media relations, the client go-to, and are starting to work on account strategy when not flawlessly executing a FAM or Media Mission. You play a crucial role in not just delivering big hits, features, and profile stories for clients, but also begin taking a bigger role in helping Account Leads manage the team and leading in-person client-facing interactions. At this stage, the ideal person has solid media relationships in place (in both regional and national markets), meets with media regularly, and is constantly concepting pitch angles based on sound research to get media engaged and excited.

Duties and Responsibilities

Account + Client Management

• Proactive approach to managing client needs/expectations
• Lead portions of client calls
• May lead smaller accounts with senior leadership oversight
• Assist with strategy, planning, implementation, and evaluation of PR activities
• Creative brainstorming, program and pitch development
• Build relationships with destinations, CVBs, and offices of tourism in the markets that serve your clients

Media and Influencer Relations

• Have a wide range of go-to media contacts making you (and your clients) look like a star as you secure top-tier national press and features
• Proactive media relations (pitching, organizing media/influencer visits, reviewing & approving media lists)
• Regularly dig into newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, blogs, and digital pieces to find new angles, new editors, and new contributors to create new relationships
• Organize pitch priorities; assign and oversee the progress of pitches to team members with the support of account leadership
• Regularly coordinate in-person media meetings with journalists on location
• Secure and host media and influencers on press trips, media appointments, and events
• Oversee the workflow of junior team members
• Begin to plan 90-day and annual plans to impact client goals and KPI’s
• Regularly lead the junior team through projects to make check marks against goals and KPI’s

Industry / J/PR

• You confidently secure meetings with relevant brands that may impact your clients' goals
• There is an organization or two you’ve become attached to outside the office where you’re networking and creating unique connections
• You seek out opportunities for learning by attending conferences, workshops, and events on behalf of the agency

Other

• And other tasks, projects, or duties as required

Experience

• College Degree or comparable experience required
• At least 3-5 years of public relations experience in travel, hospitality, tourism, culinary restaurant and/or consumer lifestyle arenas
• Must have stellar hotel, restaurant, and media references
• Must have strong and proven relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts

Requirements

• Ability to travel for client needs
• Excellent computer skills, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office Word in a Mac OS environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, experience in a hospitality environment is a plus
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Must be able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner
• Strong knowledge of media and news cycles
• Ability to thrive in a deadline-driven environment
• Strong understanding of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• Strong understanding of Influencer relations and engagement
• Polished and professional demeanor
• Must have a valid passport for international travel

Benefits

J/PR offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Competitive hourly pay: $55,000- $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Commission opportunities
• Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
• Company contributions to medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
• 401K with employer match
• Birthday PTO
• Flexible Release Fridays
• Hotel trade with our world-class clients (complimentary stays across our entire portfolio)
• Hybrid office schedule (2-3 days in office)
• Milestone gifts at 1, 5, and 10 years
• Annual holiday and summer parties, plus regular socials
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
J Public Relations (J/PR) and 20Two Studio (Studio) strongly support equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.