Guitar Center is hiring: Director, PR in Westlake Village
Guitar Center, Westlake Village, CA, United States, 91361
Job ID: 24420
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Westlake Village, CA
Date Posted: Feb 13, 2025
This individual will be responsible for building, managing, and enhancing the company’s brand image and reputation. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the music industry, public relations, and digital media trends. You will lead all PR initiatives, develop strong relationships with media outlets, and drive campaigns that engage musicians, music educators, and industry professionals.
Responsibilities:
- Create and implement a public relations strategy that aligns with Guitar Center's business goals and objectives.
- Develop creative and compelling storylines that showcase the retailer’s exclusive product offerings, promote unique musician services, and highlight the industry expertise of company spokespeople.
- Provide effective communications support tools across the organization to ensure message clarity and alignment for all stakeholders in advance of any internal or external communications (i.e., PowerPoint Decks, Media Interview Prep, Advance Research & Media Analysis, Monitoring, etc.).
Media Relations:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key media outlets, journalists, and influencers in the music and retail sectors.
- Develop and maintain productive relationships with relevant media from local and national levels.
- Manage media-related inquiries in a timely and accurate manner by arranging interviews, responding to special requests, and generating interest in Guitar Center brands.
- Develop crisis communication plans and manage any public relations issues that may arise, ensuring timely and effective responses.
- Act as a critical first-contact point for external press across mainstream and industry media outlets.
- Write, edit, and distribute press releases and other forms of external communication.
Press Distribution:
- Oversee the creation of press materials, including press releases, media kits, and pitch documents to effectively communicate our brand story and initiatives.
- Proactively find opportunities to secure press coverage for Guitar Center.
- Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure cohesive messaging across all social media platforms, leveraging trends to enhance our PR efforts.
Crisis Management:
- Develop crisis communication plans and serve as a spokesperson during critical situations, ensuring timely and effective responses to protect the brand's reputation.
- Partner with Corporate Communications to activate crisis communication strategies.
Event Management:
- Plan and execute promotional events, product launches, and press conferences to enhance brand visibility and engage with our audience.
Performance Metrics:
- Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of PR campaigns, using insights to inform future strategies and improve outreach efforts.
- Research and maintain awareness of business intelligence related to Guitar Center in the public media.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree (or 4 years of equivalent work experience), preferably in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
- 10 years of relevant work experience managing public relations efforts both nationally and internationally.
- Established network of national media contacts across music, entertainment, lifestyle, and business publications.
- 3+ years of experience leading PR initiatives.
- 5+ years of experience in oral and visual communication (must be comfortable on camera as certain appearances may be needed).
- Skilled understanding of digital, social, and emerging media.
- Basic understanding of branding concepts and principles.
Why join us?
With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.
Pay Rate:
$170,000- $205,000/hr depending on background and experience. This position is eligible to participate in the Guitar Center Company bonus program based on Company performance.
The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state-specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.
About Guitar Center:
The Guitar Center Company embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. Our mission is to develop and nurture lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the joy that comes from creating music. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity, and fulfilling our mission with passion.
The Guitar Center Company operates through several business divisions. Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 290 stores across the United States. 2014 marked the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Company as the organization continues to help people make music from coast to coast.
E-Commerce brands Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, and WWBW offer online sales of a broad selection of music products. The Music & Arts division operates more than 220 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. AVDG and GCPro headline the enterprise audio-visual integration business, delivering a best-in-class commercial and residential customer experience.
Love this gig and want to apply?
Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary expectations!
Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request a reasonable accommodation by sending an email to [emailprotected].
#J-18808-Ljbffr