Rust-Oleum is hiring: Specialist, PR & Communications in Vernon Hills

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Specialist, PR & Communications

Location: Vernon Hills, IL

Department: Rust‑Oleum US Marketing

Reports To: Director, Public Relations & Corporate Communications

Direct Reports/Manages others: No

We’re looking for a highly organized self‑starter who enjoys uncovering creative stories, dives into data, and crafts messages that engage, inspire, and excite both internal and external audiences. With a history spanning more than 100 years, our company is driven to unlock growth, opportunity, and impact. Bring your passion for PR and Corporate Communications to life at Rust‑Oleum and contribute to a dynamic industry leader.

This role positions you at the forefront of creating positive media narratives while showcasing how Rust‑Oleum helps people beautify, protect, and enhance what matters. If you’re ready to blend creativity with strategy, bring your expertise to our mission of empowering others through inspiration and innovation.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Media Relations & Storytelling

• Proactively identify, develop, and pitch engaging story ideas that highlight Rust‑Oleum’s impact on end users.
• Maintain strong relationships with journalists and editors to secure high‑quality media coverage.
• Track media coverage and analyze trends to inform future strategies.

Content Creation

• Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, and press kits, ensuring all messaging aligns with our brand voice.
• Collaborate on innovative content such as bylines, expert interviews, or event materials to enrich our media efforts.

Media Events Coordination

• Organize and manage media events such as press conferences, interviews, and product demo sessions.
• Prepare and distribute press materials, samples, and any additional resources needed for events.

Internal Communications

• Support internal communications efforts with emails, digital boards, and intranet content.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to develop and execute internal communication strategies that foster employee engagement, pride, and awareness of company initiatives and milestones.

General Responsibilities

• Assist in the execution of PR campaigns, media relations, influencer programs and partnerships.
• Support coordination of meetings, conferences and PR initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the PR agency to manage day‑to‑day communication, deliverables and alignment.
• Perform other duties as assigned in the interest of Rust‑Oleum.

QUALFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.
• 2 years of experience in media relations, with a proven track record of securing coverage.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with a knack for creating attention‑grabbing content.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation abilities to build trust and collaboration with media contacts, marketing teams and senior leaders.
• Organizational skills to coordinate events and manage deadlines effectively.
• Self‑starter attitude with the ability to work independently while contributing to team goals.
• A strategic mindset coupled with creativity to develop and pitch innovative ideas.
• Team player with the ability to collaborate across a cross‑functional team.
• Able to apply company policies and procedures to resolve routine issues.
• Able to follow standard instructions, practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data.
• Able to develop working relationships internally that can include exchanging standard information with other colleagues and professionals.
• Strategic Planning: Proactive, forward‑looking, can anticipate trends, has vision and can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.

LEADERSHIP TRAITS

• Change Management: Ability to adapt to change, anticipate future needs, is flexible, overcomes resistance to change, and demonstrates managerial courage.
• Problem Solving: Understands and evaluates complex issues and devises and implements successful solutions; focused on results, sees hidden problems, takes a logical approach and probes fruitful sources for answers; proactive and decisive.
• Communication: Effective verbal communication and presentation skills; clear and succinct writing abilities; executive presence; active listening; conveys important or critical messages that have the desired effect.
• Collaboration: Identifies opportunities for shared resources, seeks partnerships, is a team player, involves others, builds commitment, fosters open dialogue, and supports diversity and input from all team members; open‑minded and transparent.
• Decision Making: Uses critical thinking skills, track record of making high‑quality decisions, confident, action‑oriented.
• Judgement: Adopts strategic, analytical and carefully weighted decision‑making process in evaluating alternative scenarios.
• Integrity & Commitment: Demonstrates integrity, commitment, moral courage, emotional intelligence, values, respects company culture, responsible entrepreneurship; can‑do attitude and desire to go above and beyond.

Salary Target Range: $60,000 - $70,000, bonus eligible

From big benefits to small, we take care of our associates! After 30 days of employment, you will be eligible for a benefits package that includes medical, dental, life, disability and business travel insurance, flexible spending accounts, EAP, stock purchases and vacation/sick days/parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan after three months of employment. Associates are vested in the RPM Pension plan after completing five years of service. Rust‑Oleum offers 9 paid holidays and one floating holiday per year. You are also eligible to earn three weeks of vacation on an annualized basis.

Rust‑Oleum is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.

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