Helios WorldWide is hiring: Public Relations Director in Santa Monica

Job Overview

Helios & Partners is seeking a Director of Public Relations to build, lead, and scale a new commercial PR business unit within the firm. This is a senior, entrepreneurial leadership role designed for a builder—someone who thrives in creating something from the ground up and is motivated by ownership, long‑term value creation, and equity participation.

The ideal candidate brings deep industry relationships, a strong business development track record, and the ability to architect a modern, globally integrated public relations practice that aligns social influence, corporate communications, and investor relations into a single, holistic offering.

Responsibilities

Business Unit Creation & Growth

• Build and launch a commercial PR business unit within Helios & Partners, with full ownership over strategy, structure, and go-to‑market approach.
• Operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, contributing as an equity partner focused on long‑term growth and profitability.
• Define service offerings, pricing models, and scalable processes to support sustained expansion.

Business Development & Client Acquisition

• Leverage existing relationships and actively bring on new clients and revenue, including but not limited to:
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Tourism & Destination Marketing
  • Economic Development Organizations
  • Political Campaigns & Public Affairs
• Serve as a senior client advisor and trusted strategic partner to executive‑level stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Helios leadership to cross‑sell PR services into existing client accounts.

Global Communications Leadership

• Lead and integrate a global team across:
  • Social & Influence
  • Corporate Communications
  • Investor Relations
• Develop and execute holistic communications strategies that align earned media, owned content, influencer engagement, and investor messaging.
• Ensure consistency of narrative, tone, and positioning across regions, platforms, and audiences.

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Act as a senior voice within Helios & Partners, contributing to agency‑wide strategy and growth initiatives.
• Build, mentor, and scale high‑performing global teams, fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and excellence.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, media dynamics, and emerging platforms to keep Helios at the forefront of modern PR.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in public relations, communications, or strategic consulting.
• Proven success building and growing PR programs or business units, ideally within an agency or consultancy.
• Demonstrated ability to win and retain clients, with an established network across one or more of the target sectors.
• Experience managing and integrating multi‑disciplinary, global teams.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to advise C‑suite, investors, and public‑facing leaders.
• Comfort operating in fast‑paced, high‑growth environments with a high degree of autonomy.

Why Join Helios & Partners

• Opportunity to build and own a PR business unit with equity partnership.
• Backed by an established global firm with operational, creative, and strategic support.
• Freedom to innovate, shape culture, and define the future of public relations within Helios.
• Work with high‑impact clients across public, private, and political sectors worldwide.