Senior Publicist, Business & {

Who We Are
Smith Publicity is an award-winning book publicity and thought leadership agency that helps business and lifestyle authors, speakers, and industry leaders build enduring platforms—not just launch books. For nearly 30 years, we’ve been trusted by publishers, entrepreneurs, and idea-driven leaders to bring important ideas into the public conversation through smart strategy, strong media relationships, and long-term positioning.

Our work goes beyond publicity moments. We use books as a catalyst for sustained thought leadership, helping clients connect their ideas to media, speaking, digital platforms, and broader brand ecosystems. As we continue to evolve, Smith is intentionally building a culture—and a body of work—grounded in clarity, compassion, rigor, and continual growth.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Publicist with a strong background in business, leadership, and public affairs who is excited to operate at the intersection of books, ideas, and enduring influence.

The Opportunity
This role is ideal for a senior-level publicist with 7+ years of experience who is ready to fully own campaigns, client relationships, and strategic outcomes.

As a Senior Publicist at Smith, you will move beyond transactional pitching into strategic ownership of ideas, narratives, and long-term platforms. You’ll serve as a trusted partner to authors and experts, bring sound judgment to complex campaigns, and operate with a high degree of autonomy while collaborating closely with a thoughtful, experienced team.

You’ll have the freedom to think creatively—and the responsibility to deliver with consistency, clarity, and care.

As a Senior Publicist at Smith, you will:

Lead nonfiction book launches within the context of broader thought leadership and brand strategy

See the full picture—understanding the client’s ideas, goals, audience, and media ecosystem

Serve as a strategic partner to authors and experts, not just a campaign manager

Independently own campaign strategy, execution, and communication while collaborating across teams

Bring strong editorial judgment and narrative instincts to every stage of a campaign

What You’ll Do

Lead nonfiction book and expert publicity campaigns from strategic development through execution and evaluation

Develop tailored messaging, positioning, and media angles that honor both the book and the client’s broader platform

Pitch and secure coverage across print, digital, broadcast, podcasts, newsletters, and expert commentary opportunities

Identify and act on opportunities beyond traditional book coverage, including timely, trend-driven, and thought leadership placements

Serve as the primary client contact, communicating clearly and consistently through campaign updates, calls, and strategy discussions

Act as a strategic sounding board for clients on visibility and platform-building initiatives in support of book launches and ongoing thought leadership (pre-order strategy, speaking visibility, digital presence, network engagement, etc.)

Collaborate with clients, colleagues, and partners to translate complex ideas into compelling, accessible media narratives

Track results, navigate challenges transparently, and refine strategy as campaigns evolve

What We Offer

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, ranging from $85,000 to $90,000 annually

Comprehensive benefits including medical (Horizon BCBS of NJ), dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) through Mutual of Omaha

Flexible, remote-first work environment with the option to work from our Cherry Hill, NJ office

Generous paid time off, sick time, and a full agency closure at year-end

A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, inclusivity, and life outside of work

Ongoing professional development through leadership access, internal training, outside experts, and hands-on campaign learning

The opportunity to help shape the future of Smith as we continue to evolve as a leading thought leadership agency

Why Smith Publicity
Smith is a place for publicists who want to think beyond launch week, build meaningful relationships with their clients and colleagues, and help ideas travel farther. We value quality over volume, strategy over noise, and trust over micromanagement.

If you’re excited to lead smart, substantive campaigns—and to do work with depth and impact—we’d love to hear from you.

Who You Are

A thoughtful, strategic publicist with 7+ years of experience in PR, publicity, or related fields, ideally including nonfiction books, business leaders, experts, or thought leaders

Experienced in independently owning campaigns and managing senior-level client relationships

A strong, confident writer and communicator who can translate complex ideas into compelling media narratives

Media-savvy and news-aware, with sharp instincts for relevance, timing, and long-term positioning

Organized, self-directed, and comfortable managing multiple campaigns with accountability and judgment

Collaborative, curious, and invested in doing work with depth and intention

Comfortable advising high-level authors, executives, and subject-matter experts

Experience with Cision and/or Muck Rack is required; familiarity with newsletters, podcasts, Substack, and platform-building strategies is a strong plus.

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