Public Relations Senior Director - Consumer Brands specialist

A leading public relations and strategic communications firm is seeking a Senior Director with a focus on consumer brand and food & beverage clients to join their New York office.

You'll love this job if you enjoy working in a fast-paced, collaborative, and creative environment. Given the size of the team, you will start contributing on day one to the firm's corporate and consumer brand clients, including major CPG and food/beverage companies, as well as the company's growth and culture.

What you'll do:

Client Responsibilities
Serve as a primary, day-to-day contact with clients, providing strong counsel, anticipating client needs, and interacting regularly with senior-level client contacts
Show a high level of integrity in counseling and consulting to develop strong, collaborative relationships with client decision-makers
Serve as a senior strategic counselor to C-suite and leadership, shaping overarching communications strategy rather than executing against an existing plan
Oversee account strategy and team structure to ensure client objectives are met and deliverables are high quality and creative
Own media relations for your client teams, from producing materials that will secure proactive coverage to cultivating relationships with journalists and influencers
Participate in and conduct media training sessions and media interviews
Demonstrate ability to effectively develop a full range of materials including strategic plans, press materials, social copy, digital content, client correspondence, and more

Team / Internal Management
Play a leadership role in agency growth, including mentorship and contribution to broader staffing and account strategy decisions
Train and acclimate new hires to client teams and projects
Provide solutions and recommendations to senior staff to leverage opportunities and troubleshoot client-related challenges
Lead new business efforts, including pitching and closing, in addition to supporting proposal development and research
Be responsible for reviewing and editing all written materials developed by team
Deliver constructive and clear feedback to direct reports and junior staff

We're looking for:
8-10 years of professional experience at a public relations agency or as part of an in-house communications team, with significant experience on a major consumer packaged goods, food, or beverage brand (e.g., Kellogg's, P&G, or a comparable food/beverage company) required
Management experience with oversight of direct reports for at least 5 years, including mentoring other managers
Comfort and experience working alongside high-profile spokespeople or talent as part of a brand's public-facing strategy, including coordinating with personal representatives (agents, managers, publicists) where relevant
Expertise with traditional and non-traditional PR strategies and tactics
Demonstrated success in securing top-tier press coverage for a diverse range of clients
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Self-starter and is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines, and driving multiple projects across the finish line at once
Strong aptitude and interest in writing
Exceptional attention to detail, follow up, and organization skills
Digital and social media savvy a plus

Consumer Brand Expertise
Established, active relationships with lifestyle, food, and consumer press (e.g., Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Good Morning America, Today, NYT Food/Well, AdAge) as well as trade and business outlets covering the CPG/food & beverage industry
Demonstrated track record of landing feature placements, product features, and brand storytelling in top consumer and trade publications
Experience managing PR around new product launches, packaging or formula changes, and seasonal/promotional campaigns for a packaged goods or food/beverage brand
Familiarity with the retail and grocery landscape, including how brand news intersects with retailer relationships and category dynamics
Experience partnering with marketing, brand, and legal teams to align PR messaging with broader brand campaigns and ensure claims substantiation
Ability to translate nutrition, sourcing, sustainability, or ingredient-related information into clear, consumer-friendly narratives
Track record of managing issues or crisis communications relevant to consumer brands (e.g., recalls, supply chain disruptions, ingredient or labeling controversies, executive transitions)
Experience building spokesperson platforms and securing broadcast/media opportunities for brand executives or culinary
utrition experts

Compensation range: $135-160K with generous benefits package.