POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Public Relations (PR) Manager will work closely with the VP of Brand and Communication to support all public relations and communications campaigns, projects, and initiatives for The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, including creating and facilitating public relations and communications campaigns for the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show and other external facing projects. In this role, the PR Manager will create and cultivate valuable media relationships for the organization, conducting outreach to members of the media to pitch story concepts, manage inbound press requests and inquiries, schedule interviews, and navigate logistics for video and broadcast tapings and live shoots. The Manager will also lead the social media influencer/content creator campaign to cultivate relationships as they pertain to organizational programs, events, and activations.
Additionally, the PR Manager will coordinate thought leadership campaigns for the organization and identify opportunities to showcase PHS’s expertise and excellence. Once identified, the Manager will put forth appropriate spokespeople and draft submissions to apply for awards, lectures, webinars, speaking engagements, and any other relevant external opportunities with the goal of building PHS’s brand awareness and reputation in areas such as horticulture and gardening, event production, urban greening, and green infrastructure solutions, workforce development, and more.
The PR Manager also will work cross-departmentally to support and manage organizational thought leaders in brainstorming, drafting, editing, and submitting contributor articles and other bylined materials according to editorial deadlines.
This role will require the PR Manager to serve as a key external liaison between PHS and members of the media on-site at the Philadelphia Flower Show and at other public-facing events and activations, providing outstanding customer service in every engagement to help garner positive press coverage and address any potential need for crisis communications. The PR manager supports the needs and goals of the larger marketing team on a variety of projects, promotions, and field marketing initiatives as needed. Additionally, the PR Manager will work collaboratively with Marketing teammates to further PHS’s brand positioning, develop campaigns, pitches, and thought leadership initiatives that tie in with departmental goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supports the implementation of communications plans and strategies by:
- Drafting and developing press materials such as press releases, media alerts, and other related documents where needed
- Developing and pitching appropriate story ideas and interfacing with media contacts to secure editorial coverage for PHS programs, initiatives, and events.
- Coordinating logistics for video and broadcast interviews
- Coordination and planning of press events and campaigns such as press conferences, on-site media calls, and guerilla-style marketing events, including generating event/activation ideas and collaborating with other teams to plan necessary logistics, budgeting, and more to bring these events to life.
- Conduct reporting duties for PR and influencer channel, track and report on channel metrics, archiving media coverage, creation and management of editorial calendar
- Assist with special projects, promotions, special events, and field marketing initiatives as needed
- Collaborate with larger marketing team to develop storytelling narratives
- Tracking campaigns, awards, and other PR initiatives in project management software
- Leading the social media influencer relationships and campaigns. This includes but is not limited to: developing PHS’s yearly Influencer Plan delineating a clear strategy for influencer relations as they pertain to organizational goals for each fiscal year, researching new social media influencers to collaborate with, drafting all influencer messaging, terms and conditions, and other materials, coordinating fulfillment of influencer comps/tickets/promotions/gifts, and providing consistent customer service, clear communication, and flexibility to manage the needs of this group.
- Managing RSVP list and check-in for all press, marketing, and influencer events, with high level of customer service.
- Provide clear, data-supported analyses of all campaigns and relations, including campaign engagement rate, views, and other KPIs.
- Track against news cycle trends and local/regional/national trending topics and strategizing ways to position PHS and its programs to help build relevance, credibility, and authority.
- Manage the organization’s thought leadership channel through supporting organizational and individual award submissions, including working cross-departmentally to info-source and conduct interviews with colleagues as needed, research and draft, edit, manage ancillary submission materials according to deadline, and track against wins and evaluate losses.
- Manage all deadlines and support key organizational thought leaders in developing contributor article content, including working with colleagues to generate new content ideas, as well as overseeing the drafting process, editing all materials, and submitting to appropriate editors along with any ancillary supporting materials (photos, illustrations, or other accompaniments) in a timely manner.
- Manage PR intern, assign relevant projects, oversee progress and serve as a mentor and key supporter of the intern’s learning goals – this includes providing necessary trainings to support the intern’s onboarding and learning process, as well as supporting the intern’s own research and written projects in an advisory and editing capacity.
- Handling scheduling logistics, interview and speaking preparation, presentation design and editing and general support in advance of media/press opportunities.
- Other administrative and organizational tasks as needed.
STANDARD HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and afterhours/weekends/overtime as necessary
EDUCATION:
Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor’s degree
Years of Experience: 3-6 years in communications, public relations, or related field of study at the University level
Licensures/Certifications: N/A
Knowledges, Skills, & Abilities required for success
- A passion for communications, public relations, and marketing
- Proven track record of success in the public/media relations field
- A positive attitude and strong desire to learn
- Strong writing and communications skills, prior writing/journalistic experience a plus
- Ability to work independently and prioritize effectively
- Ability to interface with members of the press efficiently and effectively
- Ability to propose and implement fresh ideas that support strategy
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Proficiency in social media platforms
- Ability to maintain organization of internal press archives, press clips, and media lists
- Familiar with public relations software such as Critical Mention, Cision, or Muck Rack
- Familiar with project management tools such as Monday or Asana
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to coordinate video shoots and media events
EEO NOTICE:
At PHS, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.