Marketing & Public Relations Specialist

About the role

We are seeking a Marketing & Public Relations Specialist to support local marketing initiatives, community partnerships, store events, and public relations efforts. This role will work closely with retail store teams to develop and execute marketing activations that drive awareness, engagement, and traffic to stores. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator who can manage multiple projects, work effectively with internal and external partners, and translate marketing strategies into practical, local store initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop in-store activation guides and resources to help Store Experience Managers successfully execute local marketing initiatives.
• Provide planning, marketing, and public relations support for grand openings, special events, and other in-store events across the Midwest.
• Coordinate local sports, community, and philanthropic partnership activations designed to increase store awareness and drive foot traffic.
• Provide marketing guidance and recommendations to retail locations experiencing business challenges, such as nearby road construction, new competitors, or changes in the local market.
• Support internal company events and initiatives as needed.
• Create, coordinate, and manage social media content across relevant platforms.
• Work with local vendors and respond to questions regarding the process for getting their products into stores.
• Collaborate with store teams, internal stakeholders, community organizations, vendors, and other external partners to ensure marketing initiatives are effectively executed.
• Help identify opportunities to strengthen local community engagement and store visibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in retail marketing, public relations, communications, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating events, marketing initiatives, or community partnerships.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of audiences, from retail store teams and internal leadership to community partners and vendors.
• Comfortable working independently while also collaborating across teams.
• Experience with Sprout Social or similar social media management platforms.
• Experience managing Facebook/social media content.
• Video editing experience.
• Previous experience supporting retail stores or multi-location businesses.
• Experience with local community partnerships, sponsorships, or philanthropic initiatives.