Senior Public Relations Manager

About the role

At Signal Theory, the Senior Public Relations Manager leads and implements earned media/public relations strategies and tactics that advance the firm’s and clients’ business goals while building name recognition in key practice areas, industries, and markets. This role is responsible for enhancing, building, and protecting the reputation of Signal Theory and its clients through strategic PR initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, ideate, and execute day-to-day earned media/PR activities for the firm and clients.
• Utilize brand journalism/editorial writing to craft journalism-style stories that engage readers without resembling marketing or ad copy.
• Write content for multiple formats, including:
  • Website case studies
  • Web-based news articles
  • Blogs, podcasts, and social media content
• Conduct regular editorial meetings with key leaders and maintain editorial calendars for relevant media outlets aligned with Signal Theory’s expertise and client industries.
• Proactively identify, pitch, and secure media stories that advance the firm’s brand and client business goals, with a focus on:
  • Advertising/industry trades
  • Food and marketing verticals
  • Animal health/agri-marketing verticals
• Co-create, write, edit, pitch, place, and promote executive thought leadership articles for clients, C-suite, and agency subject matter experts.
• Collaborate with internal resources to scale thought leadership efforts.
• Internally curate great work and thought leadership to transform insights into marketable stories for earned media pitches or brand-published content.
• Work with creative, account leaders, strategists, and data analysts to develop content that engages prospective leads or journalists.
• Promote current newsworthy work in partnership with account team leads.
• Monitor, track, and report on earned/owned media coverage, online brand sentiment, and other key metrics.
• Partner with agency analysts to refine measurement strategies for PR campaigns.
• Create and post content as required by the editorial calendar and leverage social listening insights to adapt earned and owned content.
• Support firm and client crisis communications as needed.
• Stay current with industry and competitive trends, conduct media and topic research, build media lists/databases, and perform outreach.
• Identify, vet, and secure speaking engagements, including digital events (webinars, podcasts, online conferences) and in-person events when appropriate. Collaborate with speakers to develop presentation decks, talking points, and preparation.
• Support community relations by spotlighting individual and firm involvement in local outreach efforts.
• Travel as required by firm and client needs.
• Build, maintain, and grow positive relationships with client and internal stakeholders (discipline leads, creative and account directors, subject matter experts) by serving as a primary contact for editorial opportunities.
• Communicate efficiently and collaboratively with internal teams to identify and pursue proactive ideas, initiatives, and solutions that meet business needs.
• Understand and engage established processes and disciplines to deliver high-quality work.
• Develop project briefs in collaboration with agency and client stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; preferably in communications, advertising, marketing, or equivalent experience.
• 5–8 years of professional public relations experience, with agency experience strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write across formats (from short-form to long-form) and attention to detail.
• Creativity and resourcefulness in storytelling and content development.

Benefits

• Access to online learning platforms for professional development.
• Up to $500 annually for qualified wellness expenses (e.g., gym membership).
• After one year: Up to 50% reimbursement for approved continuing education tuition costs.
• After eight years: 4-week paid sabbatical plus a $750 reimbursement for international travel.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Traditional and Roth 401k plans with employer matching.