Vice President, Earned Media Strategy

Weber Shandwick is an engagement agency working at the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We are storytellers and content creators who engage people in brand narratives. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service, creativity, and collaboration.

About the Role

The Vice President, Earned Media Strategy will serve as the central strategic leader for earned media, orchestrating integrated campaigns for top-tier CPG, Food & Beverage, and Consumer Lifestyle brands. This role is pivotal in shaping large-scale campaigns that drive cultural conversation, ensuring earned media is the core of a cohesive, multi-channel brand experience. The ideal candidate is a master storyteller and collaborative leader who excels at uniting diverse teams around a powerful narrative.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the strategic hub for earned media, architecting comprehensive campaigns and ensuring seamless integration across paid, social, digital, influencer, and creative disciplines.
• Lead the development and execution of earned-centric ideas, partnering with cross-functional teams to build unified brand narratives.
• Translate insights from analytics, social listening, and digital teams into actionable earned media strategies that are timely, relevant, and impactful.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier media across business, lifestyle, food & beverage, news, and entertainment verticals.
• Craft culturally relevant narratives that tap into emerging consumer and media trends.
• Counsel senior clients, C-suite executives, and spokespeople on media strategy, narrative positioning, and integrated campaign opportunities.
• Represent earned media strategy in client meetings, inter-agency work sessions, and new business pitches, articulating its connection to the broader marketing ecosystem.
• Manage resources, timelines, and deliverables with precision, fostering a collaborative and client-first environment.
• Mentor and lead junior team members, cultivating their skills in strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• 8+ years of public relations or communications experience, with increasing responsibility and a focus on leading integrated earned media programs for major consumer brands.
• Proven experience working within an integrated agency model, with a deep understanding of how earned, paid, social, and digital media work together.
• A strong track record of top-tier media placements and well-established relationships across lifestyle, business, entertainment, and pop culture media.
• Subject matter expertise in CPG, food & beverage, and consumer lifestyle.
• Demonstrated success managing campaigns featuring talent, celebrities, and influential creators as part of a broader, integrated strategy.
• Experience in media training and counseling senior clients and C-suite executives.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate a strategic vision to diverse audiences and lead new business efforts.
• Proven problem-solver with strong judgment under pressure.
• A collaborative team leader known for mentoring talent and managing multiple fast-paced projects with clarity and partnership.

Skills

• Integrated Leadership: Excel at building bridges and fostering collaboration between internal teams (paid, social, creative, analytics) and external agency partners.
• Business Acumen: Align earned media strategies with client business goals, demonstrating how earned media drives broader marketing priorities.
• Client Service: Build trust and rapport with senior client stakeholders by providing strategic counsel beyond traditional media relations.
• Proactivity: Continuously identify and pursue innovative, integrated media opportunities and storytelling approaches.
• Critical Thinking: Analyze challenges and data from multiple sources to anticipate needs and deliver insightful, holistic solutions.
• Mentorship: Effectively guide teams and individuals, inspiring them to embrace a collaborative and integrated mindset.

Pay

Salary range: $125,000 – $165,000 USD. Compensation within this range depends on factors such as experience, qualifications, market considerations, and budgetary constraints.

Schedule

Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, with potential for additional in-office days as directed by management. Many teams already require five days of in-office attendance.