Vice President, Media Relations

About the role

The Vice President, Media Relations is a senior, hands-on media leader at the center of Highwire’s media function. This role is responsible for driving high-impact earned media strategy and execution across a portfolio of B2B technology, professional services, and financial services clients.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated earned media strategies for B2B technology, professional services, and financial services clients, focused on measurable outcomes and high-impact coverage.
• Serve as a senior media lead across key accounts, directly shaping media plans, outreach strategy, and reporter engagement.
• Drive proactive and reactive media programs including product launches, executive visibility, corporate milestones, funding announcements, M&A, and thought leadership campaigns.
• Apply media analytics and performance insights to continuously refine pitching strategy, messaging, and storytelling approaches.
• Provide senior-level counsel in support of crisis and issues communications as needed.
• Build and maintain strong, active relationships with top-tier business, technology, and professional services journalists across national and industry-specific outlets.
• Act as a trusted media advisor to senior clients, helping shape messaging, narrative positioning, and executive communications strategy.
• Partner with account teams to ensure earned media strategy is fully integrated across owned, shared, and digital channels.
• Elevate client storytelling by identifying timely news angles and positioning opportunities within the broader media landscape.
• Play an active role in new business pitches, contributing media strategy frameworks, competitive media insights, and differentiated storytelling approaches.
• Help shape Highwire’s point of view in competitive RFP processes through creative, insight-driven media thinking.
• Leverage media expertise and relationships to strengthen pitch strategies and support account growth.
• Contribute to the development of new media-driven offerings that expand agency capabilities and revenue opportunities.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level media team members, strengthening media strategy and execution capabilities across the agency.
• Collaborate closely with strategy, content, digital, and creative teams to deliver integrated client programs.
• Contribute to agency-wide training, best practices, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to elevate overall media excellence.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of media relations experience in PR, communications, or journalism, with deep expertise in B2B technology, professional services, and/or financial services media.
• Demonstrated track record as a hands-on media practitioner with strong, active relationships with business and technology journalists.
• Experience contributing to new business pitches, including RFP development, presentations, and agency capabilities discussions.
• Proven ability to develop and execute earned media strategies that deliver measurable results.
• Strong client counseling experience, including direct interaction with senior executives.
• Experience mentoring junior team members in a fast-paced, agency environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with strong editorial judgment and narrative development ability.
• Familiarity with media analytics tools and a data-informed approach to optimizing media performance.

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $195,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth.