Vice President, Spirits

About Us

There’s a reason HUNTER is recognized as a PRWeek Best Place To Work and has been named PRovoke “Consumer Agency of the Year” not once, but twice: At HUNTER, we EARN IT — consumer attention, the trust and loyalty of clients, and the dedication of our staff, currently 350+ strong and counting.

Overview

The Vice President is responsible for leading integrated communications and cultural marketing programs for four large-scale, global spirits brands. This role sits at the intersection of culture, creativity, communications, and brand building, driving strategies that position brands at the center of relevant cultural conversations and experiences.

Cultural Strategy & Brand Building

• Develop communications and cultural marketing strategies that drive brand relevance, consumer engagement, and business growth.
• Identify emerging cultural trends, shifts in consumer behavior, and whitespace opportunities that position brands at the center of culture.
• Translate business objectives and brand priorities into actionable strategic frameworks and integrated communications plans.
• Build long-term cultural platforms and programs that create sustained relevance while delivering against annual business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to clients on culture, communications, consumer behavior, and brand growth.

Campaign Ideation & Creative Leadership

• Lead the development of breakthrough campaign ideas rooted in cultural insight and earned-first thinking.
• Partner with creative, social, experiential, influencer, media, and talent teams to bring ideas to life across the full marketing ecosystem.
• Ensure campaigns are designed to generate earned media while driving consumer participation, social engagement, and brand advocacy.
• Inspire teams to think creatively, strategically, and proactively in solving client challenges.

Partnerships, Talent & Experiences

• Develop and oversee talent, entertainment, fashion, music, sports, hospitality, and cultural partnerships.
• Lead the creation of consumer experiences that deepen brand affinity, drive product trial, and inspire participation.
• Manage large-scale activations and experiential programs from concept through execution and measurement.
• Identify opportunities to leverage major cultural moments and events to maximize brand visibility and impact.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with talent representatives, partners, venues, and vendors.

Communications & Earned Media Leadership

• Maintain deep expertise in the evolving media landscape across traditional, digital, creator, and emerging channels.
• Develop communications strategies designed to generate meaningful earned media coverage and cultural conversation.
• Lead executive visibility, thought leadership, media relations, and reputation-building initiatives as needed.
• Understand and leverage the tools, channels, and methodologies required to maximize earned impact within today's fragmented media ecosystem.
• Use analytics, cultural intelligence, and performance data to inform strategy and optimize programs.

Account Leadership & Client Management

• Lead client programs from concept and planning through execution, evaluation, and optimization.
• Serve as primary client contact and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Provide strategic counsel and recommendations that address client needs while advancing agency objectives.
• Lead client meetings, presentations, workshops, and strategic planning sessions.
• Recognize opportunities for account growth and identify new ways to expand agency partnerships and services.

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage account financials, including budgets, scopes, staffing plans, fee estimates, billing, and resource allocation.
• Ensure programs are executed profitably while meeting client objectives and maintaining work quality.
• Anticipate operational and financial challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Monitor team utilization and overall account performance to ensure efficient use of agency resources.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of communications and cultural marketing professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and solutions-oriented culture.
• Manage performance reviews, professional development plans, coaching, and succession planning.
• Provide ongoing feedback and support to maximize individual and team performance.
• Serve as an internal and external ambassador for agency culture and talent.

Business Development & Agency Leadership

• Participate in agency new business opportunities, pitches, and business renewal presentations.
• Develop strategic recommendations and creative ideas that contribute to agency growth.
• Represent the agency at industry events, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Lead agency committees, initiatives, and thought leadership efforts as assigned.

Position Expectations / Success Factors

• Builds strong relationships and becomes a trusted advisor to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Consistently develops culturally relevant ideas that generate meaningful business impact.
• Succeeds in leading integrated teams and fostering collaboration across disciplines.
• Creates programs that drive earned media, consumer engagement, product trial, and brand growth.
• Demonstrates sound business judgment, operational excellence, and financial accountability.
• Develops and retains top talent through mentorship, coaching, and leadership.
• Exhibits entrepreneurial thinking, ownership, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Business, or a related field.
• Eight (8) to ten (10)+ years of experience in communications, cultural marketing, integrated marketing, public relations, brand strategy, or a related field.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience leading and managing teams.
• Proven experience developing and executing communications and cultural marketing programs for premium, luxury, lifestyle, fashion, music, hospitality, entertainment, or spirits brands.
• Demonstrated success creating integrated campaigns that generate earned media, consumer engagement, and measurable business impact.
• Experience managing agency partnerships, cross-functional teams, and multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong presentation, writing, storytelling, and client leadership skills.

Compensation

In order to comply with equal pay and salary transparency laws in various locations, the Company believes the target range of base compensation for this role is $115K- $150K. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.

Perks

• A hybrid work model;
• a “work from anywhere in the US” policy (up to four weeks a year);
• a year-round staff training and development curriculum;
• a staff-led Action Group dedicated to DEI excellence in the agency and industry (read our DEI statement here: here);

Additional Information

Founded in 1989, HUNTER has grown into one of the most respected mid-size marketing communications firms in the country, creating work that matters in strategic planning, earned media relations, social and digital media, talent and influencer engagement, experiential marketing, multicultural outreach and content creation and distribution. And we do it all for esteemed companies and brands across every sector you can imagine: Food + Beverage, Wine + Spirits, Health + Wellness, Beauty + Personal Care + Fashion, Home + Lifestyle + Travel, Retail + E-commerce. See us in action here: here.