Freelancer Senior Manager, Earned Media

Who We Are

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Account Director, Earned Media Strategy (Consumer Practice)

Are you ready to shape the conversation for brands the world loves? 

Forget what you know about traditional CPG roles. We’re seeking a creative powerhouse and media maestro to join our team, working across two of the most dynamic and beloved portfolios: Petcare and Snacking. This isn’t just about getting press; it’s about making a cultural impact for iconic brands that inspire everything from moments of everyday happiness to creating a better world for pets.

You’re fluent in internet culture, can spot a trend before it goes viral, and have the media relationships to prove it. From top-tier lifestyle publications and podcasts to the next big thing on Substack, you know how to craft stories that don’t just get placed – they get noticed. If you’re ready to bring the hustle, creativity, and strategic mind to a place where you can make a real difference, let’s talk.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Become a Master Storytelling: You’ll be the architect of compelling earned media campaigns. From ideation to execution, you will craft newsworthy angles and proactive pitches that tap into the cultural zeitgeist, ensuring our brands are always part of the conversation.
• Lead with Cultural Curiosity: Your finger is always on the pulse. You’ll be our go-to expert for what’s buzzing and what’s next, identifying real-time opportunities to inject our brands into trending moments with authenticity and flair.
• Champion Client & Campaign Excellence: Serve as a trusted senior counselor to our client partners, delivering consistently brilliant work. You’ll collaborate with a team of all-stars across the agency to bring large-scale, integrated campaigns to life with sharp attention to detail.
• Cultivate Media Mastery: Build and nurture incredible relationships with top-tier media across every vertical that matters – from business and entertainment to wellness, sports, and, of course, pet-centric outlets.
• Mentor the Next Generation: Part of your role is to inspire and grow our junior team members, guiding them with hands-on feedback and helping them develop into the industry’s next top talent.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Proven Experience: 6-8 years of experience in earned media and communications, with a track record of leading projects from start to finish.
• Media Relations Savvy: You have a “golden rolodex” and a deep understanding of the modern media landscape. Experience with CPG, Pet, or Food & Beverage brands is a huge plus!
• Strategic Mindset: You’re a critical thinker who can connect the dots between brand goals and cultural trends to create innovative strategies.
• Collaborative Spirit: You thrive in a team environment and know how to build strong relationships with clients and partners to get things done.
• Unstoppable Drive: You bring relentless energy, a client-first attitude, and an unwavering commitment to quality in everything you do.

Salary range: $75-$90 per hour

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-GH

 Who We Are

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Weber Shandwick is seeking a Manager to join our Integrated Media team within our Consumer Brand Practice.

We’re seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Manager, Earned Media with deep lifestyle and entertainment expertise to join our Integrated Media team in New York.  The ideal candidate is passionate about the latest consumer trends and has a deep enthusiasm for media outreach, pitching, and building relationships. You are deeply immersed in the worlds of lifestyle, entertainment, men’s lifestyle, and sports, and possess a robust network of contacts in these areas. As a Manager, you will have the opportunity to work on top-tier consumer brands, bringing creative stories to life and executing high-energy consumer events.

What You Will Be Doing

Shape Integrated Media Strategy:

• You will play an important role in shaping the media strategy across our diverse portfolio of clients, specifically in the CPG space. You will help to design integration across earned media—inclusive of traditional media (dot-com, broadcast), emerging media (e.g., Substack), and social media, by creating programming built to be shared and amplified across platforms.

Strategic Media & Influencer Relations:

• Serve as a key day-to-day client contact, developing strategic earned media campaigns, action plans, and compelling story angles that resonate with target audiences.
• Generate a consistent pipeline of story ideas, draft engaging media materials, and proactively pitch to land high-impact earned coverage, leveraging your network of media and influencer contacts.
• Develop and manage targeted media and influencer lists, incorporating a diverse mix of voices (influencers, bloggers, social media editors, creators, etc.) to achieve client goals.

Client Counsel & Collaboration:

• Provide regular updates and thoughtful counsel to clients, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor on earned media strategy and execution.
• Develop a strong understanding of the client’s business and objectives, working collaboratively with strategists and creative teams to deliver innovative solutions.

Trend-Spotting & Creative Ideation:

• Maintain a keen interest in current industry trends, constantly monitoring the cultural landscape, competitor coverage, and influencer conversations to identify opportunities.
• Analyze and distill meaningful insights from media coverage, sharing perspectives with both internal teams and clients to inform strategy.
• Support creative ideation on a consistent basis, contributing fresh ideas for evergreen stories and campaigns.

Program & Event Management:

• Develop and manage timelines, project budgets, and weekly action plans to ensure all program deadlines are met.
• Manage the detailed tasks associated with planning and implementing special public relations events, from media stunts to product launches.
• Anticipate and proactively offer solutions for executional issues that may arise during a program.

Team & Agency Leadership:

• Serve as a role model and guide for junior team members, helping to develop their skills and drive results.
• Actively participate in agency development initiatives and assist with new business opportunities as needed.

Competencies

• Business Acumen– align talent strategies to drive business goals
• Client Service– client focus and ability to build trust and rapport across all levels
• Proactivity – exhibit relentless pursuit for new and innovative talent strategies
• Collaboration– build strong relationships with internal team members at all levels across the organization
• Critical Thinking– ask probing questions; anticipate and address critical client and talent gaps and needs
• Conflict Resolution– possess sound judgment and savvy in navigating and resolving complex client, talent and organizational issues

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations
• 3 to 4 years’ relevant health/wellness experience
• Media relations experience

NYC Salary range: $74,000 USD – $85,000 USD

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-JP1 

Who We Are

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Account Director, Earned Media Strategy (Consumer Practice)

Who We Are Seeking

We are seeking an Account Director, Earned Media Strategy with exceptional strategic prowess and media relations expertise to support our top-tier CPG, Retail, and Food & Beverage clients.

You live for a great pitch and have the media relationships to back it up. With deep knowledge of top-tier lifestyle, entertainment, sports, food & beverage, and business outlets, you know how to get stories placed—and noticed. You move seamlessly between traditional media and emerging platforms like Substack, podcasts, and content creators. Fluent in internet culture and always ahead of the trends, you know what’s buzzy, what’s next, and how to help brands break through. A creative storyteller and collaborative partner, you bring curiosity, originality, and hustle to everything you do. If you’re ready to make waves with a team of leading earned strategists, we want to talk.

What You Will Be Doing

• Strategic Leadership & Storytelling:
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive earned and integrated media programs from start to finish.
• Proactively and reactively craft compelling, newsworthy stories that drive earned coverage and tap into the cultural zeitgeist.
• Spot and execute on quick-turn, culturally relevant storytelling opportunities for clients.
• Draft high-quality internal and external-facing media materials, including briefing documents, Q&As, pitches, press releases, and messaging documents.
• Media & Cultural Mastery:
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with top-tier media across business, broadcast, and lifestyle verticals—including men’s/women’s interest, fitness, food & beverage, wellness, sports, and entertainment.
• Maintain a strong, real-time understanding of the media and cultural landscape, as well as emerging issues that may impact clients.
• Approach all client work with deep curiosity, consistently seeking to understand the brand, its competitors, and the broader industry context.
• Client & Campaign Excellence:
• Serve as a senior counselor, interacting effectively with clients and leaders within their organizations.
• Deliver consistently high-caliber work with a client-first mindset and sharp attention to detail.
• Collaborate effectively with agency and inter-agency partners, serving as a key contributor to drive alignment and deliver cohesive, large-scale campaign work.
• Team & Agency Growth:
• Mentor and develop junior team members through hands-on guidance, continuous feedback, and professional development support.
• Actively cultivate and participate in new business opportunities and pitches, contributing to the growth of the practice.

Competencies:

• Business Acumen– align talent strategies to drive business goals
• Client Service– client focus and ability to build trust and rapport across all levels
• Proactivity – exhibit relentless pursuit for new and innovative talent strategies
• Collaboration– build strong relationships at all levels across the organization
• Critical Thinking– ask probing questions; anticipate and address critical talent gaps and needs
• Conflict Resolution– possess sound judgment and savvy in navigating and resolving complex talent and organizational issues

Basic Qualifications:

• 6-8 years of experience.
• Experience leading projects from start to finish, working with integrated teams across various disciplines.
• Earned strategy and media relations experience
• Bachelor’s degree

Salary range: $100,000 USD – $130,000 USD

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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