Account Director

R\\West is looking for a creative and strategic Senior Account Director to lead PR for accounts in the fashion, lifestyle, and luxury sectors. We’re seeking an idea generator and gifted storyteller who thrives at the intersection of culture and communications — someone with a knack for building brand buzz, driving impactful media moments, and pitching big ideas as confidently to an editor as to a client’s C-suite. The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of PR agency and/or brand experience across fashion, accessories, luxury, beauty and/or lifestyle brands. They will be a strategic thinker with strong media relationships and a collaborative team player — someone who brings leadership to clients, sells ideas persuasively to both press and clients, and brings a solutions-oriented mindset to every project, while confidently managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. Experience with influencer partnerships and celebrity/VIP talent relations is a strong plus. In this role, the Senior Account Director will lead integrated PR initiatives for a handful of brands, supporting everything from annual PR strategy, product and campaign launches, influencer engagement, ongoing product placements, events, seeding initiatives, and reporting on behalf of our clients. OK but first, we should introduce ourselves. Nice to meet you. We are R\\West. We are an independently owned, integrated marketing agency that specializes in content-driven campaigns that elevate PR, social media presence, consumer engagement in the digital space and ultimately, sales. Founded in 1997, our offices in Portland, Oregon, New York City and Amsterdam are always on the hunt for new talent who share our passion for brands across food, beverage, fashion, finance, tech industries, and more. What Do We Do? At R\\West we approach every day with grit, guts, and grace. We believe these three qualities are not only what set us apart, but are the key ingredients to creating an inspiring workplace that makes amazing things. Grit: The willingness to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We treat every project—no matter how big or small—with the same diligence and uncompromising standards. Guts: The fortitude to challenge ourselves and clients to go beyond comfort zones. Daring tactics backed by sound strategy can reap big rewards. Grace: The way we treat our coworkers, clients, colleagues, and customers. We strive to approach everyone in good faith, with a listening ear, and with focus on the common goal to see all of us succeed. Equity Statement R\\West is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. So what would I REALLY be doing? Core Responsibilities Communications Strategy & Campaign Execution Serve as a strategic, big-picture thinker — leading the concepting and execution of innovative 360° communication strategies. Support integrated PR and influencer initiatives that drive brand visibility, cultural relevance, and business impact. Partner with internal and external teams to bring creative ideas to life across product launches, campaigns, partnerships, events, and brand moments. Pitching & Brand Storytelling Develop and confidently sell in compelling pitches that secure top-tier media coverage. Deliver strategic press coverage across print, digital, broadcast and podcasts. Proactively identify and capitalize on opportunities that enhance corporate brand narratives. Monitor industry trends, cultural moments, and competitor activity to inform timely storytelling angles and strategic recommendations. Media Relations, Events & Press Management Maintain, develop, and grow strong relationships with key editors across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and accessories verticals. Draft and distribute timely media alerts, press releases, briefing documents, and pitches for brand launches, campaigns, partnerships and events. Ideate, plan and execute events and experiential activations. Oversee strategic product seeding and sendout initiatives to drive organic placements and brand awareness. Account Management & Client Communication Serve as a trusted senior client contact, leading accounts with confidence, clarity, and strategic point of view. Present and sell in campaign strategies, creative recommendations, and results to clients in a polished and persuasive manner. Anticipate client needs, proactively flag opportunities and challenges, and communicate solutions effectively. Build strong client relationships through responsive, articulate, and professional communication across all touchpoints. Team Management & Organization Manage and mentor junior team members, helping to foster collaboration. Support account team in maintaining exceptional account service. Ensure projects and initiatives are delivered in a timely manner and provide measurable value for clients. What should I bring coming in? Candidates should: Idea generator and strategic thinker with a track record of creative, culture-forward campaigns and the confidence to sell those ideas in the room — to press and clients alike. 8+ years of PR agency experience across fashion, accessories, luxury, beauty and/or lifestyle brands; Bachelor’s degree in PR, communications or a related field. Established relationships with journalists and editors across fashion, luxury, beauty and lifestyle sectors, with a proven track record securing top-tier coverage across digital, print and broadcast. Collaborative, out-of-the-box thinker who brings people, processes, and ideas together to drive results. Highly organized and proactive, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines at once. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders. Comfortable with the tools of the trade — trackers, recaps, media monitoring/events platforms (e.g., Muck Rack, Launchmetrics), Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace — and current on social platform trends and emerging talent. Located in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut within commutable distance to R\\West’s Manhattan office. Like most PR roles, this job will require occasional evening or weekend availability to support client events, media activations, and other time-sensitive initiatives. Sounds fun, rewarding and awesome. Wait. I actually get paid for this? R\\West offers a competitive salary that corresponds with relevant experience. Employee benefits include health insurance including medical, dental and vision, 401K with matching, profit sharing, education fund, volunteer time and more. The salary range for this position is $120-150k, commensurate with experience. Our office is located in New York and we work a hybrid 2-3 days per week in office. #J-18808-Ljbffr