Sr. PR & Media Strategist

Perkins&Will is seeking an experienced Senior PR and Media Strategist to craft, pitch, place, and measure the impact of brand-building stories in national consumer, business, design, and trade press and other high-visibility media, both traditional and emerging.Reporting to the Firmwide Director of Communication, the Senior PR and Media Strategist will masterfully navigate the complexities of the modern-day global media landscape to secure high-quality coverage in strategically relevant media. Prior experience crafting and successfully executing global media strategies within a large matrix organization is essential.The Strategist will also serve as a key liaison between the Firmwide Communication Team and studio-based marketing teams around the firm, providing leadership, mentorship, and strategic and hands-on support to strengthen the quality of PR across our studios.Responsibilities include but are not limited to:Establishing, executing, and tracking progress against a comprehensive firmwide PR strategy that dovetails with the firm’s overall strategic direction.Drafting and/or copyediting clear, compelling pitches, press releases, and announcements that expertly balance journalistic writing and storytelling with strategic brand positioning.Building relationships with and liaising with members of the news media, including proactively pitching stories, responding promptly to requests from journalists, and coordinating and facilitating media interviews for various spokespeople.Developing thought leadership strategies that elevate the firm's talent, expertise, innovation, and market leadership.Identifying and pursuing relevant, high-impact PR opportunities across traditional, digital, podcast, newsletter, and emerging media channels that align with the firm’s overall strategic direction.Serving as a trusted advisor to firm leadership and studio-based marketing teams on reputation management, media opportunities, and communications strategy.Providing strategic counsel during sensitive communications situations and other issues management scenarios.Implementing a system for tracking, organizing, and archiving media coverage.Defining, tracking, and reporting on measurable PR outcomes and impact through data and analysis.Identifying and tracking relevant firmwide awards and speaking opportunities, and crafting winning submissions and speaking abstracts.Mentoring junior PR/marketing staff around the firm and sharing industry best-practices with design practitioners, as needed.Critical skills include:Demonstrated passion for, and understanding of, architecture and design.Expert understanding of the discipline of journalism.Demonstrated ability to write and tell stories that meet the highest editorial standards through strong reporting, critical thinking, creativity, and editorial judgment. The ideal candidate always uses human expertise first and only uses AI-enabled tools selectively to enhance efficiency, never to replace professional judgment.Ability to discern when the use of AI-enabled tools is appropriate, and to use them responsibly and ethically while maintaining accuracy, authenticity, and strong editorial judgment.Expert understanding of the inner workings of the news media.Superior organizational, project management, and time management skills.Exceptional human-led writing, editing, and proofreading skills.Expert command of English grammar and spelling.Strong interpersonal skills with the proven ability to take constructive feedback with a growth mindset and work collaboratively across teams, departments, and disciplines.Ability to thrive both independently and as part of a cross-functional team.Ability to self-start and self-motivate—with the desire to hit the ground running.Qualifications:10+ years of experience in strategic PR and media relations in the A/E/C industry.Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, English, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.Our Offerings At Perkins&Will, we are committed to supporting the well-being and growth of our team members. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: Medical, dental, and vision insuranceWellness programs and mental health supportShort- and long-term disability (STD/LTD)Life insurance401(k) retirement planGenerous paid time off (PTO)Our employee experience is enriched by a hybrid and flexible work environment, enabled by advanced technology and collaborative tools. Our hybrid model will empower you to balance your life and work commitments. We also provide: A professional development stipend and dedicated time for continuing educationPerformance-based bonusesEngaging studio initiatives and eventsActive firmwide affinity groups and leadership development opportunitiesSalary Range Information We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications credentials if applicable, and business-related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis. At the time of posting this job advertisement, the annual pay salary range for this position is between $97,000 and $140,000. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas.By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status; we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve. Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Perkins&Will has established and adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity Employment policy (“EEO”), which is part of the Company’s Human Resources Policy. The purpose of this EEO policy is to ensure that all employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis, and without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender reassignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state, or local law. In some cases, local laws and regulations may provide greater protections than those outlined here and employees will be covered by the laws of their local jurisdiction.Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision Perkins&Will will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.HOW TO APPLYPlease include resume, a cover letter that helps us understand why you’re the best fit for the role, and 3-4 relevant samples (e.g., a custom media pitch, a press release, a byline, and a PR plan).Job SummaryRequisition Number: SRPRM006106Job Category: MarketingSchedule: Full-Time