Director, PR & Celebrity

Salary Range $150,000 - $195,000*

Job Description:

Role Summary

As the Director of Public Relations & Celebrity at Saks Global, you will be responsible for leading and executing high-profile public relations initiatives that elevate the brand through strategic media relations, earned coverage, brand partnerships, and celebrity engagement. You will oversee the development and execution of brand and consumer PR strategies, manage PR opportunities like the Met Gala, and cultivate relationships with key talent and celebrities to drive brand awareness and bolster positive sentiment. Reporting to the AVP, Public Relations & Celebrity, you will manage a team of one Manager and one Coordinator, ensuring the execution of impactful PR campaigns aligned with the brand’s identity and outlined goals.

Role Description

Brand and Consumer Public Relations Strategy:

• Lead the development and execution of brand and consumer PR strategy, ensuring it aligns with the overall business objectives and brand positioning.

• Oversee media relations efforts to generate earned coverage across top-tier publications, broadcast and digital media outlets, positioning the brand as a leader in luxury retail.

• Develop and manage the annual PR calendar, ensuring alignment with key brand initiatives, product launches and seasonal campaigns.

• Identify white space to illuminate the brand’s luxury authority, product and service offerings and generate earned storytelling opportunities on an ongoing basis, absent of new news, for the brand and its executives.

• Work strategically and collaboratively with cross-functional teams across events, marketing, partnerships, social media, merchandising and more, as well as external brand partners..

Celebrity & Talent Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key celebrities, influencers and tastemakers to enhance the brand’s visibility and influence in the luxury fashion and lifestyle space.

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of celebrity engagement initiatives, including when talent supports and/or is tied to exclusive events, product placements and high-visibility partnerships.

• Identify and support justification for new talent recommendations, that supports the brand’s goals, while also forecasting how talent can strengthen the brand’s short- and long-term goals.

• Work closely with talent to develop authentic, strategic collaborations that align with the brand, ensuring an impactful and organic presence across external channels.

• Oversee gifting and dressing opportunities to maximize brand exposure and press storytelling across target audiences.

• Manage annual budget and forecast monthly and quarterly spends for talent engagement, holding a sharp sensibility for risk mitigation and ROI.

High-Profile Public Relations Opportunities:

• Oversee brand's involvement in key events such as the Met Gala, fashion weeks, owned events and other luxury retail moments, ensuring the brand’s presence is strategically positioned, from inception to execution, and widely covered in media.

• Develop and execute event-specific PR strategies to maximize brand exposure, executive positioning and media coverage during high-profile events.

• Manage the brand’s integrations and partnerships with celebrities, stylists and influencers to ensure the brand and coordinating details, such as key messaging, products or services,  are prominently featured in key media outlets, supported with the talent’s voice and amplified with the talent’s owned channels.

Team Management & Development:

• Lead, mentor and develop a PR team consisting of one Manager and one Coordinator, ensuring alignment with overall PR objectives and fostering a collaborative, results-driven team culture.

• Oversee day-to-day activities of the PR team, providing guidance and support for campaign execution, creation of written press materials, media outreach, ideation of creative storytelling and talent engagement.

• Establish clear performance goals, conduct regular reviews and support the professional growth of team members.

• Create processes that drive internal efficiency and result in greater success across PR team members’ work output.

• Encourage the PR team to stay up-to-date on industry trends, emerging media professionals and the wider landscape, both in retail and PR.

Media Relations & Press Coverage:

• Build and maintain strong, trustworthy relationships with key media outlets, producers, broadcast hosts and editors to secure consistent and impactful coverage of the brand in top-tier press, including but not limited to fashion, consumer, trade, lifestyle and luxury publications.

• Develop and manage press releases, Q&As, executive briefing materials, media kits and other communications materials to ensure high-quality, consistent and compelling messaging across all media touchpoints.

• Generate storytelling opportunities that elevate the brand’s image across traditional and emerging media.

• Support executive readiness for all media opportunities and engagements.

• Respond to media inquiries and manage crisis communications, ensuring the brand’s messaging remains consistent, positive and aligned with company values.

• Track and report on earned media performance, providing learnings, insights and recommendations for improvement.

Strategic PR Campaigns:

• Develop and execute innovative PR campaigns that resonate with the brand's target audience and elevate the brand’s image across multiple platforms, including traditional and digital media.

• Leverage creative storytelling and media partnerships to showcase brand initiatives, luxury products, and unique selling points.

• Track and report on campaign performance, providing insights and recommendations for improvement to senior leadership.

Event Coordination & Execution:

• Coordinate with the internal events team on strategic planning and execution of brand activations and media events, ensuring the brand is consistently presented in a premium light and the format, venue and integration elements allow for extended storytelling angles.

• Lead strategy and execution, with support from the internal events team and production agencies, for press-only engagements, such as exclusive or under embargo press previews of products and services.

• Collaborate with internal teams and external agencies to cultivate high-quality events that generate buzz and positive press.

• Create and manage VIP guest lists and media relations for events, ensuring the attendance of notable talent, top-tier media and key photographers, with strategic planning and execution for press coverage pre-, during and post-event. 

Required Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing or a related field.

• 10+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, or a related field, with a strong focus on luxury retail or fashion.

• Proven experience managing high-profile events, media relations, results-driven storytelling and celebrity partnerships, particularly with luxury brands.

• Strong network of relationships with top-tier media, media professionals, influencers, celebrities, talent agencies and stylists in the fashion and lifestyle space.

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft compelling stories and presentations.

• Proven record of influential writing tied to goals/KPIs across press materials, including but not limited to authored articles, press releases, executive briefing materials, speeches/talking points, media alerts and reactive Q&As.

• Creative and analytical thinking to develop new, influential and interesting PR strategies and bespoke tactics to further drive a brand’s goals.

• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with senior team members, as well as manage and motivate a team to ideate and deliver high-impact PR results.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities with a passion for fashion, luxury retail and the evolving PR and media landscape.

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets and deadlines.

• A deep understanding of traditional media, emerging media and social media platforms and trends, with experience leveraging both editors and talent within the channels to enhance and bolster brand goals.

Your Life and Career at Saks Global: 

• Exposure to rewarding career advancement opportunities

• A culture that promotes a healthy, fulfilling work/life balance 

• Benefits package for all eligible full-time employees (including medical, vision and dental). 

• An amazing employee discount 

Thank you for your interest in Saks Global. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Saks Global provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Saks Global complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Saks Global welcomes all applicants for this position. Should you be individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Saks.com is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

*The above expected salary range may have some variability based upon factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s overall experience, qualifications, and geographic location. If you are interested in the role, we encourage you to apply and, if selected to move forward in the interview process, you will have a chance to speak with our recruitment team regarding your specific salary expectations.