Public Relations Manager - Seattle - Visit Seattle

Description

About Visit Seattle
Visit Seattle is a private, non-profit destination marketing organization (DMO) serving Seattle and King County. We exist to responsibly grow the visitor economy for the benefit of the community.
About the Role
The PR Manager plays a highly visible and strategic role in shaping and elevating the reputation of our destination. This position leads the development and execution of public relations strategies that drive awareness, inspire visitation, and strengthen the leisure market.
Working closely with internal teams, industry partners, and media, the PR Manager brings the destination's story to life - securing impactful coverage, guiding key communications initiatives, and ensuring our brand is consistently and compellingly represented to target audiences. This is an opportunity to influence how the destination is seen on a regional, national, and global stage.
The ideal candidate is a polished professional who can demonstrate excellent communication and relationship-building skills. Visit Seattle is looking for someone with a solid background in public relations and with an established industry network, who is passionate and knowledgeable about this region and of the travel industry. This position requires you to work with a diverse group of media ranging from all sectors of tourism and hospitality.
What You'll Do
PR Strategy Development:

• Develop and implement comprehensive PR strategies to promote the destination, including defining key messages, target audiences, and media outlets.
• Focus PR efforts to reflect the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, national, and Canadian based media outlets.
• Collaborates closely with Visit Seattle's Leadership Team and Marketing Team to write and distribute press releases and pitches. Generates and regularly updates all press kit materials.
• Conducts publicity efforts for consumer campaigns.
• Coordinate press trips and familiarization tours for journalists and travel writers.
• Pitch and secure media coverage for the destination through press releases, media tours, and interviews.
• Organize and coordinate press conferences, media events, and promotional activities to showcase the destination's attractions, events, and developments.
• Develop briefing sheets with talking points for spokespersons and be prepared to respond to negative publicity or emergencies, addressing media inquiries and managing the destination's reputation.
• Serves as organizational media spokesperson in conjunction with Senior Director of PR, Visit Seattle Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
• Proactively contacts and responds to reporters, editors and related media associates.
• Create engaging press releases, articles, blog posts, and other PR materials.
• Oversee the creation of multimedia content, including photos and videos, to support PR efforts.
• Ensure consistency in messaging across all communication channels.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Collaborate with local businesses, government agencies, and tourism partners to align PR efforts and enhance the destination's image collectively.
• Enhance meaningful relationships with community members and partner organizations.

Reporting and Analysis:

• Monitor media coverage and PR campaign performance. Provide regular reports and insights to evaluate the effectiveness of PR efforts and make necessary adjustments.
• Prepare various reports and presentations as necessary to ensure that the Board, staff, and partners are kept informed of pertinent issues in a timely manner.
• Champion Simpleview (CRM) for the PR team, providing support to the team to ensure media databases are consistently updated and tools available to PR are being used, including itinerary building, traces, articles and more.

Budget Management:

• Manage the PR budget, allocating resources effectively to achieve desired results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or a related field is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong media relations background, experience and orientation required.
• Must possess excellent writing ability across multiple disciplines and a wide range of topics.
• Thorough familiarity with AP Style.
• Agency experience preferred.
• Hospitality industry experience preferred.
• Familiarity with the Seattle area preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to foster relationships, multi-task, adapt without direction, handle unexpected events, solve problems and manage projects.
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude and professional demeanor.
• Detail oriented, capable of multi-tasking and handling high-stress situations.
• Strong media contacts and relationships.
• Crisis management experience is beneficial.
• Proficiency in using PR tools and software.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be able to travel as directed.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills to connect and build relationships with community members, media and business contacts.

What We Offer
Visit Seattle offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, along with a positive, purpose-driven workplace culture. Our culture is guided by our values of Inclusion, Impact, Commitment, and Excellence. We are passionate about championing our region as a world-class destination for travel and tourism and promoting the economic power of travel.
Our benefits are always evolving, though here's a peek into your perks:

• You'll have 15 days of Paid Time Off to start, with 12 paid office holidays and 1 Personal Holiday.
• You'll have 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage paid for by Visit Seattle. In addition, Visit Seattle will cover 75% of premium for family coverage.
• You'll receive an organization-paid ORCA card, and subsidized parking in the building's garage (restrictions apply).
• You'll be reimbursed for monthly cell phone expenses.
• You'll receive 401(k) with up to a 5% organization match.
• Base salary range: $80,000 to $85,000 plus an annual incentive. Compensation decisions are based on experience and scope of responsibility.

Our Commitment to Equity
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and deeply committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We believe that diversity makes us stronger, more innovative, and better equipped to serve our communities. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and identities.
We do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, gender, gender identity, or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, military service or veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status or military service.