Account Director, Luxury Communications

J/PR; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Commission opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Flexible work schedule

Hybrid office schedule

Job summary

J/PR in New York City is seeking an experienced Account Director for public relations focused on luxury travel and tourism. The role requires managing accounts independently, leading PR strategies, and ensuring client satisfaction while driving results.

The ideal candidate will have 7–8 years of experience in hospitality PR, creativity, strategic thinking, and strong leadership skills. J/PR offers a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• At least 7–8 years of public relations experience in hospitality.
• Creative thinker with track record of solving problems.
• High level of energy and a positive self-starter.

Responsibilities

• Manage accounts autonomously and drive strategies.
• Lead PR campaigns for luxury travel and tourism.
• Oversee scopes of work and client satisfaction.

Skills

Creative and strategic thinking

Time management

Leadership and coaching

Problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Education

College degree or comparable experience

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

J/PR is a global communications firm specializing in public relations, content creation, and social media. We work with leading hotels, resorts, restaurants, real‑estate projects, and destinations worldwide, helping brands tell compelling stories to reach their target audiences.

Role

Account Director, Public Relations – You manage accounts autonomously, drive overarching strategy, and ensure the team delivers results each quarter.

Duties & Responsibilities

Account + Client Management

• Develop and lead overarching account strategies aligned with clients’ business goals, ensuring programs deliver measurable ROI and target agreed‑upon KPIs, while acting as a trusted partner providing expert guidance and leading strategic conversations.
• Design and lead standout luxury travel and tourism PR campaigns (e.g., crises, renovations, hotel openings) as well as activations, partnerships, and programming with strategic oversight and clear client communication while driving meaningful results and long‑term brand impact.
• Demonstrate positive leadership with both clients and internal teams by providing strategic insight, industry knowledge, and clear direction.
• Oversee scopes of work and guide teams to deliver impactful work aligned with clients’ revenue and business objectives.
• Monitor team activity, budgets, and account performance to ensure work remains within scope and maintains high client satisfaction.
• Identify opportunities for additional projects or expanded scopes within destination PR that deliver value to the client while growing the account.
• Review performance metrics and time tracking reports and adjust strategy, resourcing, or priorities as needed.
• Lead conversations around contract renewals and proactively address evolving client needs or scope changes.
• Step in across initiatives—large or small—to support client success and reinforce a strong partnership and servant leadership for account teams.
• Nurture client accounts using proven strategies to drive year‑over‑year renewals while maintaining client attrition below 12% annually.
• Attend client networking and industry events, which may occasionally be outside daytime working hours.
• Travel for clients as necessary.

Media Relations

• Nurture your network of editor, writer, and freelance connections for agency clients, create new relationships through introductions, targeted pitches, and a minimum of two (2) meetings (phone, virtual, or in‑person) each month, while landing top‑tier placements.
• Lead team members to achieve media hits and hit campaign goals.
• Create and contribute big‑thinking pitches that land in larger‑scale features, multi‑page spreads in magazines, and unexpected sections within destination PR.
• Guide teams to the right media to execute KPI story ideas.
• Remain relevant and navigate the changing turns of the media industry.

New Business

• Lead or support the creation of new business decks and case study development.
• Travel to participate in new business pitches as needed, which may include overnight and weekend travel.
• Build and maintain an industry network that generates new business leads, sourcing 1–3 commissionable opportunities annually.
• Provide thought leadership and ideation for new business proposals.
• Attend new business meetings and presentations as the voice and face of account leadership.
• Develop a specialty area at the agency (e.g., regional specialty, meetings/groups, wellness, extreme luxury, culinary, family) and be the agency go‑to tastemaker, positioning our brand in the space.
• Attend conferences and events on behalf of J/PR and build and grow your and the agency’s network.

Team Leadership

• Lead the team, give expert counsel and ensure everyone’s set up for success, serving as a visible and trusted leader within the office, contributing to a positive and collaborative agency culture.
• Lead at least two (2) trainings annually for team members, whether agency wide or office wide.
• Deliver 2–3 internal presentations, training moments or case studies per year to share insights, best practices, and client wins, supporting the agency, teams, and new business efforts.
• Manage up to four (4) direct reports, providing leadership, guidance, feedback, and coaching, and recommend staff promotions.
• Attend workshops, media events, webinars, and conferences on behalf of the agency and its clients, which may include weekend travel.
• Mentor and guide team members as they grow in their careers, providing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Foster a motivated, engaged, and positive team environment that supports strong performance and collaboration.
• Support team retention by creating opportunities for professional growth, skill development, and advancement.

Industry Impact

• Contribute to agency growth through participation in account staffing and resourcing conversations.
• Develop and implement efficient processes, training, and systems that strengthen team performance, leading at least two educational workshops annually to support internal learning and development.
• Lead agency initiatives, workshops, and trainings, and help cultivate meaningful media and industry relationships.
• Champion and promote the J/PR culture across teams and within the broader industry.
• Stay informed on industry trends within luxury tourism and travel PR while continuously expanding expertise in hospitality, media, and client business sectors.
• Represent the agency at conferences, workshops, and industry events.

Other

• Additional tasks, projects, or duties as required.

Experience

• College degree or comparable experience required.
• At least 7–8 years of public relations experience in hospitality, working with top luxury clients.
• Agency or in‑house experience is a plus.
• Background and passion for destination, travel, and tourism public relations.

Requirements

• Creative and strategic thinker with a proven track record of identifying and resolving problems in a timely manner.
• Ability to act tactically while keeping long‑term objectives in mind.
• Skilled at managing time‑sensitive projects, prioritizing multiple objectives, and driving initiatives to completion with minimal guidance.
• Attention to detail and ability to work independently in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and management skills.
• High‑energy, positive self‑starter willing to go above and beyond to make a difference.
• Stellar client references and proven ability to maintain and grow client relationships.
• Strong, established relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts.
• Ability to travel for client needs as required, must have a valid passport for international travel.
• Advanced proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office in a Mac OS environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary: $100,000 – $120,000, commensurate with experience.
• Commission opportunities.
• Eligibility for year‑end discretionary bonus.
• Monthly cell phone stipend.
• Company‑sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Accrued PTO.
• Birthday PTO.
• Flexible release Fridays.
• Hotel trade with our world‑class clients (complimentary stays across our entire portfolio).
• Hybrid office schedule (2–3 days in office), Fridays remote.
• Corporate ClassPass discounts.
• Pet insurance discounts.
• Milestone gifts at 1, 5, and 10 years.
• Annual holiday and summer parties, plus regular socials.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

Applicants for employment must possess work authorization for the country in which they are applying, which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.

Equal Employment Opportunity

J Public Relations (J/PR) and 20Two Studio (Studio) strongly support equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Hiring Practices

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. J/PR and Studio recruitment policies are designed to place the most highly qualified persons available in a timely and efficient manner. They may pursue promotion from within, employee referrals, outside advertising, employment agencies, internet recruiting, job fairs, college recruiting, and search firms.