Account Director, Consumer Public Relations – Spirits (Blue Engine)

ICR; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Engine, the spirits-focused public relations arm under ICR, seeks an Account Director to lead consumer lifestyle campaigns with senior-level collaboration. The role involves managing multiple accounts, guiding strategic planning, and delivering integrated communications across media, events and influencer partnerships.

The candidate should have 6–8+ years in agency or consumer PR, with expertise in spirits brands, proven client leadership, and strong writing and pitching skills to drive

Qualifications

• 6–8+ years of relevant agency or consumer PR experience.
• Experience working with spirits or alcoholic beverage brands.
• Ability to manage clients and accounts, budgets and junior staff.
• Strong writing skills and ability to develop compelling pitches.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple accounts and serve as primary client counselor and project manager.
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans for spirits, hospitality and lifestyle clients.
• Drive media relations, pitch high-impact outlets and secure placements.
• Mentor junior staff and oversee materials, reporting and feedback.
• Collaborate with partner agencies within IAT structure to align campaigns.

Skills

Media relations

Client management

Pitching

Editorial placements

Education

BS/BA in PR or related field

Job description

Account Director, Consumer Public Relations – Spirits (Blue Engine)

Job Location: New York, NY

Job Requirements:

Blue Engine (http://www.theblueengine.com), an award-winning creative communications agency, is seeking a pop culture-obsessed account director to join its growing consumer lifestyle public relations practice.

The creative communications arm of ICR (named the “fastest growing public relations firm” by O’Dwyers), Blue Engine embodies a fresh and energetic approach to brand strategy and storytelling. The agency offers a comprehensive suite of services across the consumer lifestyle space, including public relations, strategic partnerships, events + experiences, influencer + digital marketing, social media and more.

This highly-motivated account director will work closely with senior level managers to provide superior consumer media relations, campaign and event support for an exciting range of public and private clients in the spirits, hospitality and lifestyle categories, among others.

This individual will be responsible for leading multiple accounts, serving as a primary client counselor and project manager, ensuring the trains stay on the track (and on time), while also having a hand in developing and executing outside-the-box, integrated communications plans that exceed client expectations and command results. And, of course, have fun along the way.

The ideal candidate is an established account manager with expertise in strategic planning and project management, campaign and event execution, overseeing media material development and creating and delivering presentations with panache. A penchant for pop culture, savviness for societal happenings and an uncanny ability to forecast and foresee all-things famously trending, the leading candidate(s) also be passionate about media and influencer relations and excel in a team environment where management and junior staff work hand-in-hand to achieve outstanding results.

Responsibilities:

• Play an active role in the research, planning and development of original, creative and often record-breaking strategic consumer lifestyle communications programs.
• Serve as a primary, day-to-day client contact and provide strong counsel on tactical matters, often anticipating client needs to ensure all accounts are on-target with each clients’ respective business objectives.
• Project manage multiple campaigns with and on behalf of high-profile client(s), ensuring seamless integration internally and solid execution from start to finish.
• Work “across the aisle” with other partner agencies within an IAT structure.
• Drive execution of communication strategy, including aggressive pitching of consumer, lifestyle and industry media, securing high-impact placements on a regular basis.
• Maintain and continually develop strong relationships with consumer, lifestyle and industry (spirits, beverage, hospitality, etc.) media and influencers; exhibit solid team leadership, ensuring the team continues to drive results for clients.
• Manage and mentor junior staff on a regular basis; facilitate teamwork and learning opportunities, reviewing materials drafted by junior staffers, supervising media reporting and monitoring and regularly providing constructive feedback.
• Develop client content, including press releases, media pitches and select digital content.
• Understand the client’s overall business objectives and develop strategies in order to effectively promote specific campaigns, events and other brand building programs.
• Maintain active involvement with new business efforts, including playing an active role in pitches and the drafting of pitch and proposal materials.

Qualifications:

• 6 – 8+ years of relevant agency or consumer PR experience, showing proven editorial placements in and knowledge of lifestyle media. Large agency experience preferred, but not required.
• Experience working with spirits or alcoholic beverage brands required.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively manage clients and accounts, including managing junior staff, client issues, budgets, etc.
• Ability to take initiative and proactively pitch and anticipate client needs.
• Ability to synthesize information, set and execute strategic and tactical objectives, leading a team to project management success.
• Strong media relations experience, understanding the importance of developing relationships with key consumer and lifestyle media and influencers and regularly securing top-tier placements for clients.
• Strong writing skills and experience developing compelling pitches.
• Critical and structured thinker with stellar analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills; able to work quickly under pressure, handling and prioritizing multiple assignments.
• A “yes, and …” attitude.
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-up.
• General consumer background experience, knowledge of the lifestyle, travel, restaurants and/or retails industries preferred (but not required).
• In-process fluency in AEO, GEO and LLM-centered public relations and earned media tactics, direction and measurement/tracking helpful (but not required).
• B.S/B.A required; concentration in public relations, marketing, journalism, communications or related field preferred.

About Blue Engine

Blue Engine℠ is a creative communications agency that taps every resource at its disposal to drive your brand forward. Even if it means making the impossible possible. Founded in 2023 through a merger between premier marketing communications agency Bullfrog + Baum and the award-winning consumer public relations practice at ICR, Blue Engine offers a fresh and energetic approach to brand strategy and storytelling with a comprehensive suite of services across the consumer lifestyle space. Follow the journey on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and theblueengine.com.