Media Relations & PR Specialist

Kinship; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Vision & Dental Coverage

Half‑Day Fridays

Generous Paid Time Off

Company‑Paid Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

Kinship is seeking a proactive Public Relations Specialist to drive hospitality partnerships and create compelling media narratives. You will develop PR strategies, manage partner accounts, and coordinate media opportunities across local, regional, and national outlets.

You will craft messaging, briefs, and pitches, while building strong media relationships and monitoring coverage. Remote role with travel up to 10%, Chicago preference, and a focus on storytelling that elevates partner brands.

Qualifications

• Experience building and managing PR campaigns for hospitality or lifestyle brands.
• Ability to draft messaging, talking points, and press materials.
• Experience with media outreach and journalist relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead a minimum of two partner accounts.
• Attend partner events and liaise with media.
• Create annual creative marketing plans for each partner.
• Develop and maintain press kits, media lists, and story ideas.
• Coordinate media shoots, segments, and briefings for partners.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Partnership management

Strategic planning

Storytelling

Job description

LOCATION: Remote with up to 10% travel; Chicago preferred

Are you obsessed with great food, buzzing dining rooms, and the stories behind every plate? We are looking for an energetic and strategic Public Relations Specialist who lives and breathes the hospitality industry.

PARTNER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute monthly detail report
• Execute maintenance of all trackers monthly
• Execute maintenance and updating of target lists monthly
• Execute incremental updates to all Partner weekly
• Serve partners impeccably and look for opportunities to connect and maintain their brand.
• Attend and participate in partner meetings.
• Attend partner events, broadcast segments, programs, etc. as needed and liaise with media.
• Attend events to support partner relationships, as necessary.
• Update and present partner marketing briefs.
• Lead a minimum of two partner accounts.
• Share the editorial lead time calendar with each partner, which includes deadlines for all holiday and seasonal roundups.
• Participate in new business campaigns and present at new business meetings, as necessary.
• Lead strategy, goals, and result conversations with cross-disciplinary leaders and team members on partnership plans

STRATEGY

• Build annual creative marketing plans for each partner that include marketing ideas for programming, packages, events, and charitable giving opportunities.
• Create a comprehensive and thoughtful public relations strategy for partners to maximize exposure.
• Ideate and source partnerships for programs, packages, events, and charitable giving
• Draft story, messaging, and talking points
• Qualify media interest in story development
• Identify, maintain, and curate database of top-tier local, regional, and national media contacts.
• Oversee creation of press kit and multimedia library
• Create custom new media vehicles for better storytelling
• Monitor and respond to media successes
• Establish and maintain media relationships with local, regional, and national journalists and broadcast producers
• Coordinate media shoots and segments.
• Promote learning, influence choices and foster connections vis‑à‑vis media relations.
• Conceptualize and execute public relations events, including briefings, events, functions, stays, drops, media familiarization trips, and itineraries.
• Conduct proactive media outreach via print, online, broadcast, radio media, and non‑traditional opportunities.
• Conduct outreach to key groups and audiences (e.g. concierge, residential) to achieve partner goals.
• Stay on top of city‑wide events and happenings and communicate opportunities for participation.
• Send annual community calendar and update quarterly
• Establish and/or maintain memberships on behalf of Partners (e.g. CVBs, Member‑based Neighborhood + Business Organizations)
• Entertain media regularly
• Assist with media training, where necessary
• Work with the team to compile editorial calendars into a universal document that is broken down by publication and each month; include key pitch themes and lead time.
• Media Roundups - Compile seasonal, holiday, and travel‑focused roundups and distribute two per month
• Measure and report
• Monetize the discipline on behalf of a business's bottom line, wherever possible.

OVERALL

• Engross yourself in culture, food, and travel, becoming an expert in its personalities, products, and processes.
• Cultivate career path and actively seek professional development opportunities alongside the company.
• Tell us what we do not know with regular candor.
• Brainstorm and innovate to improve company, job, and partners.
• Interface with team members in other disciplines for strong coordination of integrated marketing campaigns
• Develop a keen understanding of measurement and reporting
• Engross yourself in culture, food, and travel, becoming an expert in its personalities, products, and processes
• Achieve goals and KPIs associated with job responsibilities.
• Maintain a nuanced understanding of media relations and the latest tools and applications.
• Keep up‑to‑date on current trends within the represented industries of the agency.
• Maintain an understanding of each partner’s visual brand and tone, and be able to create authentic stories that drive engagement and ultimately revenue for our partners.
• Find opportunities to help evolve and share Kinship’s own story in our practices, communications vehicles, relationships, marketing materials, reports, and plans as well as live and online presences.
• Similarly, work with colleagues to ensure resonant storytelling practices across marketing disciplines.
• Develop a keen understanding of measurement and reporting tools.
• Interface with team members in other disciplines for strong coordination of integrated marketing campaigns.
• Lead partner accounts.
• Lead projects or functions assigned by the Leader for the overall team.
• An unshakeable passion for culture, food, and travel
• Desire to outdo oneself, above all others
• Empathy and optimism
• Easily obsessed with our partners
• Impeccable with one’s word
• Creativity and comfort with new business development
• Self‑awareness and relentless curiosity

BENEFITS AND PERKS

• Health
• Vision & Dental Coverage
• Half‑Day Fridays
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Company‑Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Physical Demands & Travel (ADA)

This is a sedentary role that primarily involves sitting and typing/using a computer for extended periods. Occasional travel to partner sites is required as needed.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EOE STATEMENT

Kinship provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.