PR & Communications Manager (Remote US)

Directive; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

Birthday off

Job summary

Directive is a leading B2B marketing agency seeking a PR & Communications Manager to lead day‑to‑day PR delivery across earned media, media relations, press releases, and executive positioning. You will support influencer programs and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to raise the quality bar across the practice.

The role requires 4–7 years in PR, agency experience, and a proven track record of earned coverage.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of experience in PR and communications.
• Agency experience required; B2B or B2B tech experience preferred.
• Proven track record of earning meaningful media coverage.
• Strong media relationships and ability to build new ones quickly.
• Hands-on experience with executive thought leadership programs: bylines, podcasts, speaking, contributed content.
• Ability to translate complex B2B narratives into sharp, compelling pitches.
• Willingness to travel to visit clients as needed.
• Continuously strengthen PR expertise through independent learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day PR delivery across earned media, media relations, press releases, and thought leadership.
• Support influencer and organic social programs in coordination with teams.
• Develop, refine, and present strategic communications plans aligned with client objectives.
• Execute integrated PR strategies for B2B clients across earned and owned channels.
• Build and maintain strong media relationships across trade, business, and tech press.
• Craft compelling narratives and pitches for meaningful coverage.
• Assist in executive positioning programs including media training and bylined content.
• Contribute to analyst relations and influencer partnerships as needed.
• Contribute to organic social strategy and content as an extension of programs.
• Track trends with media/social monitoring tools and report on KPIs.
• Collaborate with other Directive service lines to connect programs to client strategy.
• Contribute ideas for new business proposals and client presentations.

Skills

PR & Communications

Agency experience

Media relations

Executive thought leadership

B2B/tech communications

Storytelling & pitches

AI-assisted research

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in public relations or communications

Job description

PR & Communications Manager

Are you a sharp PR practitioner with a nose for a great B2B story and a track record of landing coverage that actually matters? Do you thrive in a fast-paced agency environment where the best idea wins and real results are the metrics that count? Then you may be the PR & Communications Manager we've been looking for.

Directive is the leading marketing agency for B2B. We’re the go-to partner for enterprise brands tackling complex marketing challenges. Our Communications division is growing, and we’re looking for a strong PR practitioner to do exceptional client work and grow with us.

The Role

The PR & Communications Manager is a hands‑on executor and emerging strategist who brings deep PR expertise to a portfolio of B2B client accounts. You’ll lead day‑to‑day PR delivery — earned media, media relations, press releases, executive positioning, and thought leadership — while supporting our unique influencer and organic social programs. You’ll work closely with the Head of PR & Communications and play a key role in raising the quality bar across the practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, refine, and present strategic communications plans aligned with business objectives
• Execute integrated PR strategies for B2B clients across earned and owned channels, from media outreach and press releases to bylines, analyst briefings, and award submissions
• Build and maintain strong media relationships across trade, business, and tech press relevant to our clients' ICPs
• Craft compelling narratives and pitches that earn meaningful coverage in the publications that matter to B2B buyers
• Support executive positioning programs including media training, thought leadership content, podcast placements, speaking opportunities, and bylined articles
• Assist in influencer and practitioner briefing programs, including analyst relations and ICP‑aligned creator partnerships
• Contribute to organic social strategy and content as an extension of integrated communications programs, where relevant
• Utilize media and social monitoring tools to track trends, identify emerging issues, and uncover opportunities.
• Track, measure, and report on program performance against defined KPIs, tying PR activity to real business outcomes like share of voice and pipeline influence
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with other Directive service lines to ensure communications programs connect to broader client strategy
• Contribute to new business proposals and client presentations as a subject matter expert

What You Offer / Qualifications

• 4–7 years of experience in PR and communications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a flair for creativity
• Agency experience required; B2B or B2B tech experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated track record of earning meaningful media coverage
• Strong media relationships and the ability to build new ones quickly
• Hands‑on experience with executive thought leadership programs: bylines, podcasts, speaking, contributed content
• Ability to translate complex B2B narratives into sharp, compelling pitches and stories
• On the pulse of industry news and trends across media and social media
• Comfort using AI tools to sharpen research, targeting, and workflows
• Willingness to travel to visit clients on an as‑needed basis
• Continuously strengthen PR expertise through proactive independent learning
• Bachelor's degree in public relations or communications preferred

What Success Looks Like

• You embody our core values in every client and team interaction
• You act quickly on media opportunities and breaking news opportunities
• You consistently earn quality coverage and build media relationships that compound over time
• Your clients renew because they trust you and see real results from communications investment
• You contribute ideas and executional lift that make the whole practice better
• You hit and exceed client goal attainment metrics and contribute to healthy client satisfaction scores

What We Offer

• Compensation for this role includes a competitive base salary
• Medical, dental, vision plans, disability, and life insurance coverage for you and your family that fit your lifestyle
  • Including a 100% employer‑paid plan for you and a 50% employer contribution for your dependents (US, CAD, MX)
• Benefits to Support the Whole Person:
  • Mental - Access to certified therapists through Spring Health, membership to Headspace
  • Physical - Physical therapy through Omada, thousands of Aaptiv virtual workouts, complimentary One Medical membership for primary and virtual care
  • Time Off - Unlimited PTO (2-week minimum), Paid Company Holidays, Your Birthday Off, End of Year Recharge (Closed December 24 - January 1), Paid Parental Leave
  • Financial - Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 3% company match
  • Bonus - Annual bonus based on tenure, which scales in total amount over time
  • Annual Company-wide Retreat

Work Environment Requirements

As a remote‑first company, you’ll have the ability to work from your home office. For some positions, as posted, we will accommodate global opportunities where we have established businesses, including Canada, Mexico, and the UK. For global locations, you must have established and current work authorization and permanently reside in that country.

This role has the opportunity to operate 100% virtually from your home office. We primarily collaborate with our colleagues through virtual meetings (Zoom), and Slack. In this role, you will be required to operate a laptop computer (PC or Mac available), computer software platforms, and other office productivity tools as necessary. Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to remain stationary for extended periods, must be able to observe and interpret written and or verbal communication, must have reliable internet access, and a professional background.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

If you require reasonable accommodations in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail].

Additional Information

At Directive, one of our core values is People First. We’re committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture in the digital landscape. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.