Vice President, Earned Media

MSL (Global); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 121,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental

Vision

401k

Paid time off

Job summary

MSL in Chicago is seeking a Vice President, Media for its Consumer Brands practice. You will lead media strategy development and guide media relations across all Consumer Brands accounts, shaping narratives and driving reach.

You will identify nontraditional outlets, stay ahead of trends, and build strong journalist and influencer relationships while mentoring teams to produce social-first, culture-driven campaigns.

Qualifications

• The BA/BS degree in Public Relations, Communications or a related discipline is required.
• 8-10+ years of earned media and communications experience in a consumer-focused agency with a proven track record.
• Deep understanding of the evolving media and influencer landscape across journalists, editors, influencers, newsletters and podcasts.

Responsibilities

• Lead media strategy development and pitching media for Consumer Brands accounts.
• Develop modern social-first communications strategies incorporating AI search and discovery behaviors.
• Identify emerging conversations and platform dynamics to create opportunities for brands.
• Champion social-first earned thinking and craft stories designed to travel across media and platforms.
• Elevate creativity from strategy to activation and drive conversation.
• Develop talent and inspire teams to think bigger and test new approaches.

Skills

Media strategy

Storytelling

Culture analysis

Social-first campaigns

AI in media

Relationship building

Editorial relationships

Written communications

Education

BA/BS in Public Relations or Communications

Tools

Cision

Muck Rack

AI-enabled research tools

Job description

Company Description

At MSL, we’re on a mission to make every client more influential and a positive force of influence in the(ir) world. Why? Because we know that influence = impact and the more influential you are, the more impactful you can be. We’re proud to partner with incredible brands, companies and leaders who want to push boundaries and create change – and we’re looking for passionate creators and storytellers who want to do the same. But it’s not just our work (and the awards we win for it) that energizes us, it’s who we are as a team. A team of powerhouse professionals that is driven by three core values: Leading, Learning and Loving. A team that has ranked us a “Best Place to Work” in the industry year over year.

Overview

What we’re looking for

A Vice President, Media for MSL’s Consumer Brands practice in Chicago

What you bring to the table

As an integral member of the team, you will be responsible for leading media strategy development, as well as media relations work across all Consumer Brands accounts. We are looking for an ambitious and results‑driven leader with significant experience in creative storytelling that can help teams pinpoint the narrative needed for media. With a deep understanding of the evolving media landscape, you will identify new and nontraditional outlets that align with shifting audience behaviors and influence patterns. You live and breathe culture. Your TikTok FYP is basically a focus group, you know what's trending before your group text does, and you have a point of view on why it matters for brands. You’re also a strong combination of collaborative spirit, innovative thinking, and have a passion for current trends.

What you’ll do

Turn culture into conversation for brands, creating social‑first ideas that get people talking, sharing, searching and acting.

Responsibilities

• Support Consumer Brands accounts by leading media strategy development, pitching media and securing coverage for our clients
• Lead the development of modern social‑first communications strategies that incorporate AI search, LLM visibility and emerging discovery behaviors alongside earned, social and influencer approaches
• Bring a relentless focus on culture, identifying emerging conversations, platform behaviors, influencers and consumer shifts that can create opportunities for brands to earn attention and get people talking
• Champion social‑first earned thinking, developing stories and ideas designed to travel across media, social platforms, influencer and communities
• Elevate creativity from strategy through activation, pushing beyond traditional media relations to develop ideas that break through and drive conversation
• Develop talent and inspire teams to think bigger, challenge convention, test new approaches and continually raise the bar for modern earned media
• Build and deepen relationships across today’s media ecosystem — from journalists and editors to creators, newsletters, podcasts and emerging voices — while helping junior team members develop the relationships and instincts that drive earned influence.
• Stay on top of news, culture and emerging conversations to identify opportunities, inform client counsel and help brands show up with relevance and agility.
• Help shape and share modern earned media best practices, tools and emerging approaches that keep teams ahead of how influence and discovery are evolving.

Qualifications

• BA/BS Degree in Public Relations, Communications or a related discipline
• 8-10+ years of experience in earned media and communications within a consumer-focused agency environment, with a proven track record of creating stories and strategies that earn attention and get brands talked about
• Deep understanding of the evolving media and influencer landscape, spanning journalists and editors, influencers, newsletters, podcasts, social platforms and emerging voices
• Equal parts strategist, culture junkie, and storyteller with a pulse on what’s happening in culture; shares a passion for bringing forward-looking ideas that get people to talk, share and search
• Strong understanding of social‑first earned, including how stories move across media, influencers, platforms and communities – and how ideas can be designed to travel across the PESO ecosystem.
• Strong relationships with editors and emerging platform voices
• Understanding of AI‑powered search, LLMs and evolving discovery behaviors, and how earned media can influence brand visibility and relevance
• Strong understanding of modern earned measurement, with the ability to connect media and social performance to conversation, influence, discovery and business impact — moving beyond traditional reach and impressions to demonstrate what earned is actually driving
• Excellent writing skills are essential to this position, as well as great attention to detail, organization, time management, multi-tasking and proactivity
• Strong verbal communication skills, poise and professionalism
• Knowledge of modern media intelligence tools such as Cision, Muck Rack, etc., as well as AI‑enabled research tools

Additional Information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: USD $121,315.00 - USD $174,300.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 9/14/2026.