Vice President, Media Relations

The Vice President of Media Relations will lead Signet’s media relations strategy and is responsible for all areas of public relations. This position is responsible for promoting and protecting Signet US and, when appropriate, Signet UK. These include crisis management issues; international and U.S. trade relations, investor relations (when required), consumer, employee and media relations, and consumer and internal communications plans, with the objective of protecting the company’s image and brand equity. This candidate will also lead the company’s consumer PR efforts to amplify the banner brands to support ongoing corporate communications activities and goals.

The successful candidate will serve as a liaison with stakeholders. S/He will develop and educate on communications standards and principles for both corporate and brand public relations. In addition to proactive media relations, s/he will write and manage all crisis communications and issues management, with the SVP Chief Communications Officer and the Signet senior leadership team. The successful candidate will have extensive experience and relationships with the media, as well and preparing media prep documents and media training executives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the Company’s media relations strategy and serve as principal company spokesperson. Champions strategic communications and promotional campaign ideas through various types of media.
• Leads Signet’s media relations and is accountable for consistently delivering high-quality results that maintain and expand Signet’s media presence, reputation, products, relevance, and core values.
• Spearheads creation and integration of the company’s i messages and facilitates consistency of messaging on various aspects of the business including but not limited to operations and financial strategy.
• Continuously innovates the media relations program, including use of online, social media, new media and emerging platforms and techniques.
• Implements best practices. Creates and maintains appropriate policies, procedures, and assets to ensure an effective media relations program.
• Collaborates with IR/Finance as it relates to telling our corporate story around earnings, etc.
• Enforce, maintain and update as necessary media policies and procedures.
• Protects and enhances the reputation of Signet in the media. Manages all proactive and reactive media relations, including crisis management.
• Builds a robust “newsroom” on our corporate website and update our digital media assets available to the press, including our media kits, etc.
• Establish processes and procedures that will enable “early warning” of potential issues that could impact the business, or the reputation of the company and its brands and establishes strategies to mitigate reputational damage.
• Actively monitor both existing and emerging issues that could impact the brand and proactively ensures Signet’s communicates positions on various issues to media and other constituencies.
• Contribute to the development of strategies for addressing each issue; and implement a consistent and repeatable approach for managing media events.
• Coaches top management on effective communication strategies.
• Develops and maintains media and vendor relationships.
• Measures success and opportunities for ongoing improvement in ROI with regard to media relations.
• Demonstrates measurable results through metrics/reporting on internal and external communication initiatives.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum 15+ years of experience in a communications/public relations related field.
• Minimum 10+ years management/leadership experience.
• Minimum 5+ years working as a trusted advisor with C-level, corporate executives.
• Experience with national & consumer trade media.
• Experience managing external public relations agencies and resources. National experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in managing crisis communications.
• Development of a pro-active, “surround-sound” media relations strategy (using digital, social, and traditional mediums) that drives positive coverage about the corporate brand, products, and the company’s commitment to operating responsibly.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to balance own point of view with that of others.
• Able to quickly build credibility and influence audience.
• Polished and confident demeanor with the aptitude to conduct media interviews. Excellent representative of company and brand ambassador.

Employee Contract Type