Director, Influencer

Derris is a brand consultancy headquartered in New York City and London. We approach our work methodically, telling stories with universal impact through strategy, positioning, content and communications. We challenge conventional thinking and seek to work with people who have an open mind for new ideas. We have a dual-pronged approach: first we help clients shape their message and then we help them communicate that story through media, only working with people, companies and causes we believe in.

ABOUT DERRIS

Derris is here to help build great brands. From lifestyle and fashion, to food, health & wellness, home & hospitality, technology, non-profit, finance, real estate, sports and more — we work with both new and established companies to develop narratives that stand out in cluttered industries.  We create unique messaging and execute strategic media relations programs that blend traditionally separate practice areas to offer clients a holistic approach to both consumer and business storytelling. 

In 2022 we joined Orchestra, a strategic communications and marketing company built for today's complex and fragmented world. As part of Orchestra, we can offer services from strategic insights to public affairs—and expertise across philanthropy, travel, politics, and more. Our partner agencies include BerlinRosen, Civitas, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for communications professionals.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

We're seeking a Director, Influencer to lead innovative campaigns that connect brands with culture across sports, fashion, wellness, entertainment, and more. You'll oversee everything from influencer casting and negotiation to campaign strategy and reporting, ensuring authentic partnerships that drive measurable impact. In this role, you'll collaborate with PR and integrated teams to shape storytelling that bridges online engagement with real-world action. You'll bring deep knowledge of platforms and trends to keep Derris ahead of the curve. If you're a strategic, creative leader who thrives on building relationships and delivering results, this role is for you.

Role location: This role is based in our New York, N.Y. office on a hybrid basis. Derris staff are in office 3 days per week, Tuesday through Thursday.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Ideate, build, and execute multi-faceted influencer campaigns (from one-off activations to long-term relationship-based programs) across industries from sports, entertainment to fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle and more
• Develop client-facing strategies and social media reports on campaign and influencer performance. Present results and optimize future campaigns based on insights
• Collaborate with PR and integrated teams to create influencer strategies aligned with brand messaging and campaign storytelling across channels
• Connect online and offline efforts, leveraging digital campaigns to drive real-world action. Strong understanding of the interplay between brand, media, and audience
• Oversee influencer casting, negotiation, contracting, and content management. Deliver top-tier client service through clear communication, data-driven recommendations, and proactive relationship management
• Stay ahead of emerging platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Discord, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.), technologies, influencers, and trends
• Foster positive relationships between clients, influencers, and consumers
• Build and maintain strong influencer partnerships to create authentic, engaging branded content. Manage outreach, budgets, and negotiations
• Support new business development by fielding calls, drafting scopes of work, and contributing to proposals
• Act as agency liaison with major social platforms, digital influencers, and partner agencies

Essential skills:

• 5-7 years of relevant experience in influencer marketing, social media and/or PR with a demonstrated track record of success
• Demonstrated ability to think through communication strategies and deliver tangible results
• Understanding of the current social / digital as well as activation landscape and the unique advocacy strategies across platforms
• Deep knowledge of emerging trends and talent, with a finger on the pulse of what is relevant in our culture and societies today
• Expertise in both organic and paid advocacy strategies
• Ability to be detail-oriented, manage multiple clients and meet deadlines while also keeping the bigger picture in mind
• Experience with daily management of junior level staff members as well as management up to senior executive
• Capable of working both independently and in a dynamic, high energy, team-oriented atmosphere, being a proactive problem-solver yet elevating concerns when you have them
• Comfortable working across industries with an ability to connect the dots between their similarities
• Desire to constantly innovate and test new things, not just follow a pre-established playbook

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $110,000 - $120,000, commensurate with experience, plus end of year bonuses based on firm, team, and individual performance.

Benefits & Perks

• Employer-sponsored Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Pre-tax Health Savings Account Savings Plan (HSA-SP) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401K with a 4% employer match and no vesting period
• Free lunch 1x per week
• Generous paid time off (PTO), inclusive of general PTO, 13 paid bank holidays and 2 days for volunteer work
• Summer Fridays
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Parental leave
• Monthly cell phone data reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Continuous skills training tailored to your role

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Orchestra is the first communications company built for today's media landscape. Since 2022, it's acquired nine firms, including: BerlinRosen, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for your communication professionals. Learn more at: 

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