Senior Publicist

About Zapwater 

Zapwater Communications seeks a Senior Publicist to join its collaborative, creative and innovative PR team.

Zapwater Communications is an award-winning integrated communications agency with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. The brands we serve center around the lifestyle categories of travel and hospitality, design and real estate, and consumer and beauty. Our teams are specialists in their fields – they know the platforms, the media, the influencers and the delivery needed to achieve heightened awareness and connect with customers.  

Our employees love working at Zapwater because of the people and our flexible office environment. Here are just a few of the benefits we offer:

• Annual Merit Increase – Based on prior year performance and an annual review provided by the first quarter of the subsequent year.
• Annual Performance Bonus – Potential bonus to be awarded based on the company's overall performance and the achievement of personal goals.
• New Client Commission – Commission of the client's monthly retainer for a maximum of one (1) year.
• Insurance – Zapwater offers health, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance. The benefit offerings and employee contribution to the above referenced plans are evaluated annually.
• Expenses – Cell phone paid for by Zapwater Communications.
• Schedule – Flexible.
• Competitive Vacation/Personal Time. In addition, the office is closed the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
• WFH – We offer all our employees 40 WFH days a year.
• Sick Time – Unlimited.
• Volunteer Program – Upon completion of one-year employment, you will be entitled to an additional week of vacation to be used volunteering for an organization of your choice.
• Professional Development – Zapwater encourages professional development and supports staff by covering the cost of membership to Professional Associations and continuing education.

Senior Publicist (three plus years of experience)

A Senior Publicist at Zapwater Communications will be expected to have competency and understanding of basic public relations skills including written and verbal communication, computer competency and research ability. They will be expected to write accurately, factually and concisely complying with the AP style. They should have the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, media and clients.  In addition, they should have the ability to cultivate relationships with media and apply experience and initiative in developing traditional and digital media relations strategies.

Responsibilities include:

• Begin to serve as the daily client contact on behalf of the account team
• Serve as point person for the scheduling of interviews and management of media relationships
• Begin to lead client meetings, events, photo shoots, desk side appointments and on-air television appearances
• Initiate and begin to oversee junior team members on public relations materials including news releases, media alerts, fact sheets, client meeting summaries, status reports and other materials
• Pitch stories to media
• Distribute news releases and other client materials
• Attend and arrange media and client events
• Develop relationships with media contacts
• Attend and begin to lead client meetings, training presentations and brainstorming sessions
• Provide regular feedback to account leads regarding campaigns, coverage and events
• Provide regular feedback to junior team members
• Assist in the development of account strategy
• Be aware of new business opportunities as well as support the business development and sales promotional work in an effort to secure new clients
• Join industry associations and attend industry networking events including PCC and PRSA
• Ad hoc administrative account support