Senior Vice President, Earned Media Strategy

Senior Vice President, Earned Media Strategy Role (Sports): 

Come join the Brand team in our New York office. If you love brand marketing and have a passion for building campaigns for globally known brands, this is the role for you!

We are seeking:

An experienced and dynamic Senior Vice President (SVP) of Earned Media to lead our earned media efforts for high-profile sports and lifestyle brands. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned media strategist and storyteller with a deep understanding of the sports industry, cultural trends, and the ability to connect brands authentically with their audiences. This individual will oversee a high-performing media team, drive innovative strategies, and act as a trusted partner to both clients and agency leadership.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Media Expertise:
• Serve as the subject matter expert in earned media with a specific focus on sports, lifestyle, and entertainment brands.
• Develop and lead breakthrough earned media strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and align with client goals.
• Build narratives that connect brand priorities to cultural moments, sports events, and fan passion points.
• Be the senior media counsel for clients, addressing challenges, seizing opportunities, and guiding strategic decisions.
2. Client Management & Growth:
• Build and nurture strong client relationships while serving as a strategic advisor and collaborator.
• Identify and deliver proactive media storytelling opportunities to drive client success and unlock account growth.
• Represent earned media expertise in client presentations, vision decks, and strategy sessions with an engaging and persuasive presentation style.
3. Team Leadership & Collaboration:
• Oversee and mentor a team of earned media professionals across pillars, ensuring high standards of performance and collaboration.
• Partner with integrated agency colleagues, cross-office teams, and senior leadership to deliver exceptional results for clients.
• Foster a positive, solutions-oriented team culture that balances a rigorous work ethic with creativity and fun.
4. Executional Excellence:
• Craft comprehensive campaigns that integrate traditional PR, digital, social, and influencer channels to optimize earned media impact.
• Leverage relationships with key journalists, editors, and media outlets across sports, business, lifestyle, and spirits categories.
• Ensure flawless execution of media programs, from sports brand activations to influencer integrations and event-based media campaigns.
5. Crisis Management & Rapid Decision-Making:
• Provide counsel on crisis-related issues, navigating situations with quick, effective decisions and incomplete information.
• Safeguard brand reputation while maintaining credibility with clients and stakeholders.
6. Cultural Engagement & Trendspotting:
• Stay ahead of trends in sports, pop culture, and lifestyle to shape campaigns and position brands at the forefront of the cultural conversation.
• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset, constantly seeking opportunities to challenge the status quo and innovate.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 12+ years of experience in media relations, ideally with a significant focus on sports or entertainment marketing; agency experience managing integrated communications campaigns across multiple clients is preferred.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead large teams, mentor talent, and manage cross-functional teams across cities and offices.
• Media Relations Expertise: Deep familiarity with the earned media landscape, along with strong relationships across media categories, including sports, lifestyle, and business.
• Strategic Vision: Exceptional ability to craft narratives and align media strategies with cultural moments that drive brand relevance and fan engagement.
• Client Service: Track record of exceptional client service, with the ability to effectively counsel senior management at client organizations.
• Executional Skills: Demonstrated expertise in integrated media campaigns, including leveraging social, digital, and influencer-driven channels.
• Problem-Solving: Strong crisis management and rapid decision-making skills.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, as well as proficiency in creating and delivering compelling presentations.
• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field; advanced degrees are a plus.

Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to work with globally recognized sports and l