Public Relations Director

About OTB Group
OTB is an international fashion group comprising the iconic, unconventional brands Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni and Viktor&Rolf. It also controls the Staff International and Brave Kid companies and holds a stake in American brand Amiri. OTB - short for "Only The Brave" - believes in the possibility of pushing beyond the frontiers of fashion and style to support the creativity of international talents and express in full the innovative spirit and uncompromising courage of its founder and chairman, Renzo Rosso. With more than 6,000 employees worldwide, the Group is founded on a digital approach centred on the consumer, a concrete long-term commitment to the creation of a sustainable, technologically driven business, and close attention to social issues through the OTB Foundation.
MISSION
OTB is seeking a Public Relations Director to join the in-house Communication's team for its Designer Brand Portfolio. This role is responsible for leading press, media & influencer relations across organic channels for the 4 brands comprising the Designer Brand Portfolio: Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, MM6, and Marni. The role will work across all categories - Women's & Men's Ready-to-Wear & Accessories - to support the communication strategies for brand campaigns, product launches, influence & talent relationships, as well as local brand events. The role will be pivotal in driving the in-house Public Relations office, and the portfolio's efforts to build brand equity and awareness in North America. This position will report directly to the SVP, Communications & Marketing in the US, and act as the primary point-of-contact for the regional PR Agency. As such, this role requires strong institutional knowledge across all Public Relations verticals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
STRATEGY

• Develop & execute overall communications strategy, storytelling and PR plan for all 4 brands
• Develop and implement seasonal strategies to promote a positive brand image for the Designer Portfolio Brands in the USA, including strategic product placements in brand-appropriate & qualitative print and digital media titles across the region
• Develop and implement regional press plans to & product launch strategies tailored to support store openings & retail pushes
• Oversee press requests (features, news coverage, samples, other collateral), with agency.
• Manage all earned media and Public Relations activities for the brand, with agency
• Monitor & analyze earned media in print and digital, with agency
• Manage guestlist, outreach & attendance for key brand events (Fashion Show & local brand awareness activations), with agency
• Identify and source new opportunities for local PR-worthy activations and partnerships

OPERATIONS

• Build infrastructure for in-house Public Relations office, overseeing the set-up of a fully functional showroom.
• Manage showroom & sample traffic, data management tools, inventory, clipping, contact databases
• Communicate brand image activities internally across corporate and retail teams
• Support HQ PR, marketing, image, VIP and digital teams with international press and marketing activations taking place in the US
• Work cross-functionally across the business units - Ecom, Retail, Wholesale, Merchandising - to align on business opportunities and needs
• Manage department intern, and day to day contact with any agencies in market

BACKGROUND

• 5-7 years of prior fashion PR experience (in house or agency)
• 1-2 years experience as a director
• Prior experience at a luxury fashion house, preferably European
• Passion or interest in luxury, fashion, or retail

QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent project management skills, with strong organizational and planning abilities
• Impeccable attention to detail and organization skills
• Large professional network in US fashion/lifestyle/luxury media with existing relationships with key press, stylists, and influencers
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to maintain relationships and influence others
• Deep understanding of social media, online marketing, and cultural trends
• Strong knowledge of working in Google docs, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Good research and analytical skills
• High work ethic, integrity, and is not scared to "roll up his/her sleeves" to execute and drive results. Has an entrepreneurial attitude

Salary range: $135-$155k
#OTB #LI-ER
Location: