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Senior Vice President, Earned Media Strategy

Chicago, Illinois, United States

 

Who We Are

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Senior Vice President, Earned Media Strategy

About the Opportunity:
The Weber Shandwick team is seeking a Senior Vice President, Earned Media Strategy with deep consumer media expertise to lead earned media strategy and execution for top-tier CPG, Food & Beverage, and Consumer Lifestyle brands. This senior role offers the chance to shape large-scale, integrated campaigns across multiple consumer categories and work closely with influential clients and agency partners.

The ideal candidate thrives on the thrill of a compelling story, excels at building and nurturing media relationships, and lives and breathes pop culture, media trends, and the cultural zeitgeist. You’ll be a key strategic leader driving brand narratives that break through and resonate culturally.

About You:

You’re a media powerhouse with deep, trusted relationships across top-tier business, lifestyle, entertainment, and news media—and a proven track record of leading earned media strategies for major consumer brands. You instinctively turn business goals into narratives that spark cultural relevance and deliver results, including elevating executive visibility through smart, high-impact storytelling.

Passionate about pop culture, food, and lifestyle trends, you have your finger on the pulse of what's next. You know where brand and consumer conversations intersect and have successfully positioned brands at the center of major cultural moments, bringing creativity and cultural resonance to the forefront.

Fluent in both traditional and emerging platforms like podcasts, Substack, and creator networks, you stay ahead of the curve. You understand how and where to place top-tier stories—from thought leadership to breakthrough brand campaigns that capture the cultural zeitgeist.

A strategic thinker who thrives in high-pressure environments, you bring calm clarity to complex, integrated programs. As a collaborative leader and mentor, you grow talent, build client trust, and inspire teams to deliver standout earned work rooted in insight and cultural impact.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead and coach a media team across a large portfolio of brands and corporate. 
  • Lead the development of integrated campaigns working alongside strategy, creative and account leads.
  • Lead the development and flawless execution of comprehensive earned and integrated media campaigns for large-scale consumer clients.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier media across national, regional, and digital outlets—spanning business, lifestyle, food & beverage, mainstream news, entertainment, and commerce verticals.
  • Craft compelling, culturally relevant narratives that tap into emerging food, lifestyle, and pop culture trends.
  • Oversee earned media campaigns across various formats—from product launches and thought leadership to celebrity partnerships and high-profile brand initiatives.
  • Monitor media trends and provide timely insights to clients and teams, identifying earned opportunities grounded in what’s timely, buzzy, and impactful.
  • Counsel senior clients, executives, and spokespeople on media strategy, positioning, and media training.
  • Confidently present strategic plans and campaign results in client meetings, inter-agency collaborations, and new business pitches.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure earned strategies are aligned with broader marketing and brand goals.
  • Manage resources, timelines, and deliverables with precision, ensuring top-tier execution and a client-first mindset.
  • Develop POVs regarding the evolving earned media landscape and share across network.

Competencies:

  • Business Acumen—Align earned media strategies with client business goals and marketing priorities.
  • Client Service—Build trust and rapport with senior client stakeholders and agency teams.
  • Proactivity-Continuously pursue innovative media opportunities and storytelling approaches.
  • Collaboration—Foster strong relationships internally and externally to drive cohesive campaign execution.
  • Critical Thinking—Analyze challenges, anticipate media and client needs, and deliver insightful solutions.
  • Leadership—Effectively mentor and guide teams while managing complex projects and expectations.

What We’re Looking For:

  • 8+ years of public relations or communications experience, with increasing responsibility leading earned media for major consumer brands.
  • Strong track record of top-tier media placements and well-established relationships across lifestyle, business, entertainment, and pop culture media.
  • Subject matter expertise in CPG, food & beverage, lifestyle, and entertainment; 
  • Demonstrated success managing earned campaigns featuring Tier A talent, including celebrities, musicians, and influential creators.
  • Skilled in developing and executing thought leadership, product launches, brand campaigns, and celebrity partnerships.
  • Experienced in media training and counseling senior clients and executives.
  • Able to integrate earned strategy seamlessly with digital, social, and paid media efforts.
  • Proven problem-solver with strong judgment under pressure and the ability to make decisions with limited information.
  • Excellent client service skills with confidence advising senior stakeholders and working within large, marketing-driven organizations.
  • Effective communicator (written and verbal) with strong presentation skills and experience leading new business efforts.
  • Collaborative team leader with a track record of mentoring talent and managing multiple fast-paced projects with clarity and control.

Salary range: $152,000 USD – $200,000 USD 

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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