[Hiring] Senior Associate Director, PR @Karsh Hagan Madden

Role Description

We're looking for a Senior Associate Director, PR (SAD) who can develop and sustain strong media relationships on behalf of our clients, lead client strategy, and support the broader PR team in bringing that strategy to life.

In this role, you'll work alongside a collaborative team to develop and execute PR and media relations strategies that inspire travelers to discover and experience destinations and communities across the United States. You'll serve as a trusted client partner, strategic leader, and mentor while helping create PR campaigns that generate meaningful attention and measurable impact.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop compelling PR strategies that turn travel stories into headlines, spark curiosity across media channels, and draw attention to the communities we serve.
• Build and nurture strong media relationships with everyone from top-tier journalists to niche travel bloggers, positioning yourself and our clients as trusted resources.
• Develop and lead award-winning PR campaigns that blend data and creativity to generate meaningful press coverage and measurable community impact.
• Collaborate across creative, media, strategy, and other disciplines to ensure campaigns come together with a unified voice and vision.
• Stay on top of industry trends, breaking news, and cultural moments to identify timely opportunities for our clients and keep Madden's PR efforts ahead of the curve.
• Oversee crisis communications with confidence and composure, providing thoughtful counsel and helping clients navigate challenges while maintaining trust.
• Measure and report on PR performance beyond traditional metrics, using meaningful data to demonstrate the value and impact of our work.
• Manage, mentor and inspire members of the PR team, encouraging creativity, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Ideate buzzworthy activations and media missions-from memorable stunts to immersive press trips-that get people talking and position communities as must-cover stories.
• Cultivate trusted client relationships by serving as a proactive strategic partner, providing smart counsel, and ensuring clients feel seen, heard, and excited about the work.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading strategic PR and media relations initiatives.
• Strong media relationships and an understanding of the evolving media landscape, ideally within travel, tourism, destination marketing, or a related industry.
• Experience developing creative, integrated PR campaigns and collaborating across multiple disciplines.
• A strategic mindset paired with the ability to turn ideas into actionable plans and successful execution.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with a genuine interest in helping others learn and grow.
• The ability to confidently counsel clients, navigate challenging situations, and manage crisis communications.
• A data-informed approach to measuring PR performance and demonstrating meaningful results.
• Curiosity, creativity, and an ability to recognize timely opportunities within industry trends, news, and culture.
• The ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving environment while balancing multiple clients, priorities, and deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30%.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Medical, dental, vision, and additional benefits to support you and your family.
• 401(k) with Traditional and Roth options, plus a company match.
• Flexible PTO and paid holidays.
• The tools and technology you need to do your best work.

About the Interview Process

We like to keep it simple and transparent. Here's what the process may look like:

• Round 1: A friendly chat with our Recruiter to get to know you and share more about the role.
• Round 2: An interview with some of the awesome teammates you'll collaborate with.
• Round 3: A conversation with the Team Lead(s) to dive deeper into the role and team fit.

Note: Depending on the position, there might be a small assignment along the way to showcase your skills and creativity. Don't worry—we'll let you know in advance!

Heads up: At this time, we do not offer Visa sponsorship or relocation services.

KHM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.