Director Public Relations Cunard

One of the bestknown names in cruising Cunard is the worlds leading international premium cruise line carrying millions of guests each year to hundreds of destinations around the globe. With parent company Carnival Corporation Cunard is well known for its White Star Service and TransAtlantic Crossings.

Were looking for an amazingDirector of Public Relationsto support our sister brand Cunard. Cunard is one of the oldest and most famous ocean liners in the world. Youll beresponsible the strategy and implementation for all external communications highprofile luxury brand partnership agreements and special events for Cunard in North America. This includes full budgetary management ensuring the delivery of highprofile and impactful activations and reputation management. Youll ensure that the PR partnership and event strategy consistently aligns to the Cunard business priorities and will be a lead channel in driving brand awareness and consideration for Cunard. Youll ensure that all areas of compliance are upheld; this includes avoiding misleading information respecting privacy and ensuring accurate representation of facts when communicating with all internal and external stakeholders and will ensure the compliance to legal requirements of all PR/Partnership/Events activity; adhering to laws regulations and guidelines that shape the way organizations communicate with each other.

The Director of Public Relations will be responsible for the development and delivery of two direct reports the Manager Public Relations and Special Events and Specialist Public Relations. They will also have full responsibility for the management and business outcomes of the external PR Agency. They will also be the brand representative when liaising with external stakeholders suppliers and highprofile brand partners.

Youll continuously seek ways to drive business improvement and will work alongside the Director Marketing and Vice President Sales and Vice President Commercial North America and interfaces on a regular basis with executives and colleagues in Cunard Head Office and Carnival Corporation executive management.

Heres a summary of what Cunard is looking for in itsDirector of Public Relations. Is this you

Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership

• Responsible for the annual NAM PR Sponsorship and Events plan that delivers coverage and impactful brand building activity across all targeted media platforms appealing to both Cunards target audience both new to the brand and past guests.
• Responsible for the PR strategy that connects the appropriate trade travel and consumer media contacts and influencers via media pitching Press FAMs and shipboard and shoreside media events.
• Will lead a highly engaged team on the delivery of PR/experiential events both shoreside and shipboard that support PR activations and brand partnerships within budget.
• Will ensure that Cunard maintains a consistently high and positive profile in top tier consumer and trade lifestyle travel and other media verticals in print online and broadcast.
• A lead member of the Global PR and Events team; actively participating in weekly monthly and quarterly meetings/conference calls and will always update global team members on NAM initiatives and will seek to find ways to collaborate globally on activity.
• A lead member of the NAM SLT; actively participating in weekly monthly and quarterly meetings/conference calls as needed encouraging amplification of activity across channels including Marketing Brand Customer Service Guest Experience Revenue Management Sales to develop and execute ideas and campaigns.
• As the lead for all Public Relations Cunard North America this role will ensure all areas of compliance are upheld; this includes avoiding misleading information respecting privacy and ensuring accurate representation of facts when communicating with all internal and external stakeholders.
• The Director role will ensure the compliance to legal requirements of all PR/Partnership/Events activity; adhering to laws regulations and guidelines that shape the way organizations communicate with each other.

Media Relations

• Responsible for all facets of media relations working with internal PR team and PR agency on crafting and communicating key brand product and special offer messages.
• Responsible for the management and delivery of the PR agency and their development and of media pitches and securing media coverage.
• Responsible for the development of integrated public relations strategy to drive brand awareness and relevant media coverage maintain strategic relationships with press and external influencers.
• Responsible for the trade media strategy for the VP Commercial North America to ensure Cunard are presented at key industry events including all key messaging documents and media briefs.
• Works alongside the PR Director in the UK PR team on new key messaging; developing and managing relationships with industry and consumer media.
• Develops a yearly planning calendar including timelines and tracking for all PR activity events ship visits photo and film shoots to ensure key milestones are met and ensures team members deliver against.
• Will contentiously keep abreast of changes to the media marketplace ensuring Cunard capitalize on opportunities that may arise.
• Will ensure the PR team frequently update and add to the media contact list.

Brand Sponsorships/Relationships

• Collaborates with the Global Partnerships team in the UK and will be responsible for driving the agenda for the North America market identifying key brand appropriate partnerships and celebrity engagement which create new guest experience opportunities and provide positive halo effect awareness for the brand resulting in increased bookings.
• Responsible for the strategy planning and budget management for NAM specific partnership initiatives that will drive market specific engagement for Cunard.
• Manages the agreement inclusion details between brand and partner i.e. agreement on program public relations and marketing participation for celebrity Work synergistically across all global teams to develop activities which maximize impact working closely with the SLT and UK and NAM Global Partnership team in Southampton England and VP Global PR and Events.

Event Management

• Responsible for the strategy planning and budget management for special events media events and press conferences in NAM
• Oversees Manager and Specialist on event logistics and relationships with external vendors event partners and shipboard staff.
• Drives best practice and collaboration with stakeholders to conceptualize and execute events that reinforces the objectives of the brand.
• Will always find ways to leverage brand partnerships through events and activities that elevate the image of the brand.
• Work synergistically across all global teams to develop activities which maximize impact working closely with the SLT and UK and NAM
• Ensure all Cunard events supporting PR activity are onbrand meet the commercial requirements of the business reflective of Cunard brand values and capitalize on any opportunities from brand partnership to historical events to oneoff events.

Financial Responsibility

• Responsible for the diligent budgetary planning and monthly cost control for Cunard NAM PR budget.
• Responsible for evaluating all PR and event activity against clear ROI objectives and in alignment with commercial objectives.
• Responsible for the formulation and management of the teams G&A budget.
• Negotiates fees with external vendors and provides estimates for all requested/recommended activities and ensures accuracy prior to submitting for approval to the VP.
• Ensure budgets are adhered to and accounted for on all PR and Event activities for NAM every month.
• Reviews invoices for accuracy coding or approving as appropriate and ready for additional review/approval by the VP Global PR and Events.

People Management/Training/Development

• A key member of the NAM senior leadership team driving positive working relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels and outside agencies ensuring a culture of engagement motivation and collaboration is maintained.
• Lead member of the PR crisis management team in NAM and on call as required. PR crisis responsibilities include media monitoring media response managing PR enquiries developing and distributing statements distributing response to queries to internal departments and keeping senior leaders informed.
• Responsible for ensuring the Cunard NAM ERO crisis management plan is in place and that all members of the team are fully trained and able to support the Cunard fleet and guests with high impact incidents. Recognizes and resolves conflicts within department; encourages and coaches effective and interdepartmental relationships.
• Provides clear and consistent guidance to direct reports (Manager and Specialist) and to PR agency to establish and manage priorities identify and resolve obstacles and challenges and ensure adherence to schedule and strategies.
• Represents and promotes company core values and all corporate policies and procedures.
• Responsible for all aspect of team management including hiring performance reviews vacation reviews and employee relations.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Public Relations Communications Journalism or related field.
• 10 years of experience in public relations or internal/external communications in either a corporate setting or agency including experience leading a team and being a key member of a senior leadership team.
• 10 years of project management experience. Successful track record of independently handling multiple and complex events and initiatives.
• Proven track record of management budgets accruals and forecasting.
• Proven track record of projectmanaging multiple stakeholders to deliver common objectives.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills as well as proven history of building and maintaining positive relationships with media and key industry stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing multiple projects under deadline and handle fastpaced environment with often changing day to day priorities.
• Outstanding team building skills and the ability to interact with colleagues and executives on all levels of the company.
• Adaptable personable positive attitude and understands and follows the companys core values.
• Available to travel on a regular basis.
• Highly experience leader within Public Relations and Events Management ideally within a highprofile luxury brand or travel/hospitality
• Outstanding interpersonal skills written and verbal are required to communicate with senior management other departments agencies shoreside and shipboard colleagues.
• Ability to craft at times on short notice various categories of copy including press release writing social media marketing and sales copy and crisis communications verbiage.
• Very strong analytical skills with ability to proactively present and resolve complex issues and results
• Ease and agility with all social media platforms AI Microsoft Office Suite & Adobe.
• Enthusiasm for travel and travel/cruise industry; availability to travel regularly including outside of regular work hours to be key point person for special events and host of Press FAMs.
• Well versed leading on crisis communications management and deployment issues alongside project managing highprofile special events.

What You Can Expect

• Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family
• Health Benefits
• 401(k)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Training & Professional Development
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement
• Rewards & Incentives

Our Culture Stronger Together

Our highest responsibility and top priority is compliance environmental protection and the health safety and wellbeing of our guests the people in the communities we touch and serve and our shipboard and shoreside employees. Please visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials Corporate Vision Statement and our Core Values at: Princess is an equalopportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age ancestry color family or medical care leave gender identity or expression genetic information marital status medical condition national origin physical or mental disability political affiliation protected veteran status race religion sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws regulations and ordinances.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Cunard/ Princesswill provide reasonable accommodations with the application process upon your request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process please contact

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