• Department: Marketing
• Reports to: Director, Digital Activation & eCommerce
• Location: Philadelphia, PA

Position Summary:

The Public Relations Manager develops and executes earned-media and reputation strategies that strengthen awareness, trust, and preference for the company and its portfolio of consumer brands. Reporting to the Director, Digital Activation & eCommerce within Marketing, this role integrates public relations with digital activation, eCommerce, brand, and broader marketing priorities, translating business objectives into compelling stories for consumers, customers, trade audiences, employees, communities, and other stakeholders. The manager serves as a key media contact, leads communications for product launches and corporate initiatives, prepares spokespeople, manages agency partners, and coordinates rapid, accurate responses to issues that may affect the company's reputation. Success requires strong CPG business acumen, excellent judgment, hands-on execution, and the ability to influence across a complex organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute annual public relations strategies aligned with marketing priorities, brand positioning, commercial objectives, and the corporate reputation agenda.• Lead earned-media programs for brand campaigns, innovation, product launches, seasonal moments, partnerships, sustainability initiatives, and company milestones.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with consumer, business, trade, retail, lifestyle, and local media, as well as relevant creators and industry influencers.
• Serve as the primary contact for media inquiries; coordinate fact gathering, approvals, spokesperson selection, and timely responses.
• Write and edit press releases, media pitches, key messages, Q&As, statements, executive briefing materials, talking points, bylined articles, award submissions, and other external communications.
• Manage issues and crisis communications, including risk monitoring, scenario planning, holding statements, escalation protocols, response coordination, and after-action reviews.
• Prepare and coach executives and subject-matter experts for interviews, public appearances, conferences, and other external engagements.
• Partner with Brand Marketing, Digital and Social Media, Consumer Insights, Sales, Human Resources, Legal, Regulatory, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure communications are accurate, compliant, coordinated, and consistent.
• Translate product claims, ingredients, sourcing, packaging, manufacturing, and sustainability information into clear, credible communications for nontechnical audiences.
• Direct public relations agencies and other external partners, including scopes of work, budgets, deliverables, timelines, and performance reviews.
• Manage sponsorships, media events, press tours, product seeding, speaking opportunities, and community-facing programs as appropriate.
• Monitor traditional and digital media, emerging issues, competitor activity, and consumer sentiment; provide timely insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Establish objectives and measurement plans for PR programs and report results, lessons, and recommendations to Marketing leadership.
• Maintain media lists, editorial calendars, approved messages, press materials, spokespeople resources, and communications playbooks.
• Support corporate and employee communications when business priorities require coordinated internal and external messaging.
• Ensure all work complies with company policies, disclosure standards, confidentiality requirements, and applicable regulatory guidance.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.• 5+ years of related experience in public relations, corporate communications, brand communications, or an agency environment.
• Demonstrated success developing media strategies, securing earned coverage, managing media relationships, and supporting integrated campaigns.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for varied audiences and channels.
• Experience handling sensitive issues, media inquiries, and crisis or rapid-response communications with sound judgment and discretion.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple high-visibility initiatives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience managing agencies, vendors, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with media monitoring, media database, analytics, presentation, and collaboration tools.
• Ability to travel periodically and remain available outside normal business hours when urgent communications needs arise.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, personal care, household products, or another highly regulated consumer industry.
• Experience supporting national brands, retail customers, omnichannel launches, and consumer-facing issues.
• Familiarity with communications involving product claims, labeling, recalls, quality, sustainability, or supply-chain matters.
• Experience with executive communications, media training, and cross-functional crisis simulations.
• Professional accreditation or active involvement in a relevant communications association.

Core Competencies
• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Reputation and risk management
• Media relations and storytelling
• Consumer and brand orientation
• Executive presence and influence
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Sound judgment and composure
• Attention to detail and accountability
• Data-informed decision-making
• Adaptability and bias for action

Measures of Success
• Quality, relevance, and message alignment of earned-media coverage.
• Growth in brand visibility, share of voice, and positive or neutral sentiment among priority audiences.
• Effectiveness and timeliness of product-launch and corporate communications.
• Readiness, speed, accuracy, and stakeholder coordination during issues or crises.
• Strength of media, influencer, agency, and internal partner relationships.
• Achievement of program objectives within approved budgets and timelines.
• Actionable reporting that demonstrates business contribution and improves future performance.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This role operates primarily in a professional office or hybrid environment and routinely uses standard office equipment. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person and through virtual, written, and telephone channels. Occasional travel to company sites, media events, customer meetings, conferences, or agency locations may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.