Senior Manager - Media Relations and Digital PR Strategy

Position Overview

This role is focused on championing communications strategies related to media relations, experiential communications, and new media storytelling platforms. The position requires approximately 10% travel annually depending on organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on media relations across various business functions, supporting announcements, events, and broad corporate initiatives including partnerships and crisis communication.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with journalists and producers in business, media, technology, health, lifestyle, and culture outlets to expand organizational storytelling reach.
• Spot and recommend PR opportunities based on cultural and news trends that establish the organization and its leaders as industry thought leaders.
• Lead transformation efforts toward a more agile and digital-first news creation and distribution model within the PR group’s digital newsroom.
• Collaborate with internal content and production teams to produce multimedia assets such as videos, motion graphics, and social media-specific content that enhances PR visibility.
• Oversee business communications content on social platforms, especially @NBAPR on X, coordinating narrative amplification strategies with social and digital teams.
• Design and execute PR campaigns that utilize non-traditional outlets, podcasts, social media platforms, and digital creators to promote league news and storylines.
• Manage and catalogue media relations collateral across business sectors and coordinate PR plans for hallmark events and communication initiatives.
• Utilize AI tools for media targeting, campaign planning, content generation, and analyzing campaign effectiveness with data-driven insights.
• Lead experiential communications by spearheading PR efforts for major events, developing fan activations that generate media buzz and enhance visibility.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams such as Events, Marketing, Social, and Digital Content to ensure effective execution and maximum exposure of experiential communications.
• Evaluate experiential initiatives through analysis of earned media, social reach, and sentiment metrics to measure success.

Professional Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in agency, in-house communications, or journalism roles.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated excellence in proactive media relations, including pitching stories and managing media contacts to secure impactful coverage.
• Strong skills in written communication focused on executive messaging and creating high-quality content under tight deadlines.
• Experience producing multimedia PR materials with familiarity in video and graphic production workflows.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud tools, notably InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat, is preferred.
• An ability to operate within a matrixed organization, collaborating effectively across departments.
• Familiarity with generative AI tools, AI search functionalities, and content summarization software, with the ability to integrate these into communication practices.
• Understanding of AI-driven content ranking and editorial judgment applied to communications strategies.
• Strong project management skills to juggle multiple priorities independently.
• Comprehensive awareness of changing media environments across traditional, digital, and social channels.
• Attention to detail, organizational aptitude, and a proactive, solutions-focused approach to challenges.
• Ability to align priorities with leadership and draft high-standard deliverables independently.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $120,000 annually. Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary performance bonus, subject to company terms.

Company-sponsored benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, fertility and family formation assistance, wellness allowance, educational support, mental health coaching, tax-advantaged accounts like HSA and FSAs, a 401(k) plan, and various time off benefits such as vacation, sick, and personal days.

Additional Details

• The organization is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, disability, and other protected characteristics.
• Employees working onsite in New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with accommodations for medical or religious exemptions.

About The Organization

This organization operates globally with multiple professional sports leagues, delivering content in over 200 countries with substantial international player and fan presence. Its digital assets and strong social media communities support broad engagement and community initiatives addressing education, inclusion, health, and wellness.