ACCOUNTABILITIES 

MEDIA RELATIONS AND CORPORATE STORYTELLING

• Leads the development and execution of public relations strategies that support Kohl’s overarching business goals and initiatives. 

• Cultivates and maintains relationships with regional and trade media outlets to drive press coverage and strengthen Kohl’s presence and relevance.

• Leverages news media acumen to identify story opportunities for Kohl’s across national, trade and regional press with a proven ability to respond to and capitalize on relevant media news cycles.

• Maintains a consistent pulse on news cycles and retail industry trends and routes relevant coverage. 

• Works collaboratively with key internal and external partners to understand business objectives and proactively identify storytelling opportunities.

• Delivers timely, informed communications counsel to internal and external partners with recommendations and rationale; partners with internal communications and marketing functions to create cross-functional plans, as appropriate.

• Fields media inquiries fromregional and trade media outlets to assess timely press opportunities for Kohl’s. Supports PR leadership with national media inquiries. 

• Vets media inquiries from regional and trade media outlets in a timely fashion and provides clear, concise recommendations with rationale, considering Kohl’s business strategy, the current news cycle and the external story angle.

• Drafts media statements to provide brief and fact-based responses. Brings forward all media opportunities without exception.

• Demonstrates clear understanding of media approvals necessary for a public company, including PR leadership, legal and finance as well as additional executive leaders, as appropriate. Delivers revised statements in real time to meet approvers’ feedback. 

• Maintains updated media lists, demonstrating a customized approach to account for differences across media channels and markets. Shares relevant changes and newness in reporter beats and media outlets. 

• Tracks projects to completion and delivers inputs into shared team media reports and recaps. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Demonstrates consistent proficiency in communications and PR team processes and procedures, including but not limited to the creation of media materials (press releases, Q&As, articles, talking points, holding statements, etc.), corporate site updates, media audits, media inquiries, field incidents, media monitoring, and tracking measurable results.

• Delivers informed first drafts of written materials. Conducts research and works with partners to address questions and gather information to inform materials.

• Tracks and recaps results to demonstrate value of corporate PR value.

• Supports field incidents and sensitive issues management, working with field and corporate partners to summarize issues and provide recommended approach. 

• Creates and communicates project timelines and meet key milestones and deadlines, moving with speed and agility to kick off, progress and complete projects.

• Develops, manages and meets budgets for specific programs, where appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Minimum of 6-8 years experience in public relations, journalism, communications or public affairs.

• Highly collaborative and builds relationships outside and within the organization

• Experience with crisis communication.

• Outstanding organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to manage several programs and partnerships at the same time.

• Significant experience and expertise with project management and an ability to multitask without sacrificing detail.

• Superior writing skills and expert in AP writing guidelines. Articulate speaker and presenter.

• Must demonstrate some level of strategy development above and beyond tactical execution.

PREFERRED

• Proven experience and success in managing PR for corporate business initiatives

• Large corporate company experience preferred

• Retail experience preferred