Vice President, Media Relations, Cookerly Public Relations

Vice President, Media Relations, Cookerly Public Relations

Celebrating its 35th anniversary year, Atlanta-based Cookerly Public Relations, an award-winning, independent integrated communications firm offering highly competitive compensation and benefits, seeks a well-accomplished Vice President, Media Relations.

This senior, hands-on role calls for outstanding news judgment, active business journalist relationships and a demonstrated record of securing meaningful coverage in top-tier business-focused earned media. We want someone who knows business, understands what makes news and consistently delivers results. Experience with complex products, services, technologies or business models is essential; a mix of solid business and consumer media experience is desirable, however with particular strength in business media results.

The successful candidate will develop strategy, counsel senior executives and personally craft and deliver pitches. Bring the initiative to uncover strong stories, challenge weak ideas constructively and pursue coverage with confidence.

The ideal candidate should offer:

Media Relations Strategy & Results

• Develop and execute earned-media strategies, securing influential national, regional, business, consumer and trade coverage.
• Translate complex business, technical and financial propositions into clear, compelling news stories.
• Build productive relationships with business journalists, editors and producers; personally lead pitching and follow-through.
• Create pitches, media materials, contributed articles and executive profiles; manage corporate announcements, launches, C-level interviews and reactive inquiries.
• Use media research, monitoring and analytics to evaluate coverage and strengthen results.

Business Acumen & Client Counsel

• Understand clients’ business models, industries, competitive positions and objectives; identify broader economic and market implications that make their stories relevant.
• Advise executives and account teams on positioning, messaging, timing and media engagement; prepare spokespeople through briefings and media training.
• Exercise sound judgment in sensitive inquiries, reputation challenges and fast-moving news; integrate earned media with broader communications programs.

Team Leadership & Agency Growth

• Serve as a senior media resource across accounts while remaining directly involved in strategy, pitching and execution.
• Mentor colleagues, manage competing deadlines and uphold high standards for accuracy, responsiveness, ethics and results.
• Contribute media expertise to new-business proposals and presentations; identify opportunities to expand existing client programs.

Requirements:

• Approximately 8–12 years of professional public relations, earned-media or journalism experience, preferably including significant 5-6 years PR agency experience.
• A strong, verifiable record of personally securing high-impact business, financial and industry coverage, supported by active relationships with influential journalists.
• Experience representing complex national businesses; strong commercial understanding and the ability to explain sophisticated subjects clearly and persuasively.
• Exceptional news judgment, writing, editing and presentation skills; confidence counseling senior executives and mentoring colleagues.
• Familiarity with Muck Rack, Cision, Critical Mention, Meltwater or equivalent tools, including analytics and AI-enabled media research.
• Initiative, curiosity and accountability; ability to manage multiple clients and priorities in a collaborative agency environment.
• BA/BS in journalism, communications, public relations, business or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Full acceptance of an Atlanta-based, in-office role, with reasonable telework flexibility.

What Will Distinguish the Strongest Candidates

Be prepared to share specific examples of substantial business-media coverage you personally originated and secured, explaining the client’s business, story angle, target journalists, outreach approach and results. Demonstrate current media relationships, independent judgment and versatility across business and consumer stories.

About Cookerly PR

Founded in 1991 by Carol Cookerly, Cookerly PR is an independent, nationally recognized public relations and marketing communications firm trusted by many of the world's most respected public and private companies. Led by a skilled team of senior professionals, the firm provides media relations, marketing communications, public affairs, social media, executive visibility, crisis communications, issues management and reputation management services to B2B and consumer clients. Cookerly PR’s long track record of success is reflected in its recognition as a five-star agency on Forbes' "America's Best PR Agencies" list and as one of Newsweek's 150 Best Public Relations Firms in America.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Highly competitive total compensation package
• 100% paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) employer contribution and company profit sharing
• Paid holidays and sick days; professional development through conferences and events.
• Paid parking
• Onsite private athletic club and personal trainer - Company paid