Director of PR and Communications

Overview

Awarded World’s Best Small Ship Cruise line, Windstar Cruises is known for intimate yacht style experience and unique voyages to the world’s best small ports and hidden harbors. Its three sailing yachts and four all-suite yachts carry just 148 to 342 guests and cruise around the world. Our mission is to imagine and deliver personalized and immersive experiences 180 degrees from ordinary. We enrich people’s perspective through inspired travel.

Our Mission: Enriching Lives Through Travel

Our Values: Guest Obsessed, Open and Inviting, Fun-Loving and Focused, Light-Hearted and Genuine, Casual Yet Polished, Safe and Responsible.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a motivated Director of PR and Communications to lead public relations, partnerships, and internal communications to advance Windstar Cruises' brand, reputation, and business objectives in a highly competitive industry. Develops and executes integrated strategies that elevate the company's public profile, cultivate high-value partner and influencer relationships, and inform, engage, and align employees across the organization. Serves as a senior communications advisor to executive leadership and ensures the company's image and voice are consistent across all external and internal audiences.

Responsibilities

Public Relations & Media

• Owns the external PR strategy, setting annual priorities, narrative pillars, and measurement standards that advance brand reputation and business goals.
• Establishes and maintains media relations to ensure favorable coverage of company assets, activities, and announcements. Acts as chief spokesperson to the media.
• Develops and oversees the creation of press releases, executive speeches, talking points, statements, and other external communication pieces.
• Builds and manages an executive thought-leadership platform for the President and senior leaders, including bylined content, speaking opportunities, and industry forums.
• Leads planning and execution of special events, press trips, inaugurals, and other brand moments that promote the company's image, products, and achievements.
• Maintains corporate visibility with industry and trade associations and represents the company at major industry and trade functions.
• Manages the company's response to unforeseen challenges that arise in the business operating environment, including crisis communications and issues management.
• Administers corporate contributions and community affairs and represents the company at community events.
• Manages award programs, including solicitation for votes and promotion of recognitions earned.
• Defines PR and communications KPIs — including share of voice, sentiment, message pull-through, and reach — and reports performance and learnings to executive leadership on a regular cadence.
  
  
  

Partnerships

• Identifies, develops, and manages strategic brand partnerships with TAC brands, destinations, tourism boards, hospitality and lifestyle brands, and media partners that expand brand visibility and support commercial priorities.
• Partners with Social Media to integrate earned media moments and hosted press experiences with paid creator activations where possible.
• Partners with marketing, sales, revenue, and onboard operations to align brand-partnership activations with commercial calendars and the guest journey.
• Grows and stewards the company's portfolio of brand and influencer partners, prioritizing relationships that meaningfully expand brand visibility in target markets.
  
  
  

Internal Communications

• Serves as the senior communications advisor to HR on internal communications strategy, counseling on narrative, channel mix, timing, and tone for leadership messages, all-hands, and organizational announcements.
• Acts as lead content creator for HR-driven internal communications — drafting and producing leadership messages and newsletters that bring company priorities and culture to life.
• Advises HR and executive leadership on crisis and sensitive internal communications, drafting messaging and sequencing to ensure employees are informed ahead of external audiences where possible.
• Partners with HR to connect employees to the brand story and guest experience, providing the messaging, content, and storytelling that bring the brand to life internally.
  
  
  

Leadership & Operations

• Serves as a senior communications advisor to the executive team, providing counsel on reputation, messaging, and stakeholder engagement.
• Develops and administers organizational policies regarding public relations, partnerships, internal communications, and information dispersal.
• Manages PR operating budget and participates in the marketing strategic planning process.
• Manages external agency and vendor relationships across PR and partnerships, including performance, budget, and deliverables.
• Other duties, as assigned.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience across public relations and communications, including demonstrated experience leading partnerships and internal communications; experience in the travel, hospitality, or leisure industry strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of securing high-impact media coverage, building strategic partnerships, and delivering internal communications programs that drive employee engagement.
• Knowledge of trade press, industry associations, consumer travel publications, and the influencer and partner landscape relevant to travel and lifestyle audiences.
• Experience serving as a spokesperson and providing counsel to senior executives, including in crisis or high-sensitivity situations.
• Exceptional organizational, management, and communication skills, including writing, editing, and public speaking.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience structuring and managing partnership agreements.
• People-leadership experience, including building teams and managing external agencies.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
  
  
  

Benefits:

For full-time employees, Windstar offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, Dental & Vision; HSA & FSA; Life & Disability; Accident, Hospital & Critical Illness; Pet Insurance; Vacation, Sick Time and paid Holidays; 401(k) with Company Match; Employee Assistance Plan; Education Assistance and Employee Discounts & Travel Deals.

EEO:

Windstar is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.