PR Manager

• Lead the day-to-day development and delivery of creative communications campaigns for DCP’s priority franchises in the market and EMEA.  Elevate the earned media appeal of retail campaigns and programs to drive relevance for The Walt Disney Company’s (TWDC) brands and franchises
• Work in partnership with the wider communications team to create innovative programs that drive franchise goals, and ensure they are capable of cutting through the media clutter by leveraging technology, digital trends, aspirational partners and pop culture trends
• Partner with the broader marketing and brand commercialisation organisation to ensure PR driven campaigns are fully leveraged across all channels in the market and EMEA. Build relationships across the business to maximise campaign success and synergy opportunities.
• Work closely with global colleagues to ensure EMEA-driven campaigns are shared internationally to further extend reach, and that global campaigns are optimised locally.

Areas of Responsibility

Media and Influencer Relations:

• Maintain excellent contacts with the media and Influencer space, and constantly seek out new opportunities to grow network
• Deliver publicity across a range of media from nationals to kids press to drive retail sales
• Responsible for overseeing agency resources, ensuring they are briefed in a timely manner and campaigns deliver against business goals
• Work with Communications Director to define media and Influencer strategy around specific campaigns and initiatives to deliver the best possible results
• Create compelling media materials to help drive coverage across a range of publications and drive best practice in the team
• Ensure seasonal campaigns feed into the media agenda effectively and are integrated with overall marketing strategy.

PR Events and Campaign Delivery:

• Oversee the execution of campaigns to support DCP licensing, publishing, games, Stores and key franchises
• Present campaign plans to key stakeholders to ensure all activity is maximised across the business e.g. windowing PR assets with marketing
• Pre-empt potential problem areas and flag concerns to line managers and offer appropriate solutions in order to minimise risks
• Supervise the creation of assets and help to localise global assets
• Write and ensure the appropriate distribution of press releases, review and approve the work of more junior colleagues
• Maintain and manage effective campaign budgets
• Coordinate day-to-day activities of a number of third party agencies including PR, online and social media and challenge them to deliver the best results.

General:

• Responsible for the overall management of press relations for all licensed products and retail activation for the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century Studios brands in local market
• Responsible for contributing to the strategy and development of regional communications campaigns e.g. ‘Mickey & Friends’, supporting as needed on the development of the plans and taking a regional mindset. Execute plan as required in the relevant local market
• Implement and optimise communication strategies tailored to the market to achieve qualitative and quantitative results that meet the expectations of the media of the market
• Optimise all communication/PR opportunities for all products, depending on seasonality,  current events, releases and franchis priorities in consultation with the relevant stakeholders in order to meet business objectives
• Write and distribute press releases for the general press
• Develop materials and messages to promote DCP campaigns and product collections on relevant sites and internally
• Crisis management: responsible for defending the brand's reputation and assisting licensees with crisis management in market, supporting Communications Director and Senior Communications Manager (where applicable)
• Develop comprehensive reports to communicate results for key PR campaigns and initiatives to executive team and key stakeholders
• Responsible for organising and/or coordinating DCP press, partner and retail events
• Provide strategic PR counsel to internal clients, commercial, franchise and marketing teams, as well as senior leadership
• Keep up-to-date on PR industry and media landscape and be able to identify strategic PR and event opportunities. Monitor brand landscape for potential issues and work closely with issues management team to develop crisis communication plans, draft statements, etc.
• Share best practices across the TWDC PR community in EMEA and globally
• Build relationships with category, marketing, brand commercialisation and retail teams, actively participating/ leading meetings to cultivate creative ideas and PR opportunities, driving press coverage.

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required:

• Degree-level education in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Proven track record of developing creative campaigns across different media and an ability to generate ideas and PR opportunities

• Experience planning, executing and evaluating innovative marketing campaigns
• Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments to achieve joint goals
• A strong network of PR contacts and global contacts
• Deep media knowledge across a range of markets and an ability to apply this expertise to the production of media plans
• Proven track record of performance management including coaching, mentoring and motivating (where applicable).