PR Manager, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Marketing
Apple’s communications team informs the world about our innovative products and services, and the values that drive everything we do. Areas of work include Public Relations, Corporate Events, Employee Communications, and Buzz Marketing. The team includes professionals with backgrounds in public relations, journalism, social media, writing and buzz marketing. We’re looking for trailblazing, collaborative professionals from a variety of creative fields.
We are seeking a Public Relations Manager to drive strategy, planning and execution of major product PR programs and initiatives for the Canadian market. This is first and foremost a senior strategy and media relations role. You will drive communication plans and be hands on, working day-to-day to engage with local journalists and creators, spotlighting our products and services and bringing them to life through feature stories that showcase their benefits to consumers and businesses.
Description
The successful candidate will bring energy and fresh storytelling ideas. You will be a local PR authority for your key product categories and corporate initiatives, but have the flexibility to support other areas as needed. In this capacity you will:
⁃ Work collaboratively with a variety of other teams and functions to create and deliver results-oriented PR programs that increase awareness and understanding of our products and their software. This will include working closely with the Canadian PR team, country and worldwide PR Managers, Product Marketing and Marcom teams.
⁃ Use your first-class knowledge of the traditional and social media landscape in Canada to broaden and deepen our relationships with top tier business, technology, lifestyle, consumer and specialty verticals.
⁃ Spot and identify key trends and opportunities in the media. Be the first to know about new publications, podcasts, creators, programs or journalists taking on new beats or roles and leverage them to drive strategic plans.
⁃ Dive deep into our segment markets including education and enterprise to identify new and creative ways to reach influencing media and experts.
⁃ Possess expert knowledge of competitive products and keep your team at WW up to date on what's going on in your market.
⁃ Manage and respond to day-to-day press inquiries and ensure our regular media and creator contacts are kept up to speed on the latest Apple news.
⁃ Play an instrumental role in influencing, developing, and driving launch and momentum campaigns to ensure maximum awareness and coverage in Canada.
⁃ Have the capacity to handle crisis and other reactive PR situations with grace and ease, knowing when and how to respond to media inquiries.
⁃ Identify and call out potential public issues that may impact Apple; and determine how to manage and resolve issues, rumours, and conflicting messages.
⁃ Drive and manage product seeding for your product categories.
Minimum Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications or PR agency.
- Deep expertise in media and creator relations, with a network of contacts in creative, tech, design, business and culture.
- Availability for travel, up to 10% of the time.
Key Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
- A demonstrated track record of delivering corporate and consumer PR campaigns that have created meaningful impact.
- A positive team-player who is passionate about technology and culture. Self-starter who is dedicated and demonstrates creative and critical thinking abilities.
- Able to work with ambiguity and on complex topics across multiple jurisdictions. Skilled in multi-tasking, delivering under tight timelines, adapting quickly to change.
- Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
- Analyses complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
- Understands internal and external stakeholder requirements, expectations, and needs.
- Highly collaborative with extraordinary social and relationship-building skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills combined with precise project management.
- Proficiency in French.