Vice President, Earned Media, Technology - Burson

Responsibilities

• Lead earned media strategy. Translate clients’ business priorities and reputation goals into clear narratives, proactive storytelling opportunities and actionable earned programs. Define the audiences we need to reach, what we want them to understand, how to break through with the right earned outlets that can influence those perceptions.
• Find and create the story. Work with clients to uncover the ideas, data, customer experiences and proof points that make their businesses newsworthy. Recommend what clients can do, say or create to give media a compelling reason to pay attention.
• Make technology relevant. Connect technical capabilities and product innovation to broader stories about business transformation, competition, work and everyday life. Develop newsworthy narratives that resonate with business, technology and industry audiences.
• Provide confident client counsel. Serve as a trusted day-to-day earned advisor, helping clients assess newsworthiness, sharpen their point of view and make informed decision. Help clients understand the evolving media ecosystem and bring sound judgment to sensitive issues, partnering with senior leaders and specialists as needed.
• Drive hands-on media engagement. Develop and maintain relationships with national business and technology journalists, trade reporters, newsletter writers, podcasters and independent news creators. Lead pitching and substantive media conversations, securing coverage that advances the client’s narrative.
• Integrate Earned from the start. Partner with account leads and colleagues across Strategy, Intelligence, Creative, Social and Digital to shape programs with a compelling earned story at their core.
• Use intelligence to sharpen the work. Apply audience insights, media analysis, data and AI-powered tools to identify emerging conversations, narrative opportunities, white space, and timely opportunities. Bring editorial judgment to interpret those findings and translating them into recommendations.
• Own Execution. Lead earned workstreams across launches, ongoing storytelling, company events and major industry moments. Set clear priorities, manage timelines and resources, and evaluate results against agreed audience, narrative and reputation objectives.
• Develop people and grow the business. Coach junior colleagues on strategy, storytelling, pitching and client counsel. Contribute to new business proposals and presentations, identify opportunities to expand existing relationships, and partner with account leaders on scopes, staffing and budgets.

Requirements

• Approximately 10–12 years of relevant experience in technology earned media, media relations or communications, with substantial responsibility for earned strategy and execution. Agency experience is preferred.
• Direct, hands-on experience in at least two of the following: AI, enterprise/B2B software, or early-stage companies.
• A demonstrated ability to turn business objectives and complex technology topics into distinctive narratives and sustained earned media programs.
• Strong relationships with business and technology media, alongside an understanding of relevant trade outlets, independent journalists, newsletter writers and news creators.
• A track record of securing meaningful coverage through proactive story development, executive positioning, customer storytelling and data-driven ideas.
• Experience leading earned workstreams within integrated B2B campaigns, including product launches, company-owned events and major technology industry events.
• Experience counseling senior clients and preparing executives for media interviews and other high-visibility opportunities.
• Exceptional writing, editing and presentation skills, with the ability to develop clear strategies, compelling pitches, executive messaging and briefing materials.
• Experience managing teams and multiple client workstreams, contributing to new business and organic growth, and working within agreed scopes and budgets.
• Experience using research, analytics and measurement to inform strategy, improve programs and demonstrate the contribution of earned media.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive benefits package; click here for more details: https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome .
• The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between: $75,000 — $180,000 USD
• Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.