Director, Public Relations and Partnerships

Job description

Knix is an award-winning intimate apparel and activewear brand that is re-inventing intimates for real life. Through our innovative products and our engaged community, we are empowering people everywhere to be unapologetically free. Launched in 2013, we are one of the fastest-growing intimate apparel brands in North America and are globally recognized as an innovator within the apparel space. We reach over 3 million customers through our online stores, Knix retail locations across North America and channels such as wholesale and Amazon. We are revolutionizing the apparel industry with our best-in-class customer experience, innovative products and brands Knix and Kt by Knix. Come join us if you are looking for a purpose-driven and authentic career! The **Director, PR + Partnerships** will play a key role in elevating the Knix, Kt by Knix and MNTD brands by driving awareness, brand relevance and consumer connection. Reporting to the Senior Director, Brand, this role will help lead and evolve key functions across Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Creator & Content Partnerships, Community, Affiliate Marketing and Brand Experiences.” This role requires a strategic thinker and strong relationship builder who can translate overarching brand priorities into clear strategies and programs. The Director will oversee the day-to-day leadership and execution of these functions, working closely with Brand Leadership and cross functional teams to identify opportunities, develop plans and ensure strong execution. The successful candidate will manage a team of three and key agency and external partners, balancing strategic thinking with strong operational leadership and hands-on problem solving. The ideal candidate will have strong experience across PR, partnerships and brand marketing, with an understanding of the evolving media, creator and cultural landscape. This role requires some travel to our Toronto office approximately six times per year. ### About You: - You are a strategic and creative thinker who can translate broad brand priorities into clear, actionable plans. - You have strong instincts for identifying relevant opportunities across media, creators, partnerships and culture. - You are a natural relationship builder with the ability to manage and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. - You are an experienced people manager who can provide clear direction, coaching and support to your team. - You are comfortable balancing strategic thinking with detailed planning and execution. - You are highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. - You can see the big picture while staying close enough to the details to ensure strong execution. - You are analytical and use data and insights to evaluate performance and inform decision-making. - You are collaborative, adaptable and comfortable working across a highly cross-functional organization. ### The Opportunity: - Partner with the Senior Director, Brand to develop and execute strategies across PR, partnerships, creators, community, affiliate marketing and brand experiences in support of broader brand and business priorities. - Lead the day-to-day development and execution of the brand's public relations and communications strategy, with a focus on driving meaningful earned media, storytelling and cultural relevance across North America, particularly in the U.S. - Manage the PR agency and other external partners, ensuring clear briefs, priorities, timelines, reporting and accountability. - Lead the development and execution of communications strategies, spanning proactive brand storytelling, media relations, executive and corporate communications, key announcements and reactive communications, ensuring a consistent and compelling voice across priority audiences and channels. - Oversee Creator & Content Partnerships across Ambassador, UGC, paid influencer and talent programs, helping to evolve a cohesive approach that drives brand awareness, advocacy and high-quality content. - Lead the development and execution of community-building initiatives that deepen consumer connection, foster brand advocacy and create meaningful opportunities for engagement. - Oversee the planning and execution of key brand IRL experiences and activations, partnering with internal teams and external partners to bring the brand to life in meaningful and culturally relevant ways. - Manage affiliate marketing programs and partnerships, including ShopMy, PR affiliates, creator affiliates and traditional affiliate programs, identifying opportunities to grow and evolve the channel. - Identify and evaluate strategic partnership opportunities that support brand relevance, audience growth and earned impact. - Partner closely with the Brand, Social, Growth, Creative and Regional teams to ensure PR, partnerships and community initiatives are integrated into broader marketing plans and key brand moments. - Develop clear briefs, plans and presentations to support cross-functional alignment and execution. - Establish and track KPIs across PR, partnerships, creator programs, affiliate marketing and events, using insights to optimize future activity. - Manage and develop a team of three, providing clear direction, prioritization, coaching and opportunities for growth. - Help establish scalable processes and ways of working across the PR + Partnerships function as the team and business continue to evolve. ### Qualifications: - 7–10 years of experience in PR, communications, brand partnerships, influencer/creator marketing or related brand marketing roles. - 2–4+ years of experience managing and developing team members. - Experience developing and executing strategic PR, communications and/or partnership programs. - Experience managing external agencies and partners. - Proven experience identifying, developing and managing strategic partnerships. - Experience working with creators, influencers, talent or ambassador programs is strongly preferred. - Experience with affiliate marketing, community-building and/or experiential marketing is an asset. - Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn broad objectives into actionable plans. - Excellent relationship-building, communication and stakeholder management skills. - Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and workstreams. - Experience managing budgets and external partners. - Highly motivated, collaborative and self-directed, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. - Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience. ### Salary: - Annual salary starting at $150,000.00 USD