How to hire a senior publicist

How to hire a senior publicist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior publicist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior publicist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior publicist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a senior publicist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior publicist you need to hire. Certain senior publicist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior publicist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior publicists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of senior publicist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Publicist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Publicist	Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.	$26-51
   Campaign Manager	Campaign managers are responsible for developing, executing, and managing marketing campaigns for events, products, and services targeting consumers or organizations. These professionals typically collaborate with external agencies in the preparation and execution of campaigns... Show more	$26-52
   Vice President Of Communication	A vice president of communication is in charge of overseeing and implementing internal and external communication programs. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, allocating budgets, delegating tasks, liaising with key clients, and managing the workforce to ensure an efficient workflow... Show more	$45-124

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Press Releases
   • Publicity Campaigns
   • Press Materials
   • Fiction
   • Booking
   • Brainstorming
   • Writing Press Releases
   • Press Coverage
   • Non-Fiction
   • Pitch Letters
   • Press Kits
   • Promotional Materials
   • Media Management
   • Newspapers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and oversee the distribution of show web clips, including breaking news and investigations.
   • Manage improvements to company website including new content management system and SEO to increase functionality and improve organic search rankings.
   • Develop promotional strategies for bestselling fiction, and non-fiction hardcover and trade paperback publishing.
   • Create original press release, brand biographies, and story content copy.
   • Create and implement publicity and marketing campaigns for general interest, non-fiction books.
   • Specialize in creating publicity and brand awareness campaigns for bestselling literary and non- fiction authors.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior publicist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior publicist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior publicists' average salary in hawaii is 37% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior publicists 49% less than senior-level senior publicists.
   • Certifications. A senior publicist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior publicist's salary.

   Average senior publicist salary

   $77,515yearly

   $37.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior publicist salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

4. Writing a senior publicist job description

   A senior publicist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a senior publicist job description:

   Senior publicist job description example

   Who are we?
   
   J/PR is a global communications firm specializing in public relations, content creation, and social media. We work with some of the best hotels, resorts and lifestyle brands in the world, including Relais & Chateaux, Vail Resorts Hospitality and Hilton Luxury Brands to name a few. You can see our current client list here. Being a part of this international powerhouse agency will connect you to a roster of distinguished hotels, resorts, restaurants, real estate projects, and destinations across the globe, elevating your career (and your frequent flier status). We tell compelling original stories to connect brands to their target audiences. We're passionate, professional, and purpose-driven. We're dedicated to our work, the agency, our clients, and each other.
   
   Forbes said "There are the Women Deciding Where You're Traveling," and Inc. Magazine featured J/PR in an article titled, "How Two Millennial-ish Women Built a PR Powerhouse." This is in addition to numerous awards like PR News Best Places to Work, New York Observer PR Power 5 for five years in a row, The PR Net 100, Forbes Five Star Agency, PR Couture Spotlight Agency of the Year, and Crain's Best Places to Work (to name a few).
   
   At J/PR, we're incredibly intentional about our company culture, and we whole-heartedly believe in a work-life blend, where you'll be empowered to continue learning and growing through travel, mentorship, training and retreats, along with a connected company culture.
   
   The Role
   
   The Senior Publicist is seasoned in media relations, the client go-to, and is starting to work on account strategy when not flawlessly executing a FAM or Media Mission. S/he plays a crucial role in not just delivering big hits, features, and profile stories for clients, but also begins taking a bigger role in helping Account Leads manage the team and leading in-person client-facing interactions. At this stage, the ideal person has solid media relationships in place (in both regional and national markets), meets with media regularly, and is constantly concepting pitch angles based on sound research to get media engaged and excited. In this role, the ideal candidate will take proactive ownership, overseeing the strategy for media relations focused tasks, looking at accounts holistically to understand what is needed, and then jumping in for team members at all levels to help / alleviate where needed.
   
   Duties and Responsibilities
   
   Account + Client Management
   
   * Day to day client go-to
   * Proactive approach to managing client needs/ expectations
   * Lead portions of client calls
   * May lead smaller accounts with senior leadership oversight
   * Assist with strategy, planning, implementation and evaluation of PR activities
   * Creative brainstorming, program and pitch development
   * Build relationships with destinations, CVBs and offices of tourism in the markets that serve your clients
   
   Media and Influencer Relations
   
   * Have a wide range of go-to media contacts making you (and your clients) look like a star as you secure top tier national press and features
   * Proactive media relations (pitching, organizing media/influencer visits, reviewing & approving media lists) is very much the focus of your day to day
   * Regularly dig into newspapers, magazines, broadcast, blogs, digital pieces to find new angles, new editors and new contributors to create new relationships
   * Organize pitch priorities; assign and oversee progress of pitches to team members with support of account leadership
   * Regularly coordinate in-person media meetings with journalists on location
   * Secure and host media and influencers on press trips, media appointments and events
   
   Team Leadership
   
   * Oversee the workflow of junior team members
   * Begin to plan 90-Day and Annual plans to impact client goals and KPI's
   * Regularly lead the junior team through projects to make check marks against goals and KPI's
   
   Industry/ J/PR
   
   * You confidently secure meetings with relevant brands who may impact your clients goals
   * There is an organization or two you've become attached to outside the office where you're networking and creating unique connections
   * You seek out opportunities for learning by attending conferences, workshops and events on behalf of the agency
   
   Other
   
   * And other tasks, projects, or duties as required
   
   Experience
   
   * College Degree or comparable experience required
   * At least 3-5 years of public relations experience in travel, hospitality, tourism, culinary restaurant and/or consumer lifestyle arenas
   * Must have stellar hotel, restaurant and media references
   * Must have strong and proven relationships with local, regional and national media contacts.
   
   Requirements
   
   * Excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint in a Microsoft Windows environment
   * Excellent oral and written communication skills
   * Excellent interpersonal skills, experience in a hospitality environment is a plus
   * Excellent time management and organizational skills
   * Must be able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner
   * Strong knowledge of media and news cycles
   * Ability to thrive in a deadline-driven environment
   * Strong understanding of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
   * Strong understanding of Influencer relations and engagement
   * Polished and professional demeanor
   
   Benefits
   
   J/PR offers a competitive benefits package, inclusive of but not limited to:
   
   * Competitive base salary
   * Commission
   * Year-end Discretionary Bonus
   * Hybrid office schedule
   * Hotel Trade
   * Birthday PTO
   * Accrued PTO
   * Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
   * 401K
   * Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance
   
   Applicants for employment in the U.S. must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.
   
   EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
   
   J Public Relations strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
   
   HIRING PRACTICES
   
   The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
   
   J Public Relations recruitment policies are designed to place the most highly qualified persons available in a timely and efficient manner. J Public Relations may pursue all avenues available, including promotion from within, employee referrals, outside advertising, employment agencies, Internet recruiting, job fairs, college recruiting and search firms

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find senior publicists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any senior publicists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level senior publicists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior publicist job on Zippia to find and recruit senior publicist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior publicists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior publicist

   Once you've selected the best senior publicist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a senior publicist?