Senior Public Relations Manager

Company overview

Rise & Shine PR is a boutique public relations agency that helps brands of every size build visibility through tailored communications, events, digital PR, and social media-led campaigns. The team works as an embedded partner to clients, building close relationships with media, influencers, and other stakeholders. With a reputation for being thoughtful, proactive, and highly detail-focused, the agency creates campaigns designed to reach the right audience at the right moment. It was also named a Girls in Business 2024 and 2025 finalist for Best Place to Work.

Role summary

This full-time, on-site position is based in Northcote, Auckland. As Senior Public Relations Manager, you will shape and deliver PR strategy, campaigns, and storylines across a varied client portfolio, ensuring each plan supports the client’s brand direction and business priorities.

Key responsibilities

You will handle press material development and review, drive media outreach, nurture relationships with journalists and influencers, and identify opportunities for stories and partnerships. The role also includes managing campaign schedules, coordinating events and activations, contributing to social media planning, and tracking media coverage and performance outcomes. In addition, you will support and mentor junior colleagues, assist with new business pitches, and work closely with clients to provide strategic advice and ongoing communication support.

Qualifications and experience

The role calls for strong PR and strategic communications capability, along with the ability to build and execute integrated public relations plans. You should bring solid media relations experience, including pitching and securing meaningful coverage, and be comfortable writing and refining media releases and related materials with precision. Excellent written and verbal communication is essential, as is the ability to present ideas clearly to both clients and internal teams. Several years of experience in a PR agency or in-house communications setting is preferred, ideally at a senior level. You should be able to manage multiple accounts and deadlines in a demanding environment, have experience with events, influencer activity, digital PR and social campaigns, and hold a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related discipline, or have equivalent hands-on experience. A collaborative attitude, strong problem-solving ability, and respect for inclusive workplace practices are also important.

Additional notes

A small but important office tradition is that the successful candidate should be happy to walk Charlie, the office labradoodle.