Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialist-Tampa, FL

We have an exciting opportunity for a strategic and passionate Public Relations Specialist to join our dynamic team!

What Will You Do?

The Public Relations Specialist is responsible for building and maintaining a favorable image for Ashley and Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and a positive and valuable relationship with employees, communities, business partners, government officials, media agents and the general public.

This position is responsible for building key relationships, preparing, and disseminating information, managing community outreach, managing media outlets and events, and communicating with employees.

This position is accountable for shaping, guarding, and crafting the public image of the company and designing promotional campaigns within budgeted dollars.

The Public Relations Specialist will have the ability to interface well with all internal (including every major department in the company) and external contacts (government, media, business, community, and consumers) - representing Ashley, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and the Public Relations Department in a highly professional manner, while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality.

• Collect, prepare, and disseminate information regarding community outreach and charitable efforts, major business developments (new retail, manufacturing, distribution initiatives, investments, openings, and expansions), and crisis responses for Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. (Ashley) and Ashley Furniture HomeStore to internal and external audiences.
• Manage Ashley’s community outreach programs that drive positive employee branding and positive community relations.
• Work with community non-profit organizations to create positive community relations.
• Assist with and coordinate company events related to community outreach programs, business expansions, governmental affairs, or other events, often serving as Ashley’s primary liaison.
• Work directly with media outlets to schedule advertising for community outreach programs, business expansions, governmental affairs, or other events.
• Respond to requests for information from the media, working directly with the Public Relations Director, the media agent, Ashley’s legal and consumer affairs departments, Ashley Furniture HomeStore licensees and corporate stores, as well as consumers, to ensure that media-related incidents are handled properly.
• Prepare and deliver speeches for a variety of community outreach, business, and governmental affairs events.
• Prepare and disseminate communication content such as press releases, videos, brochures, flyers, advertisements, signage, online/social media-related content and posts, etc., for internal and external audiences. This includes working in collaboration with a wide variety of subject matter experts such as HomeStore licensees, executives, graphic designers, etc.
• Develop and implement SOPs and community outreach event calendars.
• Solicit community, government, or business assistance in the form of financial, in-kind services written or vocal action.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize projects and tasks, and communicate tabled, in-process and completed tasks to other Public Relations department members as well as community and government partners.
• Demonstrate the Company’s Core and Growth Values in the performance of all job functions.

What Do You Need?

• Bachelor Degree in Communications Arts, Public Relations, Business and/or Marketing or related field or equivalent work experience, Required
• 2 years’ experience in Public Relations, Corporate Communications or Marketing related position, Required
• Strong communication skills, including active listening and reading comprehension to accurately assess situations, and effective speaking and written skills to get messages across that have the desired effect.
• Ability to use social perceptiveness, persuasion, critical thinking, and negotiation to competently solve complex problems.
• Ability to generate multiple ideas about a topic and to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to approach them.
• Ability to order information, understand the implications of new information, and apply both inductive and deductive reasoning to reach sound judgments and decisions.
• Effective time management and organization skills including the ability to manage one’s time on multiple projects simultaneously and the time of others when necessary, and monitoring and coordinating efforts to make needed adjustments.
• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of learning strategies, selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Knowledge of financial management to effectively use resources, determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for those expenditures.
• Ability to display empathy, understanding and patience with employees and external customers through a strong orientation to service.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to respond professionally in situations with difficult employee, business, customer, media, government or community member issue or inquiry.
• Ability to perform under strong demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite and the Internet.
• Maintain confidentiality

Who Are We?

• We offer competitive pay and excellent benefits.
• We are a multi-billion-dollar company and the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world and offer one of the industry’s broadest product assortments at over 20,000 storefronts in 123 countries.
• Growth-Focused is one of our core values, and we are dedicated to helping you grow with us through training, mentoring, and coaching as well as investing in the latest design tools, production equipment and new technologies.
• Environmental efforts are a priority as we continually seek to recycle, reuse, and replenish every day.
• Millions of dollars are contributed annually to local and national charities as we seek to improve the lives of people around the world.

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. Principals only.