Your Role
As the Regional PR Director for APME, you will provide strategic leadership to elevate the firm’s visibility and reputation across the region through strategic storytelling, high‑quality content, and strong media relationships. You will shape thought‑leadership initiatives, guide events and campaigns, and ensure all communications reflect the firm’s brand, priorities, and design expertise. As a key representative in the firmwide PR community, you will drive alignment between regional efforts and global messaging while fostering a collaborative, creative, and high‑trust team culture.
Providing strategic oversight, you will work closely with key spokespeople across priority practice areas to effectively position the firm in the market. By partnering closely with marketing leaders, office leadership, and media partners, you will maximize opportunities for press coverage, awards, and storytelling that support both business objectives and market presence.
This role begins as a 6‑month fixed‑term contract, with the intention of converting to a permanent position. During the initial term, the primary focus will be on assessing the current state of APME PR, building foundational relationships and workflows, and developing a strategic roadmap for the region. The goal is to set the conditions for long‑term success — not to deliver a fully mature PR operation within six months. You will begin leading APME PR as a unified ecosystem that leverages time zones, cultural diversity, and market strengths, laying the groundwork to align PR, marketing, and regional teams around shared priorities.
What You Will Do
Key Priorities for the Initial 6‑Month Term
- Assess and map the current PR landscape: Conduct a thorough review of PR performance, capabilities, and team structure across all APME offices to identify strengths, gaps, and market opportunities. Deliver an initial assessment and recommendations within the first 90 days.
- Build foundational connectivity and communication workflows: Begin establishing regular communication rhythms and working relationships with marketing leaders/coordinators, studio directors, office managing directors, regional leadership, and firmwide PR. The goal is to have initial workflows in place and relationships forming, not a fully optimized system.
- Develop a draft regional PR strategy and roadmap: Begin shaping a high‑performance, connected regional PR strategy that aligns local market efforts with global messaging, business priorities, and emerging market opportunities. Present a draft roadmap by the end of the 6‑month term for refinement in the permanent role.
- Initiate PR–practitioner collaboration: Begin building a working relationship between the PR team and design practitioners (client relationship holders, PA leaders, office leadership, studio directors, etc.) so the team can become more proactive around project PR milestones. Focus on establishing trust and early wins rather than a complete workflow overhaul.
- Build strategic credibility with regional leadership: Act as a strategic partner to APME leadership, helping build understanding and alignment around PR’s contribution to business growth. Focus on demonstrating value through early relationship‑building and quick wins.
- Recommend a long‑term PR structure: Based on the initial assessment, propose the appropriate PR structure, resources, and workflows required for long‑term regional success. This recommendation will inform decisions as the role converts to a permanent position.
Ongoing Responsibilities (Permanent Role)
Upon conversion to a permanent role, the Regional PR Director will be expected to fully own and execute the regional PR strategy, deepen cross‑market collaboration, scale storytelling and media impact across all APME markets, and drive measurable contributions to business development and market visibility. The priorities established during the initial term will serve as the foundation for this expanded scope.
Your Qualifications
- 15+ years professional PR experience; strong, current regional and national media relationships; experience with a design or professional services firm helpful; agency or journalism experience is of interest
- Superior written and verbal communications skills – should be a person who can tell the firm’s story as eloquently (or more) than very experienced leaders
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, social media, brand management, and knowledgeable in photography and graphic design
- Great collaborator who works well with senior staff and team members to secure information that supports storytelling
- Well-versed in PR risk issues and developing scenarios to help firm leaders make decisions
- Positive, initiative-taking approach to the role
- Confident and humble, able to communicate and work with all levels of Gensler staff, clients and external parties. High degree of integrity
- Good organization skills and attention to details; ability to prioritize, work to tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure
- Team player – reliable, flexible, helpful
- Relationship builder, integrator and connector within office, region, firm, industry; seeks meaningful partnerships that align with Gensler’s strategic objectives
Life at Gensler
As a people-first organization, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From internal design competitions to research grants to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. We offer profit sharing and twice annual bonus opportunities.
As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.
