Communications/PR Manager

Founded by veterans of Google and YouTube, Howcast Media brings together the personality of user-generated content with the quality of a professional video studio to help consumers learn how-to do everything from the practical (“How to Paint a Wall”), to the unusual (“How to Get Paid for Donating Plasma”), to the entertaining (“How Not to Get Mugged”) at www.howcast.com. TIME Magazine recently recognized Howcast as one of the 50 Best Websites of 2008. With high-quality video content and vibrant user communities organized around specific topic categories, Howcast provides a wealth of opportunities for distribution and advertising partners.

We offer a competitive salary, stock options and benefits package. We’re also proud to offer an environment which prizes creativity and collaboration, recognizes personal achievements and believes in the potential of our team members.

You will plan, execute and manage coordinated public relations campaigns to introduce Howcast to consumers via bloggers, industry influentials and journalists in the technology, media and advertising sectors. Specifically, you will:
* Plan
o Push the envelope on how to use new and established ways to introduce the public to Howcast
o Build public relations plan, budget and schedule
o Partner with internal product development, business development, editorial and production teams to develop proactive story ideas about Howcast and industry trends related to team initiatives
o Keep abreast of trends in competitive landscape, industry and society
* Build Relationships with
o bloggers, industry influentials and journalists with an interest in what Howcast has to offer
o Howcast distribution, content, platform and advertising partners
* Execute
o Draft, review and deploy blog posts, press releases and announcements as well as supporting materials including talking points, briefings, backgrounders, etc.
o Help team members speak directly to the public via blog and public profiles
o Secure necessary approvals from business partners to promote relationship publicly
o Strategically introduce campaigns to bloggers, industry influentials and journalists
* Manage
o Manage press calendar, testimonials, and media list
o Coordinate and track all online references, quotes and testimonials
o Manage and refresh public relations materials from Howcast.com/press to printed and digital supporting materials

Experience:
* The successful candidate must have at least 2-4 years of experience in public relations, blogging, online media outreach or related fields, with demonstrated experience in developing press releases, formulating effective media pitches, conducting outreach and developing relationships with the press and/or blogging and developing relationships with bloggers for a company or organization.
* Experience with trade press, particularly advertising, technology and/or business trade press, is a plus.

Qualifications:
* College Bachelor's Degree (English, Writing, PR/Marketing, Communications degree a plus)

Skills:
* Very strong written and inter-personal communication skills
* Strong grasp of and genuine interest in emerging digital media, culture and businesses
* Experience managing online tools from blog software to emerging social networking, presence and bookmarking services
* Ability to work effectively with team members and partners across roles and levels of responsibility
* Confident, articulate speaker with well-developed networking and relationship building skills
* Keen attention to detail and good organization skills
* Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment requiring you to work with agility across teams and time zones (we have offices in New York City and San Francisco)
* Proficiency with office and web software
o Microsoft Office (required), Google Apps (preferred)
o Salesforce (preferred)

TO APPLY
Send all of the following to jobs+comm@howcast.com:
* Resume
* Cover Email
o introducing yourself and why you think you're right for this job
o telling us which Howcast Video you like the most (visit http://www.howcast.com/videos )
* 2 Writing Samples of any of the following:
o Press releases
o Blog posts
o Talking Points