At Kimpton it all starts with our culture, which is focused on supporting our employees' personal and professional growth. We believe that if we take care of our employees they will be able to take care of our guests, ensuring the satisfaction of our investors and our future. Our culture inspires confidence and leads to caring service that comes straight from the heart.

We also are a socially responsible employer and citizen thanks to our Kimpton EarthCare and Kimpton Cares programs. Kimpton EarthCare is our industry-leading environmental program in which we have adopted eco-friendly operational practices and products to do our part in supporting a sustainable world.

"Fortune Magazine named Kimpton one of the 100 Best Places to Work For in 2013!"

Kimpton in Washington DC and Alexandria, VA is looking for someone with an abundance of passion for food, cocktails, wine, casual fine dining restaurants and bars to lead its local, regional and national public relations efforts for seven restaurants and bars in the DC/VA area. The Director of Restaurant Public Relations will oversee all existing and new restaurants and bars, and an in-house restaurant PR Specialist. The Director will project-manage region-wide restaurant initiatives and lead the strategy for awareness and exposure of the regional restaurant group.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Drive top-line revenue through exposure and awareness of Kimpton's individual restaurants in DC and Virginia, and overall restaurant brand offering.

• Create, communicate and execute annual strategic plan for restaurant public relations
• Manage in-house restaurant PR Specialist and external PR agencies as appropriate as it relates to idea generation, press coverage and the development and execution of quarterly plans; lead new agency searches as necessary
• Collaborate with Kimpton brand PR agency on national restaurant press
• Identify and communicate food, wine, cocktail and restaurant trends to restaurant PR representatives and internal restaurant senior leaders
• Oversee and lead the public relations efforts for new restaurant openings

• Plan, develop, implement and track specific brand-wide or region-wide restaurant programs in conjunction with the Director, Restaurant Marketing and Directors of Restaurant Operations
• Establish and maintain positive and productive professional relationships with members of the news media -  national and global; trade, business, lifestyle and general. This includes meeting with and entertaining journalists.
• Research, pitch and place favorable stories reflecting key messaging about the brand, as it relates to the company’s restaurants
• Serve as a liaison between journalists and Kimpton restaurant spokespersons. Work with spokespeople on messaging (talking point development) and positioning
• Plan and execute key high-level events on behalf of the restaurant brand
• Serve as Kimpton restaurant ambassador in the community through involvement with key non-profits and organizations
• Write and edit press materials, including press releases, press kits, presentations, etc.
• Contribute restaurant news and information to Kimpton's regional social media outlets
• Coordinate efforts with Director, Hotel PR to create programs and packages that highlight Kimpton restaurants, chefs and lounges

Qualified candidates will have seven to ten years of restaurant PR experience, ideally working in a public relations agency for a number of years. We will consider candidates with experience representing non-chain, stand-alone casual, upscale or fine dining restaurants and chefs. Corporate experience may also be considered.
 

• Intense curiosity and interest in food, wine and mixology, and respect for the chef’s trade
• Solid and verifiable food media contacts
• Stellar written and verbal communications skills; excellent AP-style journalistic writing and editing practices and strong presentation skills
• Assertiveness and sound judgment needed to move projects to completion
• Ability to work across different disciplines to achieve desired end-result
• Experience managing multiple direct reports; experience managing PR agencies a plus
• Experience with preparing and coaching company spokespeople in advance of interviews
• Ability to work some nights and weekends; moderate travel required
• Experience developing and managing annual, event and project budgets
• Fluency in social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other popular or emerging sites
• Results-oriented, self-motivated, creative and possessing a great sense of humor
• Understanding of self awareness of patterns and behaviors that sometimes can propel or limit success, and willingness improve personally and professionally
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet multiple deadlines under pressure
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to diplomatically prioritize requests
• Agility and creative intellect, entrepreneurial, pragmatic and flexible in nature
• Ability and willingness to follow established processes and procedures, and also work fluidly in situations where standard operating procedures do not exist
• A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or related field.