Public relations assistant Jobs in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Vendor Relations Manager

The Vendor Relations Manager leads risk mitigation and claims management efforts for managed properties, with a mission to enhance safety, reduce losses, and streamline insurance claims and periods of restoration for our condominium and commercial clients. In this highly visible role, you will design and execute a comprehensive risk management program in collaboration with our strategic restoration partner, First Onsite, to reduce the frequency and severity of property losses. Success in this position means safer communities, faster recovery from incidents, and improved insurance outcomes ultimately delivering peace of mind to our boards and residents.

You will serve as the trusted risk reduction advisor to our property management teams and clients, providing expert guidance on loss prevention best practices, coordinating lunch and learn training sessions, pre-loss risk assessments, and acting as an advocate for our clients during the claims process. In this role, you will act as a key point of connection between First Onsite and the communities we serve, fostering strong, collaborative partnerships that support effective communication and seamless service delivery during property loss events. Over time, your efforts will help lower insurance costs (through reduced claims and premiums) and drive higher satisfaction by minimizing disruptions. This role requires a proactive leader with knowledge of property management and outstanding people skills to influence and educate stakeholders at all levels.

Job Responsibilities:

• Program Development and Execution: Develop and implement a structured risk management program for our managed communities. Identify key risk areas (fire/water damage, safety and liability exposures) and devise strategies and processes to mitigate them, leveraging First Onsite and internal resources.
• Partnership Management: Act as the primary liaison between our organization, our clients, and First Onsite (our disaster restoration partner) for all matters related to property restoration and repair. Cultivate a strong relationship built on trust and aligned goals: industry leading response times, priority access to resources and equipment during catastrophic events, precise cost estimates, clear communication and daily reporting on jobs, and accurate, transparent invoices. Coordinate closely with First Onsites team before, during and after losses to ensure seamless service.
• Prevention and Preparedness: Manage educational campaigns and social events with our property managers, regional directors and the local First Onsite team to educate our teams on preparedness and prevention. Initiate pre-loss risk assessments at properties. Work with First Onsite and sited teams to conduct inspections, identify vulnerabilities and recommend best practices. Champion proactive measures like emergency response plans, maintenance check lists and recurring resident education campaigns.
• Stakeholder Communication and Education: Communicate regularly with boards, residents, and property management teams about the risk management program and ongoing initiatives. Translate technical insurance and risk concepts into clear messages, outlining the practical benefits. Facilitate educational sessions (lunch and learns, workshops, virtual meetings) to promote awareness and adoption of best practices.
• Relationship Building: Establish strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Internally, work closely with VPs, Regional Directors, Community Managers and local operations and maintenance teams to integrate risk management into our daily management practices. Externally, network with industry groups, insurance professionals, and risk management organizations to stay abreast of emerging trends and solutions. Leverage First Onsite and FS Insurance Brokers to design and execute risk mitigation efforts including training, simulation drill and product or technology demos for our managers and boards.
• Claims Advocacy and Management: Advocate for our clients during the insurance claims process to achieve fair and timely outcomes. Liaise between boards, insurance adjusters, brokers and First Onsite project managers to ensure clear and responsive communication and quick resolution of claims. Monitor claim status on larger jobs and intervene if needed to remove roadblocks, minimize claim cycle time and ensure restoration and reconstruction work meets quality standards.
• Data Analysis & Monitoring: Work closely with our outside partners to deliver quarterly reports for the Office of the COO and regional leadership, highlighting job/claim statistics, notable jobs/case studies performed and return-on-investment of risk initiatives. Conduct a quarterly program review with executive leadership and First Onsite to evaluate results and set goals for the coming year. Discuss feedback from clients and adjust strategies to improve effectiveness (expanding the program to new regions or introducing new service offerings needed within the communities.
• Continuous Improvement & Special Projects: Stay updated on industry best practices in risk management and claims handling (e.g. new insurance products, IoT sensors for leak detection, updated building codes). Continuously refine program materials and procedures to align with the highest standards. Drive special projects assigned by the SVP or COO - such as piloting new technologies, developing a claims FAQ for managers, or coordinating an annual risk summit with First Onsite and other partners. Ensure that all efforts reinforce our company's commitment to exceptional service and protection for our clients.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Leadership & Collaboration: Self-motivated leader who can drive initiatives with minimal oversight while also working collaboratively in a matrix organization. Proven ability to lead cross-functional efforts and influence without direct authority. Relationship building is critical you will be interfacing daily with property managers, executives, vendor partners, and client boards. We seek someone who can inspire trust and rally others around loss prevention goals.
• Communication & Influence: Excellent communication skills both written and verbal with an ability to tailor messages to different audiences. Comfortable speaking persuasively in front of large groups (board meetings, training sessions, industry events) and one-on-one. Strong interpersonal skills to build rapport and credibility across teams.
• Risk & Insurance Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of property & casualty insurance, claims processes, and risk mitigation techniques. Any experience with insurance claim handling or risk consulting will be considered a plus.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent related experience
• Industry Experience: 5+ years of experience in condominium, HOA or commercial property management. Exposure to restoration services is an asset.

Physical Requirements & Working Environment:

This position works under usual office conditions. The employee is required to work at a personal computer as well as be on the phone for extended periods of time. Must be able to stand, sit, walk and occasionally climb. The incumbent must be able to work extended and flexible hours and weekends as needed. Physical demands include ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Tools & Equipment Used:

• General office equipment

Travel & Flexibility: Willingness to travel locally/regionally to attend property walk-throughs, incident sites, and client meetings (approximately 30-40% of time). A valid drivers license is required.

What We Offer:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans (full time and 30+ hours)
• Part time 20+ hours qualify for dental and vision
• 401K match
• Time off including vacation, sick, and company paid holidays
• Pet insurance available
• Tuition reimbursement
• Legal services
• Free emotional wellbeing and daily life assistance support for all associates
• Domestic partner coverage
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending account

About Us:

FirstService Residential transforms the property management landscape by providing professional association management services to over 9,000 residential communities across the United States and Canada.