Associate Director - PR & Influencer Marketing, Foods

Associate Director Of Pr, & Influencer Marketing

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose : to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people - we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

Foods North America is a $2B business built around two verticals, Condiments (Hellmann's) and Cooking Aids & Mini Meals (Knorr). These brands have category-shaping scale and top-quartile performance among US food competitors.

Unilever is seeking a dynamic and culturally connected Associate Director of PR, & Influencer Marketing to lead earned and owned storytelling for Hellmann's and Knorr. This role is pivotal in shaping how these brands show up in culture, drive relevance, and build brand love through breakthrough PR, influencer partnerships, and social-first creative.

This role will also champion corporate communications for Unilever Foods North America.

Key Responsibilities

Lead PR Strategy & Execution : Develop and execute earned media strategies that drive brand buzz, cultural relevance, and consumer engagement.

Influencer Marketing Leadership : Build and manage influencer programs that authentically connect Hellmann's and Knorr to food, lifestyle, and cultural communities, while supporting both strategic tentpoles and building always on presence.

Social Strategy & Creative Direction : Integrate creator content into brand's social media strategy across platforms, guiding creative development and content calendars that reflect cultural trends and brand priorities.

Brand Collaborations & Partnerships : Proactively identify, initiate, and champion strategic brand collaborations and partnerships that amplify Hellmann's and Knorr's cultural relevance, drive innovation, and unlock new audiences across PR, influencer, and social channels.

Agency & Partner Management : Lead external PR, influencer, and social agencies to deliver best-in-class work, ensuring alignment with brand goals and KPIs.

Trendspotting & Cultural Intelligence : Stay on the pulse of emerging trends, platforms, creators, and conversations to keep Hellmann's and Knorr ahead of the curve.

Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with brand, media, insights, and digital teams to integrate earned and owned strategies into broader marketing plans.

Budget Management & Performance Measurement : Oversee budget planning and management for PR, influencer, and social initiatives. Set clear KPIs and measurement frameworks to track performance, optimize spend, and ensure alignment with brand and business objectives.

Local Issues Management : Monitor, assess, and proactively manage local issues that may impact the brand's reputation or business operations. Serve as the point of contact for local crisis communications, ensuring timely and effective response in collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners.

Team Leadership : Provide strong leadership by fostering a collaborative, high-performance team culture. Coach and mentor team members to support their professional growth, skill development, and career progression, ensuring alignment with brand and business objectives.

Qualifications

An expert in PR, communications, and influencer marketing with minimum 8-10 years of combined experience in PR, influencer marketing, and social media strategy, either at an agency or in-house, preferably in CPG or lifestyle brands.

Proven track record of leading culturally resonant campaigns and partnerships.

Deep understanding of the evolving media landscape and creator economy.

Strong creative instincts and ability to guide content development.

Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills.

A self-starter who is obsessed with tangible business results and pioneering new models - pushing the boundaries of what it takes to land impactful PR and influencer content (that drives engagement and ultimately sales)

Natural curiosity and passion for culture, food, and storytelling.