Manager PR, Events & VIP Relations

Overview:

Madewell is seeking a highly collaborative, strategic, and detail-oriented freelance PR, Events & VIP Relations Manager to join our fast-paced brand marketing team. This cross-functional role will be instrumental in driving brand visibility and cultural relevance through earned media, immersive experiences, and VIP engagement. The ideal candidate is equal parts event producer, PR strategist, and relationship builder—someone who thrives at the intersection of storytelling, connection, and execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Events & Experiential Marketing

• Lead and manage the strategy, planning, and execution of brand events—including press previews, VIP activations, retail events, and larger-scale brand moments such as brand dinners and pop-ups.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Brand Marketing on the development of event concepts, run of show, guest experience, and post-event recaps.
• Develop and manage a quarterly events calendar.
• Manage cross-functional collaboration across creative, retail, and social teams to ensure brand alignment and maximize impact.
• Oversee external vendors and production partners; lead RFPs and production timelines.
• Support in-store and local-market events in partnership with store teams and retail marketing.

PR & Communications

• Develop and support press strategies that align with seasonal brand stories and business priorities.
• Partner with external PR agencies on outreach, media relations, and strategic placements across fashion, lifestyle, and business media.
• Support with approving and reviewing press materials, briefing documents, media lists, and event communications.
• Coordinate with the Influencer Marketing and Performance teams to identify opportunities for integrating seeding content and PR headlines into Email and Paid campaigns.
• Work alongside PR agencies to monitor coverage, track results, and identify key learnings and insights to inform future strategy and reporting.
• Identify editorial opportunities and cultural trends to proactively position Madewell in relevant conversations.

VIP & Talent Relations

• Lead seeding and gifting strategy to engage stylists, influencers, celebrities, and cultural connectors.
• Partner with PR/talent agency to build guest lists, secure attendance, and drive buzz around key launches and events.
• Track talent engagement to surface key learnings and insights that inform future partnerships and align with seasonal brand initiatives.
• Manage guest list strategy and execution for brand events and priority IRL activations.

Strategy, Reporting & Budgeting

• Help lead the development of integrated earned media strategies that align with seasonal and long-term brand objectives.
• Maintain a unified calendar across PR, VIP, and event initiatives to ensure strategic alignment and visibility across teams.
• Regularly report on press coverage, seeding outcomes, and event performancanalyzing results to surface insights and inform future strategies.
• Own and manage project budgets, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently for maximum impact and return.

Team Management

• Manage and mentor at least one direct report, providing clear guidance, ongoing feedback, and regular growth opportunities.
• Support direct report in day-to-day responsibilities across press, events, and seeding—ensuring high-quality execution and attention to detail.
• Set clear goals and development plans, fostering professional growth and expanding capabilities within the team.

Qualifications:

• 5–8 years of relevant experience across PR, events, and talent/influencer relations—preferably within fashion, lifestyle, or culture-forward brands.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, PR, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong network of media contacts, influencers, and stylists within the fashion and entertainment industries.
• Proven ability to lead multiple projects from concept through execution in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; confident in pitching, storytelling, and presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organized, proactive, and collaborative with strong attention to detail.
• Quick learner with a test-and-learn mindset—eager to take on new challenges, analyze both successes and failures, and adapt strategies based on insights.
• Proficient in Keynote, Excel, and report

We welcome you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity, and who feel connected to our brands and share our desire to make an impact. We’re always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow and evolve with our teams.

Benefits + Perks

• Health & Well-being - Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel and more.
• Associate Discount - We love our products just as much as you do! That’s why we offer a great associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).
• Summer Fridays - In addition to our hybrid work model, we also close our office at 1:00 PM every Friday during the Summer months.
• Community Impact - We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program.
• Winter Break - In addition to our PTO package, J.Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.

Note: Availability of these benefits and perks may be subject to work location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements.

At J.Crew Group (JCG) we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base salary is just one component of J.Crew Group’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes the opportunity for bonus, competitive benefits and perks.

One of our core focuses here at JCG is creating a community and culture that builds belonging. We are deeply committed to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and we warmly welcome job applicants of all backgrounds.

JCG is proud to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all associates and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, legally protected physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected under applicable law.