At Dollywood Parks & Resorts, we create memories worth repeating. We do this every day across all properties, all located in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Ask anyone who has visited Dollywood Parks & Resorts and they will tell you this place is different. It's not a difference that you can touch or see - it's a difference you can feel. We are seeking a Publicist who will embody the heart and soul of our mission of creating memories worth repeating while bringing families closer together and caring deeply about our brand. This person also brings a spirit of fun, authenticity, collaboration, creativity and genuine hospitality to the lives of our guests.We want to work alongside someone who acts as an extension of our mission, values, and culture. This individual is driven to create meaningful experiences for our hosts, guests, and community while ensuring the success and profitability of our unique offerings. They also bring fun, authenticity, collaboration, creativity, and genuine hospitality to their life and work. We seek an individual who can bring the vision of the resorts to life. The right Publicist checklist will include equal parts curious learner, innovator, administrator, detail driver, mentor, and motivator.At the direction of the Director of Public Relations and the Senior Publicist, the Publicist contributes to The Dollywood Company's marketing efforts by creating accurate, compelling and relevant content for all media focused on Dollywood as a complete family destination, inclusive of all associated properties. With a thorough understanding of The Dollywood Company and Dolly Parton brands, the Publicist provides internal and external written communications to position the Dollywood experiences as unique, authentic and one-of-a-kind. By fostering relationships with media representatives in various DMAs, the Publicist identifies sources to increase awareness of the Dollywood brand through story placement. As a public face of The Dollywood Company, the Publicist promotes the various properties in several settings, including planning and executing internal and external special events. The Publicist contributes to the successful execution of The Dollywood Marketing plan by being a dedicated team player, approaching tasks with an open mind, embracing creative thinking, and respecting the ideas of other team members.Additionally, the ideal candidate will be able display and live out Lead with Love qualities, strongly rooted in the Dollywood Company culture, by being patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, dedicated and accountable.Summary of Essential Functions and ResponsibilitiesWriting
- Write optimized news releases
- Write optimized content for digital media applications, including blog posts
- Identify stories, gather information, and write articles for internal employee newsletters
- Serve as PR team copy editor for email blasts
Media Relations
- Cultivate relationships with media representatives with a focus on specific geographic regions
- Participate in the editorial planning process for annual PR-related initiatives
- Develop and execute tactical plans and media recaps for Dollywood's Splash Country with the approval of the Public Relations Director
- Manage relationships with the Dollywood's Splash Country operational team and execute on-site events and media visits at all properties as directed by the Public Relations Director
- Identify and pitch stories to garner placement for and increase awareness of the Dollywood brand and coordinate any follow-up facts, data and/or coordination with park personnel
- Coordinate and facilitate site visits at all properties for members of the media, including print, broadcast and digital
- Serve as a company spokesperson on-camera and in print/online media opportunities
- Prepare appropriate company leaders/peers for media interviews as required
- Monitor news trends and news media across traditional and non-traditional channels to maintain a solid grasp of relevancy as it relates to The Dollywood Company, the theme park/amusement and hospitality industries and the community (local, regional and global)
- Participate in the editorial planning process for annual PR-related initiatives
- Identify and pitch stories to garner placement for and increase awareness of the Dollywood brand and coordinate any follow-up facts, data and/or coordination with park personnel
- Monitor incoming media admission requests and distribute to PR Team member responsible for corresponding market for fulfillment
- Compile monthly recaps of story placements for leadership team by using Muck Rack media monitoring software
Event Planning
- Assist with planning, organizing and executing special media, publicity and community events
Production
- Assist with the coordination and production of marketing publications. Assist with the coordination and production of internal publications for other departments to ensure brand consistency
- Support social media team by providing compelling video content and written copy that also can be shared across traditional media channels
Management reserves the right to change and/or add to these duties at any timeEducation and Experience Required
- Bachelor's Degree in journalism, marketing or communications, Required
- Prior experience in Public Relations or related field, Required. Experience in the tourism, hospitality or entertainment industry, Highly Preferred
- Ability to effectively communicate information and ideas in written format, specifically as it relates to news releases and press kits
- Ability to communicate information in verbal format
- Strong editing skills
- Manage and implement publicity plans to garner local coverage
- Knowledge of creating SEO content
- On-camera experience as a spokesperson strongly preferred
- Must have the ability to initiate creative and innovative publicity and campaign ideas
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to build and maintain relationships
- Established media contacts preferred
- Experience in the theme park, hospitality and/or tourism industry preferred
- Experience with graphic design and related software preferred
- Ability to function effectively in high-stress situations and sound decision-making skills required
- Ability to organize, plan and meet deadlines and budget restrictions required
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Able to make a friendly impression when speaking to or corresponding with guests, vendors, and other employees
- Must reflect Dollywood's image by being genuinely friendly and caring and by taking pride in work
- Must be self-motivated and disciplined
- Must be able to prioritize and complete work assignments on a timely basis
- Must maintain strict confidentiality and judgment regarding privileged information
- Must be committed to continuous improvement
- Must have professional appearance with good personal hygiene
- Must promote and support a team work environment by cooperating and helping co-workers
- Must be productive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Must maintain dependable work attendance and flexibility with assigned work schedules including any required overtime, evenings, weekends and holidays
- Must be sensitive to the needs of our Guests and feel empowered to act to meet their needs within company guidelines
- Must be able to utilize effective communication, problem solving, conflict management and interpersonal skills
- Must show appreciation of others
- Ability to adapt and lead change
- Must thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Must show appreciation to others
- Must be sensitive to the needs of our Guests and feel empowered to take action to meet their needs within company guidelines
- Self-supervised and disciplined to prioritize and complete workload on a timely basis
- Detail oriented and maintains high level of accuracy
- Strong organizational skills
- Able to get along with other employees to work out problems and resolve conflicts
- Able to comprehend instructions and retain information
- Able to perform duties consistent with creating a safe and secure environment for hosts and guests
- Able to be flexible to handle frequent changes in priorities
- Able to add, subtract, multiply and divide with accuracy
- Able to communicate effectively using standard English grammar and punctuation
- Able to tolerate various temperatures while working indoors and outdoors
- Able to meet the physical demands of the job
- Able to hear, see and speak
- Able to speak, read and write English
- Able to smile and make eye contact to make a friendly impression when greeting guests, vendors and other employees
- Must have manual dexterity necessary to complete all job duties
- Able to sit and/or stand for long/short periods
- Able to maintain good personal hygiene
- Able to operate different types of motorized vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, vans, golf carts, and other all-terrain vehicles as well as ability to enter and exit vehicle multiple times daily
- Finger movement to write, use a computer and other office equipment
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
- Above average memory retention and recall
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide
- Ability to obtain a TN Driver's License and Auto Insurance
- Dependable work attendance and flexibility with assigned work schedules to include nights, weekends and holidays
The Dollywood Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. The Dollywood Company drives a welcoming culture where ideas and decisions from all people support our efforts to be relevant in an ever-changing world.