Director, PR
Square Enix, United Kingdom

Square Enix, the company behind some of the world’s most popular action and RPG brands including Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Dragon Quest, is seeking a highly strategic and proactive PR Director to join our team and help shape the future of the company’s pillar MMORPG, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online. The ideal candidate will be a big-picture thinker, with a results-driven approach to crafting compelling Communications strategies.

This person will possess extensive media and influencer relations experience, expertise in translating complex concepts into broadly digestible stories, and have strong self-management and leadership skills. This is a highly- visible role requiring engagement with senior leadership at Square Enix, as well as studio leadership in Japan.

Working across core projects within the Square Enix West MMO Publishing group, you will be a self-starter with a passion for the game.

Requirements

• Develop and implement high-impact, integrated strategies for the overall PR, Communications, and Influencer campaigns for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online.
• Build a narrative that will help deliver positive, on-message coverage across relevant platforms including media, influencers and social platforms.
• Partner and collaborate closely with regional marketing, influencer relations and community leads to support the creation of impactful, integrated go-to-market programs that deliver the company’s business goals.
• Contribute to the Square Enix West (SEW) forecasting process. Define and be responsible for the central required annual communications budgets.
• Possess and maintain strong relationships with games industry media and influencers.
• Lead in-house teams, as well as external PR and influencer agency partner(s).
• Direct and oversee digital and physical events that drive traditional media coverage and content creation.
• Lead the creation and centralization of post-mortems that will drive the evolution of our communications best practices across the group.
• Successfully manage complex, fast-moving and unexpected communications challenges and reactive media and influencer issues in partnership with communications and project leadership
• Set objectives for the central PR and Influencer team and monitor performance, proactively pivoting as needed.
• Manage and lead personnel, ensuring they have clear goals and development plans. Provide timely, regular feedback and recognition for work.

Stakeholder Management

Work in a diverse group of cultures with both internal and external stakeholders, including:

• Western and Japanese Development Studios
• Central Publishing group
• Community and Customer Support teams
• Territory Marketing and PR teams
• Legal, Finance and other internal teams
• SEW Leadership

Key Stakeholders:

MMO Publishing Communications, Executive Director Publishing, SEJ Promotions and Development teams, SEW Leadership, international Territory Marketing teams, Community and Services group, Creative, Legal, Finance and other cross-functional teams.

Essential:

• Extensive level of experience in gaming communications, technology or consumer products.
• Experience launching AAA programs, with an emphasis on crafting the strategy and overarching PR and/or influencer campaigns.
• Proven ability to lead a diverse group of people to achieve desired results.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining media and/or influencer relationships.
• Experience managing external agencies.
• Knowledge of the AP writing style.

Desirable:

• Degree level of qualification or equivalent
• Understanding of Japanese video games and the Japanese video games market
• Experience in asset creation with both internal and external agencies

Essential:

• Possess a strong understanding of the power of traditional press, online communities, streamers and influencers.
• An excellent leader with good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Creative thinker with common sense and ability to recommend solutions and take the initiative.
• Executive presence, presentation skills and professional maturity.
• Ability to be a strong team player and in a multi-cultural and international working environment.
• Strong project management, problem solving and analytics skills.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment and resolve issues in a professional manner.
• Independent worker who takes initiative and works well with little supervision.
• Determined, resilient and tenacious.
• Passio

Job Rewards and Benefits