Director, Brand Public Relations

Established in 2025, Catalyst Brands is a diverse portfolio some of the most legendary American brands in the apparel industry. This includes: Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Jeans, Nautica, and JCPenney.

This is a unique opportunity to join a newly formed and experienced team as we boldly redefine quality, value and style. If you thrive in a fast-paced, creative, and entrepreneurial environment and are ready to disrupt the retail industry with compelling storytelling and innovative PR strategies, this is your chance to make a lasting impact.

Position OverviewCatalyst Brands is seeking a dynamic and highly strategic Director of Brand PR to lead our public relations initiatives and help drive forward the cultural narrative for each of our brands.
Reporting to the VP of Communication, Experiential and Philanthropy, the ideal candidate is a seasoned integrated communications professional with a proven track record in fashion and retail marketing, expert-level creative storytelling, and experience working with top-tier agencies. They are a cultural trendsetter who thrives in fast-paced environments and understands how to bridge brand communications with corporate reputation.
Key Responsibilities:• Brand PR Leadership: Lead the development and execution of innovative PR campaigns that position each brand as a leader in their space.• Storytelling & Messaging: Craft compelling narratives that drive emotional connections with our customers.• Campaign Execution: Spearhead nationwide product launches, designer collaborations, entertainment integrations, and collection reveals to generate buzz and excitement around the brands.• Media relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with editors and journalists to ensure the brand receives ongoing coverage for its products and initiatives• Agency Partnership: Serve as the day-to-day liaison with world-class PR agencies, ensuring the development of disruptive, earned-first creative programs that deliver measurable results.• Integrated Marketing Collaboration: Partner with internal marketing teams (creative, social, influencer, paid media) to ensure cohesive and innovative execution of integrated campaigns.• Trendsetting & Cultural Relevance: Conduct daily “trend-mining” to identify cultural moments and trends that JCPenney can leverage to stay relevant and top-of-mind.• Reputation Management: Collaborate with corporate communications to seamlessly align brand-building initiatives with executive thought leadership and reputation management strategies.• Measurement & Insights: Establish KPIs for PR campaigns, track performance, and continuously optimize strategies based on data and insights.
Qualifications• 12-15+ years of experience in fashion, retail, or lifestyle public relations, with a VP or SVP equivalent role in an agency setting.• Proven expertise in communications strategy as part of an integrated marketing mix, with a strong portfolio of culturally impactful campaigns for fashion or retail brands.• Exceptional storyteller and writer with the ability to craft authentic, humanized corporate narratives that resonate across audiences and platforms.• Deep understanding of the retail landscape and each brand’s role in that space• Experience leading large-scale product launches, collaborations, and media integrations.• Strong relationships with media, influencers, talent managers, and cultural tastemakers in the fashion and retail industries.• Creative thinker with a knack for identifying and capitalizing on cultural trends and moments.• Collaborative leader with experience working across brands, integrated teams and external agencies.• Entrepreneurial mentality, with a passion for redefining perceptions and taking bold risks.
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