PR & Marketing Communications Manager

Overview: If you’re looking for a purpose and not just a job, join the Smoothie King team and turn your purpose into a fulfilling passion!

We're not just the pioneers of the nutritional smoothie; we're the champions of inspiring people to live a healthy and active lifestyle. With over 1300 stores and counting, we’ve grown to become the largest nutritional smoothie bar in the nation, with a simple recipe for success: Hire the best people, use the best ingredients, and blend with a purpose.

At Smoothie King, we're serious about our clean ingredients and passionate about our guests' health and wellness journeys—but that doesn't mean we don't know how to have a good time. Here, you'll find work that's equal parts challenging and rewarding, all within a culture that's as amazing as our smoothies. We're committed to continuous improvement, achieving our goals, and fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. General Overview:

The PR & Marketing Communication Manager is responsible for leading national and local public relations, influencer partnerships, and corporate communications initiatives that enhance brand visibility, protect brand reputation, and support business growth. This role develops and executes proactive PR strategies, manages influencer programs, oversees agency partners, and ensures consistent brand storytelling across earned and shared media channels.

The PR & Marketing Communication Manager partners cross-functionally with Brand Marketing, Franchise Development, Operations, People Services, and Executive Leadership to deliver integrated communications that support brand positioning, growth initiatives, internal culture, and reputation management. This role requires a strategic, detail-oriented communicator with strong execution capabilities, media relations expertise, and the ability to manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as the primary day-to-day partner to the public relations agency, ensuring alignment on strategy, messaging, priorities, and key initiatives.
• Lead agency briefing for product launches, campaigns, brand storytelling opportunities, and high-impact moments.
• Review and approve press materials, media pitches, talking points, and PR calendars to ensure accuracy, quality, and messaging consistency.
• Track, analyze, and report on PR performance against established KPIs, identifying opportunities for optimization and continuous improvement.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between internal teams and agency partners to maintain consistent messaging across all channels.
• Provide agencies with timely assets, background information, quotes, product details, and brand insights to support top-tier media coverage.
• Partner across the organization and with key stakeholders to ensure communications align with broader enterprise initiatives and priorities.
• Collaborate with Brand Marketing to develop integrated consumer communications across paid, earned, and shared media channels.
• Activate the Smoothie King mission and vision by supporting short- and long-term strategic, operational, and marketing initiatives.
• Lead national and local influencer strategy in support of brand campaigns, product launches, and community engagement efforts.
• Oversee influencer content development, posting cadence, usage rights, contracts, and performance measurement.
• Support the development and execution of crisis communications processes and protocols related to brand, consumer, operational, and reputational issues.
• Support corporate communications, including executive messaging, franchisee communications, internal initiatives, and corporate announcements.
• Develop and maintain messaging frameworks that reflect brand voice, mission, values, and positioning.
• Partner with People Services and leadership to communicate initiatives related to culture, DEI, ESG, and employee engagement.

Major Responsibilities / Specific Requirements:

• Demonstrated motivation and focus on strategic communications and social media, with experience supporting multiple brands.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, paired with strong organizational and project management capabilities.
• Strong understanding of current and emerging trends within the health and fitness space.
• Proven expertise in developing, executing, and evolving social media strategies aligned to business and brand objectives.
• Ability to build strong networks, develop productive partnerships, and collaborate cross-functionally to align stakeholders.
• Creative, proactive problem-solver with the ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively across multiple departments.
• Proven experience working with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership and agency partners.
• Promote the culture, values, and mission of Smoothie King.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field, required.
• Minimum of four to six (4–6) years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related discipline.
• Experience serving as a key point of contact for strategic internal and external relationships.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and other relevant software, including CRM systems.
• Experience within the QSR or food and beverage industry strongly preferred.
• Personal passion for health and fitness is a plus.

What We Offer:

Join our team and enjoy an unusually fun work environment with an upbeat atmosphere and great team members. It is our purpose to maintain an environment our team members can brag about, where our focus and belief are built on our core values: We Are Better Together, We Keep Evolving, We Live Our Mission, We Do the Right Thing, and We Focus and Finish. With our core values at the forefront of every decision we make, it allows for collaboration, passion, and a no-limits mindset when it comes to your future! We keep our team happy with our great benefits package, free smoothies, flexible work schedules, office lunches and parties, monthly fitness challenges, free gym access, and more fun activities to make Smoothie King a happy and healthy place to work.

Our Mission

Inspire people to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

Our Vision

We make the world a better place by nourishing healthy habits.

At Smoothie King, when we say inspire people, we mean everyone. We champion a diverse and inclusive workforce that is representative of the guests we serve. We blend the unique members of our organization, celebrating what is both common and different to grow better together and Rule the Day. The foundation of our diversity efforts is closely tied to our core values, which includes “We Are Better Together” and “We Do the Right Thing”. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, veteran status, or medical condition or disability. If you are a person with a disability and you need assistance in applying for a position with Smoothie King, please call our People Services Department at 214-935-8900 and direct assistance will be provided.