UPSIDE Foods is hiring: VP, Communications & PR in Berkeley

Job description

About us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells.

These products are not vegan or vegetarian-they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals.

In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.



Founded as the world's first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States.

The company believes that people shouldn't have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.



UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times' Good Tech Awards, FastCo's Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources.

UPSIDE Foods has raised a total of $608 million, including from the Abu Dhabi Growth Fund (ADG), Baillie Gifford, Bill Gates, Cargill, John Doerr, John Mackey, Kimbal and Christiana Musk, Norwest, Richard Branson, Softbank, Temasek, Threshold, Tyson Foods, and others.



About this job:

The Director, PR & Corporate Communications is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive public relations strategies to improve brand awareness, reputation, and engagement with our target consumers.

This role leads all aspects of all consumer PR activities, including media relations, press releases, as well as managing influencer partnerships to drive brand advocacy and reach.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about storytelling, media relations, and demonstrating the power of influencer marketing to build brand equity.

You'll be responsible for crafting and executing the company's external communications strategy.



Responsibilities Include:

• Play a key role creating visibility, authority and love for the UPSIDE brand with target consumers
• Support the execution of comprehensive consumer-facing marketing and public relations strategies that align with business goals.
  
  
• Develop and manage media relations, including writing and distributing press releases and pitching compelling media opportunities.
  
  
• Manage all consumer communications planning, PR, social media, and building influencer networks.
  
  
• Execute consumer facing brand activations and events.
  
  
• Earned Media
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media contacts, editors, influencers, and thought leaders to secure ongoing positive coverage.
  
  
• Craft and pitch compelling stories to national, regional, and trade outlets that resonate with key audiences.
  
  
• Manage media requests, interviews, and press inquiries, ensuring consistent and cohesive messaging.
  
  
• Identify and execute expert and media partnerships.
  
  
• Influencers, Digital and Social Media
• Develop and complete influencer marketing campaigns that align with brand messaging and objectives.
  
  
• Identify, negotiate, and maintain relationships with influencers, ensuring alignment with brand values.
  
  
• Track and analyze the performance of influencer campaigns, optimizing strategies for maximum impact.
  
  
• Collaborate with influencers to create authentic, engaging content that resonates with target audiences.
  
  
• Develop and implement a robust social media strategy to enhance brand visibility and engagement across various platforms.
  
  
• Create and Maintain Social Media Calendars.
  
  
• Create, edit, and share engaging content daily on our social media accounts.
  
  
• Maintain a Company Blog.
  
  
• Oversee all aspects of our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, Etc.).
  
  
• Focus on growing and communicating with followers and responding to queries in a timely manner.
  
  
• Public Relations
• Manage PR send-outs, including media kits, PR packages, and product samples, ensuring they're delivered on time and in line with brand standards.
  
  
• Oversee the development and distribution of press releases, media kits, and communication materials.
  
  
• Identify, develop and submit awards in relevant thought leadership and product categories.
  
  
• Support with press and messaging briefing materials and work internally and externally to drive PR coverage.
  
  
• Strategy and Storytelling
• Monitor media coverage, analyze PR campaign performance, and provide insights and recommendations for future initiatives.
  
  
• Stay on top of cultural trends, media shifts, and competitor activities to ensure the brand remains relevant and cutting-edge.
  
  
• Monitor, evaluate and measure the media presence and performance of OpenTable, including reporting results to internal stakeholders.
  
  
• Support the ideation, scoping and management of creative campaigns, events, and projects across communications and brand marketing.
  
  
• Support with the management and day-to-day contact with our external PR agency partners.
  
  
• Pulling and analyzing data to support PR activities and working with external partners to develop research and surveys that can support cross-market and cross-brand PR campaigns.
  
  

About You:

• Minimum 12+ years in public relations, communications or related field
• Strategic thinker with proven success developing communications programs and initiatives; exhibits sound judgment and problem-solving skills
• Storyteller with outstanding communication skills, demonstrating clarity of thought, ability to influence, and adopting appropriate tone of voice; ability to create messaging that connects with a variety of audiences
• Strong project management skills; gracefully manages multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Track record of collaboration and positive, productive relationships with multiple internal and external partners
• Excellent writing, editing, and copy-editing skills; previous writing/editing experience in corporate communications, PR, or journalism fields preferred
• Experience in hospitality, retail or consumer packaged goods preferred
• Passionate, dedicated, and hungry to learn, with a personal reputation for kindness, honesty, and integrity
• Proficient in various PR, social media, and communications platforms and applications

Compensation Range: $175,000 - $200,000*
*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.



UPSIDE Benefits!

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

Required Skill Profession

Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, And Sales Managers