About 5th Column

5th Column (5C) is a New York City-based, NGLCC-certified PR and integrated marketing agency — and we're anything but conventional. We are "Conspirators Against Convention" and "Connectors to Culture," partnering with both heritage icons and next-gen disruptors to build and execute fully integrated strategies spanning communications, brand positioning, earned media, content, experiential, and cultural partnerships.

Our client roster spans luxury wine & spirits, lifestyle, beauty & wellness, hospitality, and corporate communications — with names like Champagne Bollinger, Absolut Vodka, Conair, Virgin Hotels NYC, Quattro Gatti Gin, and Birkenstock. We operate out of New York, and we move fast.

We're a tight-knit, high-performing team where your work genuinely matters — and where you'll work closely with our Founder & CEO and senior leadership on a daily basis. We're an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and champions an inclusive, supportive culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and growth.

The Role

We're looking for a Senior Account Executive who is sharp, entrepreneurial, and ready to hit the ground running across a rich and varied portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of wine & spirits, lifestyle, beauty & wellness, hospitality, and corporate communications — with real range, real responsibility, and real opportunity to grow.

You'll be working on some genuinely exciting accounts — luxury spirits brands with international press trips and domestic activations, Virgin Hotels NYC, a beauty and hair care/styling tools brand, and a venture capital firm. If you want a role where every day looks different and where you're close to the decision-makers and the work, this is it.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the day-to-day primary client lead across your portfolio — a trusted advisor, brand champion, and consistent presence for clients.
• Counsel clients and communicate the strategic direction of work with confidence and clarity.
• Work closely with the Founder & CEO and senior leadership on account strategy, client counsel, and agency priorities.
• Manage and execute scopes of work in partnership with senior leadership, setting and managing client expectations.
• Delegate to and guide junior staff to ensure accounts run smoothly.
• Drive integrated PR programs, campaigns, and plans from concept through completion.
• Manage timelines, deadlines, and budgets while upholding 5C's high standards.
• Oversee events end-to-end — media and influencer lunches, domestic and international press trips, previews, and brand activations.
• Build and maintain strong media and influencer relationships across wine & spirits, lifestyle, beauty, hospitality, and corporate verticals.
• Develop creative, culturally-tuned pitch angles grounded in industry trends and smart partnerships.
• Consistently secure high-quality, brand-building coverage across print, digital, and broadcast.
• Write, edit, and compile press releases, pitches, key messages, executive messaging, interview briefings, bios, bylines, and more.
• Oversee activity reports, weekly updates, clip reports, and recaps.
• Contribute to new business efforts in relevant categories.
• Lead by example — model creativity, collaboration, and the kind of energy that makes a small team feel like a big one.

• 4–7 years of PR agency experience.
• Wine & spirits PR experience is required; lifestyle, beauty, hospitality, or corporate communications experience is a strong plus.
• Based in NYC preferred; must be on EST.
• Proven track record of securing top-tier placements across print, digital, and broadcast.
• Strong, established media relationships across multiple relevant categories.
• Exceptional writer with sharp attention to detail.
• Bright, proactive, and genuinely resourceful — you find a way.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter who thrives working closely with founders and senior leadership in a lean, high-performing team environment.
• Sound judgment and the ability to problem-solve independently.
• Thrives under pressure across multiple accounts and deadlines simultaneously.
• A connector, a collaborator, and a team player who respects everyone at every level.
• Deeply passionate about PR, culture, and the clients you represent.
• Plugged in to industry trends, cultural conversations, and the evolving media landscape.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $75,000 – $90,000 (commensurate with experience).
• Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• 401(k) plan participation.
• Extremely generous vacation policy.
• Agency closed between Christmas and New Year's.
• Summer Friday hours.
• Performance bonuses and additional incentives throughout the year.