Director, VIP and Celebrity Relations - Fashion Communications

Karla Otto is a renowned public relations and communications agency with offices across 14 locations in the UK, EMEA, US, and Asia. Established in 1982 by Karla Otto herself, the agency has since grown to become a global leader in luxury brand PR and events.

With offices in major fashion capitals such as Milan, London, New York, and Los Angeles, Karla Otto represents some of the most prestigious fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands in the industry.

In 2017, Karla Otto and K2 merged to form The Independents, a global group of agencies for industry leaders across luxury and lifestyle. Currently this group comprises of Bureau Betak & Bureau Future, Karla Otto, K2, The Qode, Lefty, Prodject and CTZA, Atelier LUM, INCA Productions and Atelier Athem, Kennedy and Sunshine

Our network of expert strategists, designers, planners, and publicists work tirelessly to deliver exceptional results and establish long-term partnerships with our clients. We are passionate about the world of fashion, beauty, and luxury, with everyone bringing their unique expertise and insights to the table. We are driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving industry landscape.

To help support our future growth as an agency, we are looking for a Director, VIP & Celebrity Relations to lead our team based in Los Angeles. Please note this role will be fully remote and required to work EST hour to align with our New York office.

Key Responsibilities

• Further the development of VIP/Celebrity and Influencer services for Karla Otto, building relationships with talent and agency representation across fashion, music, film, and TV, and sports
• Generate top-tier opportunities for clients to engage with talent targets (inclusive of brand ambassadorships, event attendance, social media campaigns, dressing, gifting, loaning, etc.) via both earned and paid engagements
• Be an expert in the talent space, sharing thoughtful insight with clients (including but not limited to: VIP/Celebrity activities, the competitive landscape, industry news, fee structures, high quality talent recommendations)
• Lead communication with high-profile clients daily and own client relationships that lead to long-lasting partnerships
• Utilize personal contacts with stylists, talent and agents to optimize potential for organic/earned placements and event invites
• Actively work to create new relationships with VIP/Celebrity and Influencer talent and their agents
• Be an in-person representative for top tier stylists and foster new relationships with emerging stylists
• Develop thoughtful 360 VIP/Celebrity and influencer strategies for seeding, gifting, dressing, and loans for existing clients and new business pitches
• Proactively share key VIP/Celebrity and influencer calendar moments with clients to recommend dressing or gifting opportunities
• Develop creative ideas and solutions to execute a brand’s vision that will successfully deliver it to their target and aspirational audiences, pivoting strategy when necessary
• Build contracts for new clients - define scope of work, including organic and paid partnerships, seedings, events, and guest lists
• Confidently lead, encourage, and mentor direct reports and junior staff members
• Negotiate, contract and execute long-term celebrity deals, influencer campaigns, one-off celebrity spotted moments, event attendance, etc.
• Act as on-site leader and client point-of-contact at brand events and fashion shows
• Attend industry events and remain well ahead of emerging trends and talent
• Demonstrate value of talent relationships and report on effectiveness of projects and campaigns upon completion

Key Attributes

• 8-10 years’ experience in VIP or entertainment relations preferred
• Strong communications skills, excellent writer and editor, confident presenter
• Highly organizational with strong ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Confidence to make suggestions, bring ideas to the wider team that focuses on client experience and work alone or as part of a team
• Enthusiasm and motivation to attend industry events
• Strong top-tier relationships with press and industry peers
• Well-developed stakeholder management skills
• Considerate of wider business environment and activities
• Strong communication skills (both written and oral), research, and organisation skills

What We Offer...

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• 401K Employer Match program
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Time Off including Vacation Days, Personal Days, Sick Days, and additional Comp Days
• Company-wide closure last week of the year
• 10 Federal Holidays Observed

At Karla Otto, we are always looking for personalities with positive charisma who are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have a keen sense of aesthetics.

Karla Otto embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Karla Otto provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team!