Account Manager, Lifestyle & Hospitality , NY

Account Manager, Lifestyle & Hospitality job at The Independents. New York, NY.

Karla Otto is a globally recognized public relations and communications agency, founded in 1982, with offices in 15 key cities across the UK, EMEA, US, and Asia. With a strong presence in fashion capitals such as Milan, London, Paris, and New York, the agency has built a reputation for representing some of the most prestigious names in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

In 2017, Karla Otto merged with K2 to form THE INDEPENDENTS, a global marketing, design, and communications group. This collective brings together industry leaders who share a commitment to innovation, excellence, and thoughtful collaboration across the luxury and lifestyle sectors.

At Karla Otto, our team of expert strategists, designers, planners and publicists are dedicated to delivering exceptional results and establishing 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 an Account Manager, Lifestyle & Hospitality to join our team based in our NYC office. This role is a core driver of client programs within Karla Otto's Lifestyle and Hospitality portfolio. This role balances hands-on execution with strategic thinking, managing daily client activity while contributing to broader communications planning and account growth.

The ideal candidate brings a strong interest in culture, hospitality, and lifestyle, paired with developing media relationships and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to storytelling.

• Manage day-to-day communication programs across lifestyle, hospitality, and wellness clients
• Draft, edit, and manage press materials, pitches, and editorial outreach, securing client signoff as required
• Lead monthly reporting, client agendas, and status updates
• Ensure timelines, deliverables, and priorities are managed effectively across accounts

• Proactively pitch and secure coverage across long-and short-lead media, digital platforms, and broadcast
• Develop and maintain relationships with key contacts across hospitality, luxury, and lifestyle media
• Support the planning and execution of press trips, events, and brand activitions
• Collaborate closely with events and production teams to ensure seamless execution

• Identify opportunities to expand services across existing accounts
• Contribute to brainstorming for new business pitches and strategic proposals
• Conduct competitive media research and landscape analysis
• Support and guide junior team members through mentorship, feedback, and task oversight
• Collaborate with senior team members to ensure consistent, high-quality client service

• 4-6 years of relevant experience in agency or in-house communications
• Strong understanding of lifestyle, hospitality, and cultural media landscapes
• Existing relationships with press, media, and influencers preferred
• Excellent organizational, project management, and prioritization skills
• Strong attention to detail across both qualitative and quantitative work
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset
• Ability to manage multiple accounts and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Salary Range: $80k-$85k
• 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!