Manager - Public Relations, Sonic

As Manager, Brand PR for Sonic (Inspire Brands), you will be instrumental in support ing all external PR activities for the brand . Your role will be responsible for helping to develop and implement unique , ownable campaigns that drive awareness, generate buzz, and enhance engagement to advance Sonic into a culturally relevant space . A successful candidate for this position should have relevant experience in earned media, brand activation, experiential events, and influencer marketing , with a pulse on what resonates with millennial and Gen Z audiences . Th is individual will bring an entrepreneurial and creative mindset , a self-starter attitude , and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, always-on environment. This role reports to the VP of Brand PR (Inspire Brands) and is b ased in Atlanta .

Duties and Responsibilities

PR Campaign Development: Create brand public relations strategies, ensuring alignment with Sonic strategic priorities, including the launch of new menu items, promotions, partnerships, and cross-channel creative initiatives .

Earned Media Authority: Proactively generate a stream of unique, ownable and buzzworthy ideas that resonate with Sonic’s audience , ensuring the brand remains c ulturally relevant beyond planned marketing initiatives .

Agency Management: Oversee relationships with multiple external agencies, ensuring timely and effective communications. Brief agencies and collaboratively shape and refine the ideas they propose to ensure they resonate with target audiences, offer business - building potential, fit the brand and hold cultural relevance/PR impact. Oversee timely and effective campaign delivery, and ensure return on investment. Ensure agency activities remain within budget.

Writing: Draft communications materials, including press releases, media pitches, PR/activation campaign copy , external talking points and briefing documents for internal and external stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage with the marketing team, other cross-functional partners and external partners to ideate and execute brand activation campaigns. Excellent project management skills are required .

PR Insights : Stay updated with PR and industry trends to keep the brand at the forefront of conversations. Evaluate campaign effectiveness , assess ROI and provide feedback to both internal teams and agencies , promoting ongoing improvement and adapting strategies accordingly.

Budget Management : Manage budget for specific campaigns. Ensuring projects remain within budget. Work with finance to forecast and plan for future initiatives.

Requirements

• B achelor’s Degree in Communications , PR or relevant field
• 6-8 Years of experience in communications, public relations or marketing . Agency experience preferred
• Operational discipline – ability to lead from idea to execution - manage details on tight timing, key contact for go-to-market execution, budget management, leadership communications, etc.
• Creative mindset grounded in strategy – a desire to constantly challenge the norm with bold, original ideas that will build the brand and business
• Obsessed with culture and finding ways to be authentic and relevant in big moments
• Keen ability to identify a great idea that fit s with the brand – honed instincts on what ideas will generate headlines and coverage
• Experience working closely with social media teams, brand marketers, and marketing agencies
• Passionate about PR and what it takes to do signature, award-winning work
• Strong writing skills
• 25 % ( Domestic travel for PR initiatives)

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.