Public Relations Account Director

Job Title:  PR Account Director

Salary: £50-59K (dependent on experience)

Location: Central London 

Basic Hours of Work: 40 hours per week (Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm)

If you are interested in this opportunity please send a CV and cover letter to REJ @ [email protected] - applications sent without a cover letter will not be considered

89up is the global agency for not for profits and good causes. Our mission is clear: to help our incredible clients tackle the world’s greatest challenges, with a focus on climate action, social justice, economic fairness and helping to deliver the UN sustainable development goals.

We work with organisations across the UK, Europe, US, and beyond. Across the agency we deliver public relations, creative campaigns, website development, advocacy, insights, and mobilisation. 

Our insight-led approach builds award-winning campaigns that drive meaningful change. 

Description of the Role

The PR Account Director we are looking for will ideally have at least 5 years previous agency experience and have a thirst for knowledge as a generalist - able to stretch across various, often complex subject matters. From climate justice, ethical finance, and nature and biodiversity campaigns to health awareness and education, human rights and democracy, social justice and tech for good campaigns. 

From UK-focused PR campaigns to global, multi-stakeholder integrated campaigns, working with our global partners, spokespeople and case studies. You should be able to adeptly handle 3-5 clients at any one time, building client trust based on first class results. Plus help support new business wins. 

Ideally you will have experience in political and policy PR and campaigning; global integrated campaigns, and taking complex, technical topics and translating them into consumer PR.

You’ll be passionate about storytelling and able to shape and land stories in compelling ways - from thought leadership and opinion editorials to podcasts and Substacks. You’ll have a healthy black book of contacts consisting of international, national and specialist/trade media. 

As a senior member of the business you’ll be adept at nurturing talent and knowledge sharing and inspiring teams you work with.

What we’re looking for…

Your core responsibilities will be: 

• Act as the senior contact for clients and their teams, ensuring consistent, high-quality service and outcomes
• Manage a portfolio of accounts, providing strategic and creative leadership
• Lead and develop account teams, including Account Executives, Senior Account Executives and Account Managers
• Ability to work on integrated accounts across teams
• Win new business from existing and new clients and represent the agency at stakeholder events
• Oversee PR campaigns from brief to delivery, ensuring innovation, creativity and strategic alignment
• Ensure campaigns are delivered on time, within budget and ensuring KPIs are met or exceeded
• Manage account resources, manage PR teams, and, where needed, coordinate integrated teams, and coordinate with global agencies
• Maintain and grow a strong network of media contacts, demonstrating mastery of media relations
• Analyse PR outcomes, interpret data and present findings to boards, clients and stakeholders
• Deliver exceptional written, verbal and presentation communication across all contexts
• Mentor, train and support professional development of team members, identifying training needs and managing performance reviews
• Grow existing client accounts while supporting new business development and agency growth
• Network, pitch and champion the agency’s values and brand to nurture contacts and pipelines
• Ensure the highest level of client experience, often as the most senior contact for key accounts

Required Skills

• Excellent standard of written English.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with the wider team during pitches and presentations
• Cool and calm when working under pressure, and able to anticipate and solve problems
• Ability to produce work to a high standard quickly and professionally with excellent attention to detail, and high levels of initiative
• Line management and mentoring experience 
• Integrated communications and campaigning experience (e.g. digital, web, public affairs, research and insights)

Additional Skills for Bonus Points 

• Experience working on a global account, and/or with non-UK based clients, would be beneficial
• Knowledge of European media markets and institutions desirable

This is a role that will allow you to explore your strengths in a multi-disciplinary, integrated communications environment. You will experience exposure to senior team members (experts in a variety of fields who are on hand to offer masterclasses and mentoring), opportunities (especially within the integrated marketing mix - so you learn about other specialisms and try your hand at them), creativity and content creation (with a flat structure, everyone ideas are valued), and clients and client management. All of these things will enable you to hone your talent, while broadening your skill set and fast-tracking your career progression, in a passionate, supportive and friendly environment.

• Hybrid working with 3 office days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday as core days. You may need to come into the office on Mondays and Fridays for important meetings) 
• 24 days holiday (a max of 4 days are taken for closure over Christmas, plus you receive an additional day off on your birthday)
• A competitive base salary with performance-linked discretionary bonuses twice yearly
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
• Pension company contributions
• Gold-plated sickness benefits and life insurance
• Private GP, private counselling, eyecare vouchers, wellbeing service
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Clear career progression pathways and opportunities to develop in a fast-growth agency
• Formal mentoring and training schemes to support your success
• A dynamic work environment where your contributions are heard and counted, not lost in the noise and tangle of a large corporate business

This is an opportunity to work on some of the most pressing issues of our time, with people who are committed to making a difference. If you’re passionate about politics, media, digital strategy, and driving change, we want to hear from you.