GREY: PR Senior Account Manager

The PR senior account manager should ideally be professionally qualified (a degree and/or diploma relevant to the PR, Marketing or Communications fields) with a keen interest in a mix of communications topics including; PR, social media, advertising, brand strategy, integration of marketing and communications, and related subjects.

A PR senior account managers should ideally also have the following attributes:

• At least six years PR agency or related experience
• An unparalleled understanding of the local media landscape, including a base of key contacts relevant to the client portfolio (high-end consumer goods, design/décor, food, lifestyle)
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Good networking capability and presentation abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage client expectations and ‘push back’ in a reasonable and controlled manner
• A Team player with experience in managing people
• A willingness to learn from senior members of the team, and to share knowledge and skills with all team members
• Ability to be rational and solutions-driven in times of crisis and to put forward solutions in consultation with the senior team and broader Grey team where required.
• Ability to work independently, including strong time management and prioritisation across workload.
• Understanding of through the line marketing disciplines, with a stronger understanding of digital and social media
• A go-getter who doesn’t believe in the phrase ‘That’s not my job’
• A creative thinker who can add value to client presentations, deliver ongoing ideas and take constructive criticism

‘Nice to have’ Skills: Previous experience within a PR company/division within an advertising agency.

Requirements

Specific skill-sets required:

• Content generation: an eye for developing compelling content in the lifestyle, design, décor, food and luxury goods areas.
• Client management: Ability to manage numerous clients with a high degree of reliability, expertise and strategic insight.
• Budget management: Ability to maintain control and management over large budget campaigns, including adherence and understanding of internal processes.
• Strategy and insight: Ability to keep up to date with industry trends affecting your client portfolio, so that our content created internally is compelling (and results in good quality exposure for clients).

Overview of role

The PR senior account manager is required to be an integral part of the Grey team, serving as a valuable account management and implementation resource.  Broadly, you will: 

• Assume the day to day running of the account, in line with the client-approved strategy
• Be responsible for developing a strong media list and relationships with key media and influencer contacts that will assist in creating good return on investment for your portfolio of clients.
• Take note of and action where appropriate any alternative media channels, including digital and activations / Publicity opportunities with a view to grow the scope of current clients
• Serve as a valuable resource to the client in a consultant role, advising of potential opportunities, shortfalls and crises.
• Demonstrate excellent time management, servicing the scope of the client retainer within the agreed and paid for hours.
• Be an expert in agency reporting methods, and produce strategic and insightful reports in a timeous manner.
• Assist in growing and developing account executives by effectively delegating, educating and assisting their personal career growth.
• Drive growth on your accounts, by putting forward added-value ideas that result in additional revenue streams for the agency, for example social media, activations, advertorial, media partnerships.
• Manage budgets for additional revenue streams, with the ability to advise client on timelines, delays and third party supplier status.
• Produce written PR material that is of the highest standard and in line with media, influencer or journalist expectations and that reduces the need for clients to edit any PR material.
• Remain in contact and develop a close working relationship with partner agencies per client, which may or may not include agencies outside of Grey. This is to ensure that PR feeds of all other marketing channels, and that the client enjoys a full 360-degree solution.
• Ensure all deliverables and outputs are of the highest standard, in line with strategy and add value to the client’s business.

Key deliverables of the PR senior account manager:

 
Account management and implementation:

You will play a critical role in developing the overarching annual and ad hoc strategy for the client, bringing to the table a comprehensive knowledge of the product line, consumer groups and media targets.  On a day to day basis, you will be responsible and accountable for servicing the needs of this strategy – translating it into PR deliverables that are measurable and add value to client’s business.

Media relations and placement:

This is a key function of PR practitioners. It involves contacting all media types including news media, magazines, supplements, writers and trade publications with the intention of getting them to publish or broadcast news and features about the organisation. It may also involve responding to general media requests for information or spokespersons. Finally, it may entail arranging for the production, booking and placement or broadcasting of advertise­ments/advertorials used as part of a PR programme. You will also play an integral role in developing media partnerships that serve client’s objectives as much as they serve editorial requirements.

Writing:

The PR practitioner would be adept at writing news releases, newsletters, correspondence, reports, booklets, text, digital, magazine articles, blog articles, advertorial copy and product information in line with editorial policies and client messaging.

Organising (event support):

The senior account manager would handle a variety of functions ranging from media conferences, blogger and influencer engagements, awards programmes and sponsorship.  Your role requires you to be able to conceptualise and execute events that are in line with the client strategy and that produce a return on investment for spend.

Systems and processes:

Become completely au fait with all internal systems and processes, recommending improvements where necessary and maintain a high level of personal adherence to these processes.

Scheduling and time management:
Time management is a critical part of any PR position, and as an account manager, you will be involved in the day to day running across a number of accounts. You will need to develop effective systems for personal time management and prioritisation that result in a continuous work flow, even in times of high work load.

Posted on 10 Mar 07:59

Contact details
Huibri Schalkwyk
Grey
011 706 3060
huibri.schalkwyk@grey.co.za

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