PLMR is a leading UK integrated communications agency with a dynamic, vibrant team that works across a range of sectors to deliver public affairs, public relations and digital solutions for its high-profile clients.
PLMR’s Public Affairs practice is recognised as one of the Top 10 in the UK by PR Week and has a reputation for delivering the highest-quality, innovative, and creative work for clients that achieves the outcomes they are seeking. Led by Simon Darby, as PLMR’s Head of Public Affairs, our team works with businesses, charities and membership bodies across numerous sectors including the health, education & skills, housing, transport, technology and professional services industries.
As an Account Director within PLMR’s public affairs practice, you will be a crucial member of the team – reporting into Simon and overseeing high quality servicing to all our clients, contributing to internal strategy and decision-making, and creating new business wins. You will have significant experience in providing research and political counsel and advice in the fields of public affairs, government and media relations, and have worked for a diverse range of clients or interests. You will be utterly credible within the industry, have a wide contact base, be used to leveraging the industry circuit and enjoy networking. You will direct colleagues to interpret new business briefs, pitch proposals and win clients that expand your own portfolio.
Key Responsibilities and Duties:
Client delivery
- Own and run a portfolio of client accounts
- Coming up with ideas that meet and then beat client expectations
- Steering the account team to maintain excellent client relationships – ensuring that the client feels well serviced, able to call for advice at any time, and maximizing the opportunities for account development
- Ensuring work is completed on time to the appropriate standards and anticipating client demands and that PLMR is always ‘adding value’ to our clients
- Provide clients with detailed and quality advice according to their needs
- Understand how to plan, implement and manage a campaign
- Plan, manage and lead crisis communications support
- Delegating tasks to junior colleagues where appropriate and motivating them to deliver on these
- Fostering relations with national and sectoral media, politicians, civil servants, local authorities, regulatory bodies, and any relevant interest groups
- Ensuring that PLMR accurately monitors the media, including newspapers, magazines, journals, broadcasts, newswires, social media and blogs, for timely opportunities for clients
- Planning and managing client communications on digital channels and through video, with the ability to be able to explain and sell our digital services to clients
- Accurately collating, analysing and evaluating media coverage
- Researching, writing and distributing press releases to targeted media
PLMR Growth
- Actively identifying and approaching new business prospects across all of PLMR’s specialisms and helping to achieve new business targets and goals in line with the company growth plans
- Develop, structure and write creative new business proposals with minimal input from board director or deputy/managing director
- Taking a major role in credential meetings and pitches, and coaching team members to pitch successfully as required
- Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.
Key Skills and Competencies:
- Educated to degree standard or with equivalent work experience
- Experience of managing public affairs and public relations projects, from a relevant background such as in-house corporate team or specialist/consultancy/regulatory body
- Expertise in strategic digital communications, with an ability to plan digital campaigns
- Excellent leadership skills
- Excellent client handling skills
- Experienced in senior account management, new business pitching and winning, media appearances
- An expert in current events, political systems and the national and sectoral media
- Proven ability to manage relationships with a range of stakeholders and to communicate persuasively with the target audience
- Proven ability to understand, manage and respond in a timely and proactive manner to emerging crisis communications issues for clients