Senior Account Executive Position Overview
The Public Relations Senior Account Executive (SAE) position will play a critical role within the Demonstrate PR team, driving the development and implementation of client’s communications strategy in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. S/he will assist in oversight of all public relations for clients and will be responsible for raising client’s brand awareness through broadcast, print and online public relations outreach. An SAE will serve as a liaison between the company and the client, reporting to the Account Supervisor (AS), Vice President (VP) and CEO. An SAE will manage daily client interaction, press outreach and have direct reporting responsibility for junior team members assigned to accounts. An SAE is responsible for ensuring the company voice is observed, focusing on best practices, communication amongst the teams and effective ways of working. An SAE is also responsible for employment of client campaigns through creation and execution of overall strategy. S/he will manage all Public Relations and Social Media for clients and will be responsible for raising client’s brand awareness through broadcast, print and online public relations outreach. S/he will manage daily client interaction, press outreach and have direct reporting responsibility for the media relations team. On the whole, this is an office-based role. An SAE will spend time in meetings and briefings, as well as remaining in close contact with key clients. Occasional travel might be required for client visits, new business presentations and planning. Although an SAE’s commitment will tend to be standard office hours, deadlines or the demands of a client may see the SAE working early or late to ensure continued success.
Strategy
Act as lead and day-to-day contact for clients
Develop and implement the brand communication strategy, including crisis management communication
Create account plan, ensuring client goals, events and strategies are reflected accordingly
Provide expertise in the areas of media and online engagement and public relations outreach to client’s overall strategic planning Build and leverage relationships with contacts at relevant local, regional & national print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers (business, consumer and trade)
Maintain and maximize relationships with high-level national print, online, and broadcast media, pitching, writing and securing media coverage alongside the teams
Manage various communications strategies in alignment with client objectives; identify and resolve when strategies aren’t working or the situations change
Undertake the necessary monitoring and evaluation activities in order to determine the success or otherwise of communications strategies
Have strong analytical abilities and critical, creative thinking; engage off- and online audiences, and tell complex stories in an easily digestible way
Demonstrate commitment to industry, agency and clients by mastering industry knowledge and trends, understanding and clients’ business Stay up-to-date on relevant news and current trends in media
Maintain regular and proactive communication with client/s and media to ensure client satisfaction Attend client meetings to assess the progress of the PR campaign
Media Relations
Evaluate client’s asset base regularly in order to assist the team with identifying story angles as well as undertaking proactive media engagement, including writing press releases and pitching feature articles
Leverage relationships with contacts at relevant regional & national print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers (both consumer and trade)
Write effective pitches and press releases to secure media coverage (including, but not limited to item and feature placements) that meet client objectives
Act as liaison and respond to all media inquiries in a timely and accurate manner; arrange media interviews for client’s and draft briefing documents for them when appropriate
Brief journalists as required and draft reactive statements and letters to editors
Manage media events as required, including press conferences, opening and promotional events
Arrange media interviews for client’s staff and draft briefings for them when appropriate
Relationship building and networking with colleagues, clients and the media
Ensure that all client media coverage is recorded for dissemination to key stakeholders
Public Education & Content Creation
Raise public awareness and positively influence public opinion around client’s brand; ensure that all consumer and media outreach are in the client’s brand voice
Manage content calendar to ensure integrates with the rest of client’s marketing plans
Develop client’s key messages/campaign messaging
Manage staff responsible for updating and developing client’s presence on social media networks, including the content calendar, ensuring adherence to the brand voice and relationship building with social media influencers and potential partners
Communications Team / Client Management
Manage a team of Account Executives and Media Relations Associates Lead and/or oversee client calls Review all written materials such as client agendas, media alerts, event briefs, call sheets, etc.
Ensure DPR voice is observed and communication strategy is consistent and clear throughout all communication
Manage client relationships and work with exceptional organizational and relationship skills
Respond, or ensure that another staff member responds, to public inquiries received online
Show aptitude for thinking creatively, sharing and encouraging ideas with teams and clients Ensure media coverage meets and exceeds client objectives to maintain client retention
Monitor client documents to consistently evolve with changing goals, milestones and achievements, as well as making sure account teams are pitching appropriately and regularly
Attend client meetings to provide counsel and seamless project management
Manage ongoing status updates and weekly/monthly reports with detailed project updates, results and significant developments
The ideal Senior Account Executive candidate will have an understanding of the fast-paced media world and also must be professional, enthusiastic, a solid team player and possess a drive for results. S/he should have outgoing entrepreneurial energy, strong decision making and analytical skills, effective written and verbal communication skills, the ability to think strategically and creatively, self-motivated with a passion for communications and marketing, the ability to multi-task, and a willingness to roll up his/her sleeves. S/he should have strong skills in leadership, critical thinking and organization, effective team management capabilities, the ability to plan and strategize at a senior level, significant experience in professional client relationship management, the ability to prioritize workload in an orderly manner.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree preferred in Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or Communications
5+ years of relevant experience in communications and/or public relations. Additional experience in Interactive Communications, Social Media Management, advertising, in the consumer goods industry preferred
A strong rolodex of media contacts (regional & national print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers)
Exceptional written communications skills, with the ability to adapt style to suit different communications media and audiences
Enthusiasm for new opportunities presented by blogging and social media
Demonstrable experience of communicating complex and nuanced issues to the media
Excellent interpersonal skills
Creative and innovative approach to communications and branding
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, outside normal office hours and to be on call as required during early mornings, evenings and weekends to handle media inquiries
Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team, and willingness to 'pitch in' as required
Ability to prioritize and assist multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline oriented environment while paying attention to detail
Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Cision required.
Company Overview
Demonstrate PR is an award-winning, independently owned earned media agency collective of highly inventive cultural originators based in San Francisco. Beginning with research-driven consumer insights, Demonstrate PR executes strategic marketing and communications programs that build equity, increase consumer engagement and drive measurable business results for consumer products and services, non-profit organizations and consumer technology platforms. We believe in brand actions, event experiences and content creation as a strategic pillar for any successful marketing initiative. Demonstrate PR’s approach is to create a multi-pronged communications strategy to help bring the brand to life while connecting to existing and potential consumers. By doing so, we’re able to successfully contextualize brands with editorialized narratives that appeal directly to target audiences and create personal and lasting connections for the brand. Demonstrate PR uses a powerful blend of traditional public relations, social and digital media outreach, strategic partnerships, events, influencer seeding and talent booking to reach the hearts, minds and spirits of target-right consumers.
