The Public Relations Account Executive (AE) 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. He/She will assist in oversight of 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. The AE will report to a Sr. Account Executive with a dotted line to the Vice President. S/he will manage daily client interaction, press outreach and have direct reporting responsibility for the media relations team and will also be expected to recruit and train interns as needed.
The primary responsibilities for Public Relations Account Executive include:
Strategy:
- Assist in development and implementation of the brand communications strategy, including crisis management communication
- Undertake the necessary monitoring and evaluation activities in order to determine the success or otherwise of communications strategies
- Contribute expertise in the areas of media and online engagement and public relations outreach to client’s overall strategic planning
- Stay up-to-date on relevant news and current trends in media
Media Relations:
- Build and leverage relationships with contacts at relevant regional & national print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers (business, consumer and trade)
- Evaluate client’s asset base regularly in order to identify possible stories, and then undertake proactive media engagement, including writing press releases and pitching feature articles
- Act as liaison and respond to all media inquiries in a timely and accurate fashion
- Brief journalists as required and draft reactive statements and letters to editors
- Assist with organizing media events as required
- Arrange media interviews for client’s staff and draft briefings for them when appropriate
- 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
- Develop and maintain content calendar that integrates with the rest of client’s marketing plans
- Ensure that all consumer and media outreach are in the client’s brand voice
- Align with staff responsible for updating and developing client’s presence on social media networks, including the content calendar, adherence to the brand voice and relationship building with social media influencers and potential partners
- Respond, or ensure that another staff member responds, to public inquiries received online
Communications Team / Client Management:
- Supervise Interns
- Act as day-to-day contact on behalf of Demonstrate PR
- Assist with agenda and preparation of weekly status calls with client and extended communications team
- Responsible for ongoing status updates and weekly/monthly reports with detailed project updates, results and significant developments
The ideal AE 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. He/She should have outgoing entrepreneurial energy, strong decision making and analytical skills, effective written and verbal communication skills, the ability to think strategically and creatively, the ability to multi-task, a willingness to roll up his/her sleeves, self-motivated with a passion for communications and marketing.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or Communications
- 3+ 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
- 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), Cision and media monitoring services required
