The Account Director (AD), Public Relations, Travel & Hospitality at H&S is responsible for effectively managing multiple sizeable accounts and account teams, including financial management and overall account profitability and will serve as key client contact. The Account Director at H&S is an established leader and seasoned professional; respected by senior clients, with a proven track record that demonstrates team growth by leading, maintaining, and winning new business.
This role reports to the Vice President, Public Relations, Travel & Hospitality and is an exempt, salariedposition.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:
CLIENT & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
▪ Proactively consult clients about implementing new ways to meet their needs through a deepunderstanding of H&S’ industry capabilities, including specialty offerings (StudioHS, BrandEngagement, etc.).
▪ Act as overarching trusted client advisor, providing strategic guidance, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of their business, and developing innovative strategies for implementing successful client programs, flag client challenges as they arise, seeking senior management input when appropriate.
▪ Manage account programs and projects to deliver the highest quality of work on time and on budget, anticipating and effectively raising concerns and challenges with potential solutions.
▪ Communicate clear progressive direction to account teams while fostering a culture of delivering constructive formal and informal feedback and positive coaching.
▪ Oversee account activities including but not limited to virtual and in-person experiences, media and influencer events, media relations, social media, desk-side briefings, program implementation, content, and other scoped projects.
▪ Design, write, edit, and implement strategic programs and solutions, anticipate and alert teams and clients to trends.
▪ Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with senior clients by continuously adding value and anticipating and addressing their needs to engender long-term agency loyalty.
▪ Continually develop a deep understanding of the clients’ business needs, goals, and competitive environments; leverage this information when preparing and presenting focused programs and recommendations.
▪ Responsible for maintaining top-notch press relationships with national business, consumer, trade publications, as well as mainstream editors, to create and place compelling stories that yield relevant media coverage and content.
▪ Firm understanding of agency tools (e.g., Cision, Muckrack), emerging social media platforms, understanding of influencer marketing, earned and paid media approach.
▪ Attract and retain talent through timely, effective, and consistent use of performance management, succession planning, coaching, and other talent retention, and management tools.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
▪ Continue to build and leverage network of contacts for a competitive client advantage, new business opportunities, and talent attraction for agency.
▪ A key player in hunting new and incremental business opportunities, representing industry/specialty in new business pitches.
▪ Play an active role in the new business process.
▪ Effectively lead and drive new business pitches and process that result in new and incremental business wins; identify key players/specialty groups where applicable, who could add value and support the pitch; participate and seek opportunities to own pieces of client work and help drive organic business growth and up sell other agency capabilities.
▪ Develop strategic recommendations and programs that deliver meaningful business results, not just tactics for clients; go beyond the brief and actively identify and present new ideas, concepts and programs for clients and new business opportunities.
▪ Contribute to thought leadership activities and opportunities.
LEADERSHIP
▪ Lead by example, setting the bar high for others across the agency, team, and industry to emulate; influence and inspire excellence in others to reach their highest potential.
▪ Be a team player; participate in office and agency activities and encourage others to do the same.
▪ Partner with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to attract, train, grow, engage, and retain top talent. Help to shape, drive, and elevate company culture.
▪ Take accountability for personal development and growth areas; focus on self-development andcontribute to learning moments.
▪ Foster a culture of fast feedback through timely and impactful dialogue about performance; create an open dialogue to incorporate coaching and providing recognition.
▪ Recognize, celebrate, and reward other’s successes, giving credit where credit is due.
▪ Strong ability to delegate down and manage-up, teaching and mentoring team members how to successfully manage business.
▪ Contribute to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where every employee feels a sense of belonging.
FINANCIAL & AGENCY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
▪ Maintain strict compliance with the agency’s daily time entry process, expense report policy, and all agency processes and procedures; accountable for managing time commitments and daily time entry process for self and direct reports/account teams.
▪ Operationalize accounts, ability to scope and develop fee estimates, manage and reconcile client budgets, staffing plans, account set ups, assess staff needs, monitor out of pocket expenses, reporting etc.
▪ Manage a portfolio of clients with accountability for revenue, growth and profitability. Recognize potential fiscal challenges and take action to remedy them early.
▪ Accountable for strict oversight of account(s) financials and client budgets; develop accurate budgets, fee estimates, out of pocket expenses, etc.; verify billing accuracy; process and monitor invoices and PO’s, flagging any accounts payable issues to manager and director of finance
▪ Understands and implements client/agency financial policies, procedures, and manages accounts; as well as possessing business acumen and proficiency in the agency’s financial management tools.
▪ Drive staff utilization/billability process; meet utilization goals, manage-up and communicate under/over utilization to account/team manager and director of finance when necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
▪ Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; ten plus (10+) years relevant work experience- agency experience strongly preferred; minimum of three (3+) years supervisory experience necessary.
▪ Primary expertise in earned media strategy and media relations, possessing a robust portfolio of secured recent media coverage across national, local, broadcast, print, digital mediums.
▪ Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
▪ Highly proficient with all relevant software programs- in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office applications.
▪ Superb presentation skills and delivery skills; design and presentation abilities (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote and Adobe Suite), a plus.
▪ Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional marketing disciplines and agencies – Integrated Agency Teams (IAT) model across (e.g., paid media and advertising agencies, etc.)
▪ A proven track record of leading large-scale communications campaigns at the strategic and executional level.
▪ Thrives in fast-paced environments and can work long and flexible hours; may potentially include working evenings, holidays, and weekends.
▪ Exhibit empathy and effective interpersonal communication and relations to continue to develop a broad network of internal and external contacts.
▪ Frequent travel may be required as needed for client work.
▪ Solution oriented; strong ability to identify issues and drive resolutions.
WORKPLACE TYPE: H&S operates as a hybrid, in-office/remote organization. All employees residing inthe New York City area must be open and flexible to working from the H&S NYC office a minimum ofthree (3) days per week.
▪ If hired, all candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (e.g., at least two weeks afterthe last dose). Proof of vaccination before start date is required.o
▪ Candidates may request accommodation due to a disability or sincerely held religiousbelief or an exception required under applicable law.
MORE ABOUT H&S COMMUNICATIONS:
H&S Communications is a 100% woman-owned, diverse and privately held entity. A preferred partner ofthe Omnicom Media Company network - H&S Communications is an integrated marketingcommunications agency that offers fresh thinking, flawless execution and global access. H&S iscomprised of an award-winning team of Curious, Creative and Connected strategists, cultural explorers,experience makers, community builders and compelling storytellers. With diversity at our core: 70% ofour senior leadership and 50% of our junior staff represent a multifarious mix of race, ethnicity, gender,religions, abilities, and perspectives.
Our honors include: PR News’ 2022 The Agency Elite Top 100. 2x PRovoke Agency of Year (2022 and2019). 2022 Ragan’s CSR and Diversity Awards. 2020 PR News Best Places to Work. 2020 CreativepoolBest Places to Work. PR Week’s 2020 Purpose Awards. PR Daily’s 2020 Corporate Social ResponsibilityAward. 2020 Observer PR 50 List. 2019 Biz Bash Events Style Awards Finalist. 2018 CLIO Awards winner.2x Webby Awards and 4x Bronze Cannes Lions winner. As well as connecting New York City Public School students to success by serving as hands-on Pencil mentors.
Rooted in luxury, fashion, hospitality, entertainment, food, and beverage – the agency specializes incross-cultural marketing, media, talent and influencer relations, visual and technical production. With apulse on trends, culture and varying perspectives, we help to reinvent, reimage and transform brandswhile bridging long-lasting consumer connections.
H&S Communications is an equal opportunity employer. All candidates will be considered foremployment without regard to race, ethnicity, nationality, color, religion, age, disability status, genetics,protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristicprotected by federal, state or local laws. To learn more about H&S Communications and our culture loginto www.hs-pr.com, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @harrisonshriftman.
