Account Director, Client

Overview

Weber Shandwick Chicago has an exciting opportunity for an Account Director to join our Corporate/Enterprise team. We are looking for an engaging, curious and collaborative person with outstanding client service and interaction skills, as well as proven analysis, writing, strategic planning, media relations and digital/social media acumen to help drive the growth and success of a variety of accounts.

• Developing public relations action plans; program goals; and earned / social media campaigns, targets and pitch angles that require input from senior team leadership
• Play day to day account lead for retail, B2B, financial sector and professional services accounts
• Managing teams and collaborating/responding to clients
• Researching and writing briefing materials for client executives
• Writing and editing press materials, key message documents, briefing materials, blog posts and pitch letters
• Staying abreast of current industry news and trends, and sharing that information with account team members
• Developing and managing timelines and weekly action plans to ensure all deadlines on client programs are met
• Breaking down and managing detailed tasks with the account team associated with planning and implementing special public relations events such as press conferences and media trips
• Anticipating and proactively offering solutions to senior team leadership for executional issues specific to assigned programs
• Interacting with senior management and providing input into tactics and strategies
• Cultivate and enhance collaborative working relationships with media through regular communications
• Persuasively pitching media and securing high-profile coverage for clients
• Understanding client objectives and priorities to help shape story angles

• 6+ years of communications experience, preferably in an agency environment
• Understanding of and experience working with professional and financial services companies, financial markets and products is a plus
• Excellent communication/presentation skills; verbal and written
• Strong attention to detail and project management skills
• Social media literacy with the ability to identify and recommend social program elements
• Ability to multi-task effectively and work within tight deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet deadlines and client expectations
• Confident and comfortable presenting in front of groups
• Media relations experience for financial and professional services accounts is a plus

Salary range:
Chicago: $95,000 – $125,000. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company; the employee’s/background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-JP1

We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at Job This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.

The Weber Shandwick Chicago office is currently seeking a Vice President to support several clients in our growing Corporate/Enterprise Practice. The ideal candidate will have experience in brand and reputation building communications, managing executive visibility, media strategy and team leadership. The candidate will have the opportunity to drive a broad range of corporate reputation campaigns across a variety of clients, while leading a team of practitioners and collaborating…