Account Manager; Education – PR & Public Affairs

PLMR is a leading, fast-growing communications agency with a dynamic, vibrant team, which delivers outstanding results for clients every day. We work across a range of core sectors, including education, health and social care, technology, built environment, energy and sustainability, and professional services. We deliver public relations, public affairs, reputation management and digital strategies that play a central role in helping our clients achieve their diverse objectives.

As an Account Manager, you will be a key member of PLMR’s leading Education Practice, providing a high-quality service to clients across the sector from nurseries, schools, and academy trusts, to universities, skills and training providers, trade associations, corporate organisations, start‑ups, and charities. To be successful in this role, it is critical that you have a deep passion and interest in both the British media and policy landscape, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.

As a proud B-Corp, we are also looking for someone who shares our interest in education and delivering social impact for causes that matter.

You will have at least three years’ experience in dealing with local, trade, national and digital media for both positive media opportunities and in the context of crisis communications, and/or have strong political aptitude, with experience or understanding of engaging with political stakeholders and within complex policy environments. You will be able to demonstrate your ability to develop relationships with clients first and foremost, as well as journalists, sector and political stakeholders, and will have a proven track record in consultancy and client management.

In this role you will progress your consultancy skills; overseeing the day to day management of a diverse array of client accounts and maintaining a positive client relationships; understanding the media landscape and identifying proactive and reactive press opportunities, including any potential reputational risks; monitoring political trends; undertaking political and sector outreach, and navigating issues which might impact client activity. You will also further develop your commercial and business skills, upselling to clients and supporting with new business proposals that meet organisations’ aims and objectives.

In this role, you will manage relationships with both junior and senior colleagues, ensuring PLMR meets and exceeds client expectations at every level.

You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be well organised, highly motivated and able to work under your own initiative. As an account manager, you will be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to supervise, motivate and lead colleagues. You will have a proven ability to deliver on commitments, plan workloads, identify issues and find solutions.

You will have your own networks within media circles which you will maintain and expand.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Experience in an agency or in‑house in communications and PR (three years’ minimum)
• Excellent written, presentation and verbal communications skills.
• An understanding and deep interest in the British media and political system. You will have started to build your network of journalists and have knowledge of editors across PLMR’s key sectors.
• Experience with reputation management, including sharing advice as well as preparing comms materials.
• A strong track record of identifying or creating a news hook, resulting in relevant media coverage. You will also have an established network of media contacts, even if outside education.
• Ability to be a self‑starter and work on multiple…