Text100 - Account Director/Senior Manager

Account Director (Consultant)

Job Description

Position Summary

Responsible for management and delivery on a key part of the overall business plan for a particular business unit or client, including gross profitability. Ownership for effectively leading a team and client portfolio by providing senior level consultancy, demonstrating excellent people management skills and ensuring overall business management for teams and clients.

Responsibilities

- Leads client account teams in the service delivery of all account activity as well as provides the strategic direction of the account.

- Partners with local and regional leadership teams to develop and execute against business plans and ensures agreed business and personal metrics are achieved.

- Generates profitable revenue growth through new business development and current client engagements.

- Leads a sector, practice or business unit and is measured against an established business plan

Success Factors:

Competencies that contribute toward an individual's ability to excel on the job

Business Acumen & Results:

- Ensures all clients have strong, profitable contracts, realistic budgets and appropriate resource allocation. This includes proactive reduction of client undercharging

- Ensures team accurately records time and that standard utilization targets are met for self and across the team

- Creates effective, flexible client plans that are aligned to the Text100 strategy and motivating for team members

- Demonstrates a solid understanding of the Text100 business plan and can articulate how the team contributes toward the business goals

- Partners with office and/or operations team leaders to achieve cross company business objectives and demonstrates accountability for achieving results

Client Influencer Relations:

- Demonstrates a broad range of influential relationships with local media, analysts and industry contacts that strategically influences client results

- Builds trusted & responsive relationships with client's local PR lead and team, both in person and remotely, as per the Text100 Service Standard

Communication:

- Drives open communication across team and with clients or other external networks - ensuring timely, honest and transparent communication of both good and bad information

- Demonstrates ability to produce high quality, audience-centric written material in a timely manner and is adept at editing the work of others and giving quality feedback

- Effectively adapts communication style, approach and forum to build understanding and support from team members, clients and management

- Communicates persuasively and confidently both in writing and in person, internally and externally

- Is adept at facilitating internal and external meetings of most sizes and complexity

- Uses active listening skills to check for understanding and collaborate with others

- Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in written as well as spoken English in complex business situations as well as the ability to understand complex business English when reading

Culture

- Leads a collaborative environment across the team so people share well, respect others, and regularly provide feedback to others in the spirit of personal development & high performance

- Leads an environment that promotes ownership and accountability at all levels

- Creates a compelling vision for clients that involves and inspires team members and clients

- Effectively anticipates, manages or escalates conflicts within team and with clients to an effective resolution quickly and smoothly

- Promotes a positive team dynamic in which members can enjoy their work while achieving strong results

Industry Audience and Insights

- Clients and team members actively seek expertise on industry and audience insights and trends for your local client portfolio

- Demonstrates an understanding of the integration of PR strategy with other business disciplines and the impact of communications toward its business goals

Innovation & Critical Thinking

- Effectively leads and actively contributes in brainstorming to improve processes or implement new programs, strategies or tactics

- Quickly defines problems and implements effective solutions to increasingly complex situations

- Proactively looks for opportunities to contribute to new ways of doing things and constantly seeks to improve working procedures, without sacrificing quality

- Consistently incorporates creative ideas into plans and demonstrates a willingness to take risks where appropriate

People Development

- Is recognized as a strong coach and leader by their people, who seek to learn more from him or her

- Ensures all team members receive the training and development needed to reach high performance targets

- Sets high standards for self and actively engages in self development activities including attendance at internal training sessions

- Ensures complete adherence to the HR Service Charter within team, with an emphasis on having objectives in place and regular reviews and feedback sessions for all staff

- Regularly coaches team members and provides effective on-the-job training

- Actively participates in the development and delivery of training and best practice sharing across the office

- Seeks support from his or her manager to address performance issues with direct reports

Personal Effectiveness

- Models effective time management, prioritization and stress management skills and guides teams to effectively manage resources and stress to meet deadlines and expected results during high workload and pressure situations

- Demonstrates integrity and respect for others and leads others to do the same

- Demonstrates tenacity, the ability to respond positively to change and initiative to anticipate and resolve situations

- Demonstrates excellence in managing local projects and client relationships by delegating up & down with confidence

- Escalates issues to seek assistance when necessary quickly, openly and honestly

Public Relations Delivery

- Ensures all campaigns are delivered according to the Text100 Service Standard, with a particular emphasis on flawless execution, strategic planning, budget management, client relationships and campaign evaluation

- Implements the Text100 consulting methodology and delivers strategic, relevant and comprehensive PR services & client campaigns

- Demonstrates an understanding of all Text100's PR practices (Product PR, Corp Comms, Social Media & CSR)

- Demonstrates a solid knowledge and understanding of social media and can advise clients on issues relating to social media

- Consistently directs (& drafts) the production of high-quality written PR material in a timely manner without assistance

- Is adept at performing & directing reactive PR tactics as well as creating proactive PR opportunities for clients - with an emphasis on achieving results

- Supports more senior team members and may take the lead in the delivery of strategic PR activities including messaging development, media training and storyboard workshops

Sales, Influencing & Brand Building

- Demonstrates the ability to confidently sell ideas to others and win support for initiatives

- Engages strategically with clients regularly to ensure strong client satisfaction and identify ways to expand the relationship beyond the current account remit

- Proactively identifies potential clients and is successful at winning new business and growing current client revenue

- Negotiates with others to achieve acceptable outcomes for both parties

- Actively monitors the business/economic landscape to identify areas for new business growth and potential new Text100 consultants

Minimum Qualifications

- Undergraduate degree or equivalent ideally in the field of PR, Communications, Marketing, Business or Journalism

- Actively communicates via social media platforms

- Previous experience of coaching and managing more junior employees

- Ability to travel on a short term basis for client and business demands

- Proven record in high client satisfaction and retention levels

- Proven track record in new business development

Desired Qualifications:

- Postgraduate qualification ideally in the field of PR, Communications, Marketing, Business or Journalism