Senior Account Manager - Crisis Communications, Top PR Agency, Great Benefits

Company Description

Portland is an international communications consultancy trusted by some of the highest profile organisations, governments and individuals in the world with offices in Washington DC, New York, Singapore, Doha and Nairobi, as well as in London.

At Portland we never rest on our laurels; we constantly strive to improve our work and be at the forefront of the industry.

The Team:

At Portland, we know that legal disputes make headlines and impact on reputation, which has taken years to build. Portland offers clients reliable support throughout the litigation process.

We understand the complexities and legal imperatives around our clients’ issues. Our expert team in litigation communications, led by a former barrister and made up of experienced consultants who have worked on the front line across Westminster, Capitol Hill, Fleet Street and industry, specialise in defining clear and engaging communications strategies that support your legal strategy.

The Role:

We are seeking a disputes communications specialist with crisis and issue management media expertise.

As a Senior Account Manager you will be integral to the Disputes Unit’s long term planning and growth. You will be an expert in your field with strong media relationships and the ability to support the senior team with the management of clients. You are a keen problem solver, generating excellent results and giving strong strategic advice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work as part of the team to lead proactive and reactive PR strategies from formulation through to execution aligning them with the client’s key business and legal objectives
• Develop new business pitches, proposals and presentations
• Act as key point of contact for clients in support of senior consultants
• Lead an account team to develop client proposals and implement communications strategies
• Proactively build relationships with key opinion leaders, media, professional associations, online influencers and other relevant third-parties
• Keep track of impending deadlines and ensuring all work is completed in a timely manner
• Contribute to solutions for new business clients and proactively introduce new ideas to improve the agency offering
• Ensure all work is completed on time and within budget
• Attend and promote client events to the media
• Lead brainstorms and creating workable programmes for new business and existing clients
• Direct and mentor junior account members; providing quality control and overseeing team assignments
• Establish professional relationships with colleagues and clients alike

Requirements

Qualifications, skills and competencies:

You must:

• Have a minimum of five years’ experience in a communications agency is essential with disputes/crisis/issue management experience
• Have strong media relations skills. Proven relationships with business national journalists is ideal.
• Have experience of proactive pitching and active rebuttal with high profile news media
• Be commercially driven and ambitious to help us to develop a talented team in a fast-growing consultancy
• Have experience with supervisory responsibilities; identifying staffing issues and needs, adopting or creating processes, documentation, and templates to meet those needs
• Have strong experience in digital strategies, management and content creation
• Be experienced in copy drafting op-eds/ press releases/ pitch documents

What we offer in return:

• We are committed to employee development and have an open doors culture where you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced people in the business. We regularly reward and promote success, and actively encourage staff to take on new challenges and responsibilities to aid progression.
• Our remuneration package also includes our competitive pension contributions, private healthcare life assurance cover, company contribution to gym membership, company parties, free daily breakfast and much, much more!
• In addition, every permanent member of staff that works at Portland is eligible for our industry leading quarterly bonus scheme and annual profit share. When Portland thrives, all of our people share in that success.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive it is unfortunately not possible to respond directly to all applicants, only to those whose candidacy is being pursued. In addition, the length of the recruitment process varies based on the vacancy needs. Traditionally, the process takes approximately 2-4 weeks. Therefore, your patience is greatly appreciated.