Account Director

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. 

Responsibilities:

• 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 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  

Basic Qualifications: 

• 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
• 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

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money - $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

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.

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