PR Account Manager - Automotive Consumer

Position outline

Proudly employee-owned, we are the UK's leading specialist agency in Automotive, Technology & Sports Brand Communications.
With a team of 60 creative comms experts, we look to help ignite people's passions and make a real difference to our clients' businesses.

From creatively brainstorming big integrated campaign ideas and managing projects, to unlocking media and influencer opportunities, identifying compelling news hooks, writing releases, engaging journalists, or telling stories creatively on social media, no two days are the same.

Located in Kingston upon Thames, we embrace a hybrid work model, with three days in the office and two days from home each week.
We'd ask that you please consider your commute when applying and join a team where every day brings new opportunities to excel.

Reporting line & team

The AM role reports to the Account Director and will help manage the day-to-day smooth running of the agency's growing group of consumer accounts, as well as supporting the wider team on creative comms and strategic planning.

Experience

• A proactive, self-starter individual who has an interest in cars and the automotive world
• Must be a competent writer who is able to create focussed copy tailored to specific audiences or platforms e.g.
  news releases, website copy, LinkedIn or other social channels
• An ability to manage and nurture junior staff
• Experience delivering campaigns and projects - creating, tracking and reconciling budgets
• Agency experience
• Can demonstrate an ability to translate information (words and data) into engaging copy
• Experienced at effectively working with and managing client teams and the project delivery
• Ideally has experience within the automotive industry and industry media contacts
• Time management - the ability to logically plan, develop and execute plans, using the strengths of a team to ensure optimal delivery
• Excellent media relations skills
• Strong client relations
• Understanding of key social channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube etc)
• Team management, supporting junior team on career progression, running monthly check ins and support on annual reviews

Key accountabilities

• Manage junior staff to ensure the maintenance of reporting and status updates for several accounts across the team; this may include status and coverage reports, digital project management tools, rolling release schedules, future features lists and deadlines, and media distribution lists
• Client management:
  develop excellent client relationships and be the main 'go-to' person for the client(s)
• Dissect and understand the operations and business goals of all clients to ensure the creation of effective stories and campaigns
• While the role majors on client management, content creation and creative ideas, much of the team's work demands a nose for media opportunities and a proactive approach to media relations
• Establish strong relationships with all client teams as well as key personnel elsewhere in the businesses.
  Ensuring direct access to key people who can provide data, information, opinion etc for relevant content is important
• Work with the AD and wider team to ensure quality control is adhered to where any content and written copy is concerned
• Plan, organise and prioritise workloads, including helping the AD with resource planning, and flagging any issues to senior staff members
• Research to provide market insights / gather information to support the creation of all forms of content
• Both draft and help oversee team production of copy, news releases / press kits, campaign and media materials; and drive the development of creative content or ideas
• Lead and help devise media distribution plans - a sound understanding and logical approach is key
• Will need to support the AD in thinking strategically about clients and the year ahead rather than just the day-to-day
• Deliver core projects start to finish as the main lead, with support from AD

Behavioural competencies

• A strong communicator who can upwards manage as well as prioritise their own work and the team supporting them
• A logical and clear thinker with a strong attention to detail and deadlines
• A self-starter who conducts themselves in a professional manner and is a good verbal communicator
• An ability to juggle conflicting priorities and work in a fluid and fast-paced environment
• Get the basics right - be passionate about good, simple and effective PR/comms with a strong eye for an editorial angle
• A desire to challenge and be challenged
• An appetite for progression and able to utilise constructive feedback from senior members of the team
• Quick learner, adaptable and pragmatic thinker, while being tenacious, results driven and resilient
• Highly motivated and committed with great attention to detail
• A team player with the gravitas to sometimes deal with senior stakeholders
• Confident in client relations and counsel

Why work with us

We believe that Performance Communications is a great place to work.
But don't just take our word for it.
In a recent employee survey, 100% of people said they would recommend Performance to a friend, 96% said Performance is a fun place to work and 92% said they enjoyed their job.

We also offer a wide range of perks and benefits including:

Flexible working, pension, health insurance, Cycle to Work scheme, fitness club allowance, regular training for everyone, social activities, charity work, fresh fruit, competitive holiday allowance, and mindful about work/life balance.