Organization: Fenton Communications Salary Range: Date Submitted: 6/16/2010
Job Description
Fenton Communications, one of the leading public-interest communications firms in the country, with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., is seeking an account director to join our New York office. We develop and execute strategic communications campaigns on a variety of issues, including preserving and protecting environmental resources, public health, education, human rights and social and economic justice.
We are looking for a dynamic individual to serve as a critical part of our team, working with us to build on our 30-year history of advocating for social change. The communications industry has changed dramatically in just the past five years. As an agency, we are also evolving to better serve the needs of our clients so we can advance their missions. This individual will help us map what the landscape will look like in the next five years and beyond. Specifically, we need a proven leader with experience creating and managing campaigns in some or all of these areas:
· Large-scale communications and public education campaigns promoting social issues
· Social marketing programs that have led to demonstrated behavior change
· Corporate responsibility and/or cause marketing programs
· Work with blue chip nonprofits and foundations
· Advocacy campaigns that have advanced a policy agenda
· Proven business development either in a nonprofit fundraising setting, professional services firm or corporate setting
The Account Director will work as part of a team to develop and execute strategic communications and media campaigns. The Account Director is responsible for the overall planning and budgeting for profitability on assigned accounts, as well as the supervision of staff providing service on those accounts.
Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Managing strategic communications for multiple clients, including branding, earned media and online campaigns
Pitching stories to journalists
Providing strategic guidance and day-to-day supervision for assigned client accounts, including junior staff supervision, oversight of work product quality and budget
Writing contracts, grant proposals, strategy memos, and foundation reports
Pitching prospective funders and other potential partners or allies
Writing and editing press materials, including press releases, fact sheets, and opinion pieces
Editing and advising on the creation of research reports
Conducting media trainings for clients and other spokespeople
Working with a team to develop strategies for prospective clients in order to secure new assignments
Managing client budgets for profitability; anticipating potential problems
Providing budget projections for weekly financial meetings
Meeting or exceeding 30 billable hours per week
Directly supervising 1-2 junior staff members
Developing professional development plan with each employee supervised, including training and mentoring and clearly assigning and monitoring tasks
Providing input on organizational goals/growth and business improvement, including client service, staff development, and office procedures
Additional duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Seven-plus years of experience in public interest advocacy/PR, or demonstrated equivalent experience, with preference for experience at a firm
Extensive knowledge of print and electronic news media
Extensive reporter contacts, particularly in print media – priority given to political, environmental and health contacts
Excellent news sense and political savvy
Experience with online campaigns using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
Experience managing project budgets
Experience mentoring or managing staff
Demonstrated ability to manage client accounts and to design long-term creative communications campaigns
Experience developing network of business and political contacts
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Lexis-Nexis, as well as internet research skills
Ability to juggle multiple tasks under tight deadlines and meet schedules and assigned tasks in a timely manner
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in written format
Ability to interact and perform in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Demonstrated resourcefulness and flexibility in approach to project assignments
Compensation: Competitive with benefits.
To apply: Email resume, cover letter, brief writing sample, top press clips, references, and salary requirements, attention AD Hiring Committee, to ad@fenton.com. Submissions without salary requirements will not be considered.
People of color and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Fenton is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
