Public Relations Account Manager

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

We’re a Seattle-based firm looking for local or remote candidates to join our growing team.

You’ve established yourself as a PR agency pro, successfully leading teams and engendering trust and respect with your client contacts. You’ve helped grow talent by sharing your command of project management skills, attention to detail, strategic vision and creative ideas. You have shown that you have the rare talent to make the intersection of public relations and marketing work, seamlessly, including developing integrated programs that educate, drive awareness and achieve goals. You possess a professional maturity that prompts others to listen and take your counsel on best practices. 

 

The Account Manager plays an integral role leading some of the firm’s key accounts and works with leadership to manage more junior team members. They not only help shape the strategy but also roll up their sleeves to lead the team in implementing a wide array of programs for their clients, including thought-leadership development, online marketing, promotions, crisis communication, and traditional PR campaigns. With a firm grasp of public relations and digital marketing tools, the Account Manager also has a strong desire to continually hone their craft and take their knowledge to the next level.  

 

Note: For this hiring cycle, we are considering established Account Managers as well as Senior Account Executives who are rising into the Account Manger role. For those with strong experience serving as a go-to on accounts and the drive to fully lead them in the near future, there is an opportunity to begin as a Senior Account Executive and leverage your experience working with F+A’s exceptional clients and dynamic team to transition into the Account Manager position. 

CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES 

— Strategic thinker / tactically skilled – You can see the forest through the trees and know how to craft strategic short and long-term programs that are aligned with business goals. At the same time, you have the chops and the team mindset to roll-up your sleeves and get the work done when needed. 

 

— Initiative – As self-starter, you are eager to develop new ideas and drive deliverables forward. You’re adept at anticipating situations that will require a response, and proactively addressing needs.  

 

— Results driven – You find ways to succeed no matter what the challenge. You take ownership of responsibilities and are a natural problem solver. You are self-directed. And most importantly, you know how to deliver expected or agreed-upon results. 

 

— Client-focused– You are adept at building strong relationships with client decision-makers and stakeholders, with a keen ability to listen, garner buy-in and bring discipline to planning and execution processes – all while helping clients achieve their goals. 

 

— Collaborative / relationship driven – You are a leader who likes being part of a cohesive team working toward shared goals and a mutual accountability. You enjoy working with a wide range of external stakeholders, from vendors to partners. You understand the importance of listening, asking probing questions and allowing others to be heard. 

 

— Detail-oriented – You take pride in your excellent organizational and project management skills and your innate ability to manage multiple key projects with tight time frames. 

 

— Quality commitment – You have a consistent attitude and respect for high quality standards and maintain those standards even when under schedule pressures. You continually seek and share expertise on best practices to ensure client programs are of the highest caliber.  

 

— Professionally mature – You demonstrate confidence, experience, and poise under pressure, and you have experience managing your peers or more junior team members. 

 

— Exceptional writer – Your education and experience reflect excellent writing ability that is creative and technically proficient and cognizant of client voice and tone. You have a near-rabid adherence to AP style. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS 

— Lead and manage multiple accounts, acting as the client-facing lead, fielding strategic needs on a regular basis, and navigating complex and sometimes challenging client-relations issues. 

— Conceive, create and execute thoughtful, results-driven communication plans. 

— Develop and maintain strong relationships both with clients, and with internal teams. 

— Establish and maintain fruitful relationships with traditional and digital media contacts. 

— Participate as part of agency’s new-business team, identifying and pitching prospective clients. 

 

MARKETING 

— Confidently establish strategy and manage implementation of digital campaigns, including paid and organic social media, managing internal resources and external partners to drive optimal outcomes. 

— Drive content marketing activities to support brand awareness and thought leadership as well as to support more specific lead-generation goals. 

— Assist in the development of paid advertising in traditional media. 

— Develop sponsorship programs. 

 

CLIENT RELATIONS 

— Lead day-to-day communications with key clients, gathering information and driving deadlines. 

— Take ownership in client programs, constantly evaluating new ideas and activities, offering ideas, etc. 

— Lead client meetings. 

— Manage timely client document editing/approval process. 

— Adhere to client budgets and assignment scope. 

 

ACCOUNT SERVICES  

— Conduct account-related research. 

— Accurately track and manage billable/non-billable time. 

  

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION     

— At least five years PR agency or equivalent corporate experience in public relations. 

— Demonstrative ability to create and maintain client trust through engaged management of workflow. 

— Willingness and skill in mentoring junior team members in professional development. 

— Command of online marketing tools and ability to navigate SEO and website management. 

— Ability to manage client relationships, comprehend and distill complex issues and craft messaging for internal/external audiences. 

— Proven success securing placements with traditional and digital media. 

— Experience delivering social media outreach and engagement programs. 

— Proactive and collaborative – lead multiple client accounts depending upon client needs. 

— Sound judgment with high standards of accountability, integrity, responsiveness, and discretion. 

— Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and produce quality work under pressure. 

— Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, English or related field is required. 

 

TEAM, TOOLS AND RESOURCES 

 

— Direct reports: Up to five direct reports in fluid, client-focused environment. 

— Agencies/Consultants: Manage third-party vendors and freelancers as needed for client projects. 

 

SUCCESS IS DEFINED AS… 

 

Three months 

— Orientation to Firmani + Associates, account team members, and account processes and protocols. 

— Immersion in client subject matter. 

— Develop strong relationships with account team members and clients, gaining trust and respect. 

Six Months  

— Fully integrated into Firmani + Associates and account team. 

— Deep knowledge of client subject matter. 

— Complete ownership of key client relationships. 

12 months 

— Managing a portfolio of key agency accounts meeting or exceeding goals and expectations 

— High personal performance resulting in increased client revenue and other KPIs. Actively contribute to new business development 

 

COMPENSATION 

— Base salary range for Senior Account Executive to Account Manager role: $70,000 to $100,000. 

— Bonus opportunity: Quarterly bonus opportunity: receive 20% of billable rate for all time above billable goal. Bonus for securing new business is also available. 

— Benefits (health/dental/vision): Comprehensive benefits package; employer pays 90% of premium. 

— Work from home: Flexibility to work from your home office, third place, or our agency office in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. $100 a month WFH stipend available. 

— PTO/Vacation/Sick Days: All employees enjoy 20 days per year, includes both vacation and sick days; 10+ standard paid holidays observed per year. 

— Retirement/401K: Company-matched 401K program. 

— Travel: Less than 10%. 

— Professional Development: Offer reimbursement for professional development via webinars, seminars, conferences, etc. 

 

TO BE CONSIDERED 

If you’d like to be considered for this position, please send your resume, three writing samples and a cover letter describing your work history and why you think you’d be a good fit for this position to [email protected] .  

 

About Firmani + Associates, Inc. 

Firmani + Associates is a locally owned full-service public relations agency founded in 1994. Co-owned by Kristi Herriott, Annie Alley and Mark Firmani, F+A has had the privilege of working with many of Seattle’s most iconic brands.  

Our mission is two-fold: to find communications professionals who have exemplified a passion for our industry and our work, and provide them with a supportive, challenging and rewarding work environment, while at the same time attracting clients that appreciate and benefit from our methodology. 

We have built a rock-solid team of communications professionals by encouraging and rewarding professional growth and by creating and maintaining a flat management structure. Our current team is an amalgam of professionals we’ve recruited as lateral hires, and those who’ve joined F+A after completing our professional-level internship programs, including two of our co-owners. 

Our clients appreciate this approach as well. Like many firms, we have the regular flow of project-based clients, but we are exceptionally fortunate that our larger, core clients have partnered with us for years, even decades. 

 

 

Firmani + Associates Inc.