Public Relations Account Director

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS – Dallas

Hybrid role

Are you looking to join a hungry and humble team of thinkers, creators and achievers? You’ve come to the right place. Jackson Spalding is an award-winning PR and marketing agency that helps brands stand out to move those who matter most.

Fiercely creative and strategic, we work alongside our clients to help them connect with their audience and reach their goals. Jackson Spalding was built on the principle that there had to be a better way to run an agency. That means that we stay curious, have an open mind and ask questions to make sure we consistently achieve excellence with integrity.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Jackson Spalding, an award-winning marketing and public relations agency, is seeking a Public Relations Account Director. The ideal candidate has advanced experience developing and leading large-sized client relationships, accounts or specialized practices in an integrated agency setting including project and budget management.

ABOUT JACKSON SPALDING

Jackson Spalding is a public relations and marketing agency that helps brands break through to earn measurable audience attention, affinity and action. Through its integrated PR, digital marketing, advertising, brand strategy and creative services, the agency helps organizations better share their stories. Jackson Spalding was founded in 1995 with a vision to be the most trusted and respected agency in the industry and is proudly independently owned.

With offices located in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles and Athens, Ga., Jackson Spalding’s clients include celebrated brands like Chick-fil-A, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Google, L.L.Bean, Orkin, Primrose Schools, and Toyota, among others. Jackson Spalding was recognized as one of the best PR agencies in America by Forbes in 2022, has been featured on Best Places to Work lists, and has earned awards ranging from the SABREs to ADDYs.

RESPONSIBLITIES

In simplest terms, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading client projects and their outcomes, client facing decision making with other JS leaders, managing others’ efforts related to the clients’ project and communicating with the client directly. Additionally, the role will require some PR or communication support.

Account Leadership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the client and team for a large account. This role will include acting as a forecaster, innovator and thought partner for the client.
• Apply PR best practices and entrepreneurialism to meet client challenges and goals.
• Apply deep understanding of client’s business, higher education, technology, public affairs and competitive industry environment, third-party insights, and own professional experiences to develop effective strategies and tactics to accomplish business goals.
• Adeptly manages and advises clients through ambiguous or complex situations.
• Develop strategic and tactical plans that leverage JS services by understanding the client’s business objectives, scope of work, and project constraints and outcomes.
• Oversee client’s budget, results and reporting in consultation with other JS teams.
• Lead a team of PR professionals and cross-functional experts to plan and execute client deliverables with success, on time and on budget.
• Create informed and relevant insights or points of view for path to success (deliverables, team, timeline, KPIs, budget) for both JS and the client on projects and assignments.
• Organize, facilitate and lead client and internal meetings.
• Develop and/or deliver client presentations or communication materials.
• Utilize constructive conflict methods and serve as proactive conflict-resolver.

People Leadership

• Coach and develop talent to be effective PR practitioners and project leaders.
• Delegate work effectively and provide guidance or mentoring to others.
• Utilize high EQ to read situations and provide business and emotional support to team members and clients.
• Model the JS values, challenge norms and exercise diplomacy and caring candor.

Business Development

• Cultivate new and existing clients using mastery level of relationship building.
• Participate in new business pitches successfully as needed.
• Identify opportunities to organically grow business through successful client relations by spotting opportunities and providing recommendations.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree (Journalism, Communications or Marketing a plus)

REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate has 12 – 15+ years of agency experience leading and managing large accounts

• 12+ years’ experience in an agency setting leading PR bodies of work
• Experience generating new revenue and managing budgets
• Higher ed, tech or public affairs experience is a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication, including messaging and platform/plan development. Is compelling & confident while presenting in person and virtual, utilizing a mix of presentation tools
• Knowledge of and experience with project management principles and tools
• Demonstration of inclusive language and behaviors, optimization of diverse team skills and creation of inclusive team dynamics across multiple locations as the project leader
• Effective collaboration skills

This role will be based out of the Dallas office and may require intermittent travel as needed.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

We believe that great work starts by taking care of our people. Below are just some of the benefits we provide the JS team.

• World class health care insurance
• Profit sharing
• Unlimited sick days
• 401k match + personal financial planning
• Flexible work environment: This means a hybrid workstyle where you’ll have the option to spend 3 days in our incredible workspaces and 2 days of your time working remotely – whether from home or elsewhere

Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and, if hired, present proof of vaccination prior to start date, unless eligible for a medical or religious accommodation or other accommodation required under applicable law.

EEO

At Jackson Spalding, we embrace and celebrate our differences. They are what inspire, unite, and motivate us to strive for a better way. In alignment with our purpose to cultivate meaningful relationships rooted in mutual respect, we are dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging throughout our agency. Jackson Spalding is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment against any person on account of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Jackson Spalding