Perowne International is a luxury travel PR firm that provides communications strategy for domestic and international clients and is looking for an Account Director.
Our team in New York works a hybrid schedule, and we typically come into the SoHo office 3 days each week.
The schedule is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but is subject to some change with UK leadership visits and client events. This role will oversee a team of 2-3 account coordinators and account executives and provide account management, media relations, and client strategy.
This role will have established relationships with journalists, bloggers, and influencers and lead press trips and media events. Directors provide social media strategy, advice, research, campaign ideas, and provide and/or supervise communications management, as well as brand partnerships and events.
This role will report to the SVP and CEO, with direct reports being the Account Coordinator, Account Executive, and Sr. Account Executive.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Account Management
- Accountable for account start-up/close-down.
- Provides direction for monthly project lists and clip books.
- Contributes to flash reports and status reports.
- Initiates and manages the creation of monthly reports and ensures prompt distribution.
- Writes award entries.
- Sets and manages an appropriate monthly scope of work to match the designated budget.
- Acts as quality control for all account work.
- Prepares action plans that are thoughtful, creative, and results-driven.
- Provides long-term strategic input.
- Leads brainstorms.
- Sets realistic project and program timelines.
- Achieves program objectives within financial resources.
- Oversees client budgets and expenses on a monthly basis.
- Displays knowledge of ROI and deliverables for each account.
- Assists in the development of promotions, including securing components of promotions, proposals, and contracts if necessary.
- Can plan and execute events, with final approval of the event plan by the Sr. Account Director and the CEO.
- Has a comprehensive understanding of current events in the travel and hospitality industry.
- Attends conferences and shares intelligence with staff and clients.
- Demonstrates understanding and working knowledge of social media.
- Manages the account hours of the junior staff member on the team.
Client Activities
- Acts as day-to-day client contact.
- Provides unsolicited/proactive ideas to clients on a quarterly basis.
- Anticipates needs of clients.
- Displays a clear understanding of client expectations.
- Client communication is proactive and relevant.
- Actively participates and provides input in client meetings.
- Takes a leadership role in client meetings.
Media Activities
- Conducts proactive vs. reactive media pitching.
- Conducts media appointments for clients and the agency.
- Able to think “on their feet” when dealing with media.
- Has cultivated strong media relationships and continues to expand a network of media contacts for the agency as well as their own accounts.
- Writes well-thought-out press releases and pitches.
- Creates targeted and accurate media lists for releases and pitches.
- Develops a targeted media strategy for accounts.
- Leads media pitching strategies for major initiatives.
- Anticipates media opportunities to capitalize on them.
- Develops creative story ideas for pitches, press releases, creative deliveries, and events.
- Creates an itinerary for press trips.
- Hosts press trips.
- Develops a strategy for press trips.
Agency Responsibilities
- Attends and contributes constructive input in mid-level manager meetings.
- Attends and contributes constructive input in staff meetings.
- Participates in agency brainstorms.
- Ability to fearlessly lead the client and team.
- Has foresight when a change is needed and can guide the team in a new direction
- Educates staff about the PR and travel industry.
- Acts as agency representative at client, media, and industry meetings/events.
- Participates in new business pitches.
- Models enthusiasm and contributes to positive morale.
Talent Development
- Manages, motivates, and mentors those he/she manages on teams.
- Has a primary manager role; manages staff growth and career track with guidance from the senior team.
- Delegates effectively and efficiently.
- Manages performance review process for direct reports.
- Participates in the interview and training process.
- Participates in hiring and termination decisions – decisions ultimately approved by the CEO.
Accountability/Personal Responsibility
- Meets deadlines.
- Conducts prompt follow-up of tasks and projects.
- Demonstrates attention to detail; prepares client-ready work.
- Shows resourcefulness and problem-solving abilities.
- Works independently with some supervision from the team leader.
- Contributes to the team; is enthusiastic and helpful.
- Completes account work within designated hours.
- Displays flexibility and a sense of control over workload.
- Anticipates needs of the team and client in advance.
- Is receptive to constructive feedback and shifts accordingly.
- Is professional in appearance and conduct.
