Account Director, Corporate Reputation

Are you a seasoned PR professional who consistently drives results and wows clients? Do you enjoy building big, creative ideas and seeing them come to fruition? Do you prefer a team where everyone has an opportunity to speak up, take ownership, and work directly with high-profile clients?

MikeWorldWide (MWW) has an exciting opportunity for an Account Director on the Corporate Reputation team to sit in our NYC office to work on several key pieces of business within the professional services space. The ideal candidate is highly proactive with high-touch client relations skills – and someone who has a deep expertise advising professional services clients on executive visibility, thought leadership, c-suite executive counsel, and more. We’re looking for someone who constantly brings strategic and proactive ideas to clients and instills confidence in their ability to lead the business and counsel senior level executives. Someone who is a real self-starter and incredibly organized, with a proven track record of executing flawless communications programs. Someone who has the ability to teach and impart their skills, creativity, energy, and expertise to junior staff.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary, day-to-day client contact; anticipate client needs and prepare in advance, troubleshooting clients’ problems as they arise; ensure that all accounts are strategically on target with client business objectives
• Lead account team strategy sessions and brainstorms and the corresponding development, planning and execution of client media strategies.
• Manage multiple projects from concept to completion on time and within budget
• Proactively respond to and facilitate client requests – interacting with senior-level colleagues and delegating work to junior team members when needed
• Act as representatives of MWW’s values and core principles reflected in how they help grow and engage with all team members and clients
• Proactively generate award-winning ideas and opportunities to support client objectives
• Maintain solid relationships with top-tier media and drive results for strategic media programs
• Moderate media interviews and lead media training for C-level executives; oversee creation of media briefs, key messages and talking points; initiate implementation of media events such as press conferences, briefings and media tours; serve as the on-site agency contact for clients’ events
• Demonstrate excellent writing skills – press releases, creative pitches, media audits and reporting, strategic recommendations, briefing documents, etc.
• Take a leadership role in new business proposal development alongside senior team members and work with appropriate agency resources and account teams to identify and secure incremental business opportunities.
• Manage and mentor teams; facilitate teamwork and learning opportunities by delegating and involving junior staff whenever possible; review materials drafted by junior staffers and supervise media outreach
• Demonstrate superior presentation skills and proven ability to present plans and “sell in” new ideas

What You Have to Have (Education and Experience Requirements):

• At least 6 years of experience (post-graduation) serving in a full-time role either in a public relations agency or the communications department of a company in a relevant industry
• Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, a related field or liberal arts
• Proven track record for setting a standard of excellent and consistent work, always delivering superior client service
• Excellent process and organizational skills; attention to detail is a must as the role’s primary focus is staying ahead of the client and keeping the team focused on meeting deliverables
• Superior oral and written communication skills; advanced proofreading and editing ability
• Experience supervising and providing guidance to junior team members; strong team building and mentorship aptitude; effectively developing and retaining staff
• Confidence in managing staff across multi-dimensional accounts (both up and down)
• Demonstrated proficiency in media writing and media relations (writing releases and bylines, ability to find creative angles, developing targeted media pitches and pitching to traditional and emerging media)
• Excellent relationships with journalists and proactively generating earned media coverage
• Demonstrated understanding of digital and social media and how they work together with traditional media relations
• Maintain a thorough understanding of clients’ business and the competitive landscape
• Excellent time management skills and project management capability (can execute against multiple tasks; keeps account team abreast of timelines, managing up to superiors to ensure deadlines are met)
• Maintain a professional, client-ready demeanor and presence; keep a high standard of etiquette in all communications and interactions
• Ability to think strategically, creatively, and proactively; exhibit a facility for problem-solving and close attention to detail
• Comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Office Suite and proficiency with Muck Rack, Cision, Moreover, Factiva, TV Eyes and other monitoring tools
• Ability to travel as necessary contingent on client and new business needs (requirements vary)
• You must be able to be in our NYC office 2 days/week
• Experience working with or a passion for corporate/B2B clients is a plus!

Success Factors and Other Details:

• Maintain a thorough understanding of clients’ businesses and industries, and the industry issues that directly and indirectly affect the client
• Hunger to secure media hits and deepen understanding of all types of media, from trade and regional to top-tier, broadcast and podcasts
• Ability to think strategically, creatively and proactively; exhibit a facility for problem-solving
• Intellectual curiosity and desire to pursue knowledge and professional development
• Team oriented with the proven ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Interest in coaching and training up the next generation of agency talent – serve as a mentor and hands-on teacher to junior members of the team
• Participate in agency development by working collaboratively across all practice areas
• Cultivate and exhibit strong presentation and interpersonal skills
• Consistently strive for personal excellence with both client deliverables and within your team, enabling MWW to maintain a competitive advantage by providing exceptional value and service

Our Benefits:

We believe in flexibility and have the structure to make that our reality. MWWLife is our robust suite of benefits, programs, and incentives designed to support our employees’ experience during every phase of their careers. Forged in the spirit of flexibility and growth, it’s about the freedom to live your best life, both personally and professionally, and embodies the culture of caring that we cultivate at MikeWorldWide.

Highlights Includes:

Unlimited PTO

Pre-PTO

Mental Health Awareness Days

Friday Freeze/Summer Fridays

Commuter Benefits

Professional Trainings and Workshops

Offices are closed between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day

Our Values:

At MWW, our values are what set us apart and give us the energy to move forward with confidence and excellence.

Passion: We have a real passion for what we do. It’s why we get up every day and it’s what drives us to work harder, care more and execute flawlessly.

Inclusivity: We’re inclusive – for real. Our respect and appreciation for diverse backgrounds and perspectives lead us to greater innovation, enhanced creativity, and richer experiences.

Curiosity: Our endless curiosity opens us up to new ideas, collaboration, and growth. It drives our desire to immerse ourselves in the knowledge of others and the culture of the world about us.

Empathy: Our authentic empathy gives us a sense of understanding which informs our work, enhances our ability to deliver for clients and elevates us from colleagues to family

Independence: Our hard-earned independence gives us the freedom and flexibility to dream big, take risks and do what’s right – for our clients, our agency and each other

Initiative: We have a spirited initiative – we’re fast, focused and fearless. It’s that confidence and pride in our ability to deliver exceptional work for exceptional clients.

Our Philosophy:

At MikeWorldWide, we are built to care. We care about each other, our clients, our work and our world. We have an inherent collective empathy that informs our ideas, energizes our work and elevates us from likable colleagues to beloved family.

We’re an independent agency and we care a lot about that. Our independence gives us the freedom and flexibility to dream big, take the risks worth taking, and to do the work worth caring about. Most importantly, it lets us do what’s right, for our employees, our families and friends, and of course, our clients.

Creating authentic and lasting connections for our clients—and the people who value those clients—is why we exist. We want them to be loved because their success is ours. And so, for them, we create work that people care about because now, more than ever, CARING COUNTS.

We celebrate diversity in our employees and partners, and we're committed to building a safe and inclusive workplace environment where we all can feel comfortable and thrive while we bring our best ideas to life. We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage future MWW families from traditionally underrepresented and underserved communities to apply.