Public Relations Account Manager

We're on the lookout for a talented Account Manager to join our growing team in Sydney.

At Zeno, you'll work alongside smart, creative and collaborative colleagues across both local and global integrated accounts. We're proud to have been named 2024 PR Awards APAC Best Culture of the Year and one of Campaign's Best Places to Work APAC 2024 - because we genuinely care about our people and their growth.

If you're a driven AM with Australian experience across both corporate and consumer clients, we'd love to hear from you.

Permanent, full-time, 3 days in office per week, 2 days from home

About the Job

As an Account Manager at Zeno Group, you will take responsibility for the delivery of campaigns against set objectives, identifying and developing client relationships/opportunities, and serving as a valued team member and resource for clients, junior members, and all internal and external stakeholders.

• Day-to-day management of all aspects of a client campaign/project
• Management of regular client WIPs, ensuring key milestones are met and projects are being delivered (engaging with the client to ensure they are fully updated)
• Thinking proactively about the client's business. Providing client communications that are solutions-driven
• Demonstrating understanding of the categories in which their client operates
• Media strategy development and press relations
• Social media and influencer strategy development and management (experience a bonus, but not essential)
• Creative idea generation and development
• Proposal writing
• Setting of client KPIs and managing the delivery of agreed KPIs in partnership with the Account Director, where relevant
• Being able to plan to effectively self-manage and manage junior team members
• Management of budget trackers (in relation to projects/events)
• Contributing to the overall culture of the office
• Having fun – and helping others enjoy their work too

Duties & Responsibilities

• Management and Professional Skills
• Contribute to (and in some cases lead) the strategic development of projects and long-term campaigns for all designated clients in partnership with the senior client lead (AD)
• Effectively work with and manage client teams to ensure that work is being delivered on time and at a high level
• Develop the professional and management skills of junior team members; provide ongoing feedback in a constructive manner
• Lend skills, capabilities, or knowledge in problem-solving on behalf of clients or teams
• Ensure brainstorms for all designated clients are thoroughly planned to create the best creative environment, engaging a wide range of expertise from across the agency
• Lead media engagement for designated clients, demonstrating the ability to secure key leading coverage and teaching these skills to junior team members
• In partnership with the senior client lead, develop client KPIs and take responsibility for the delivery of these KPIs, working closely with team members to achieve these
• Be a proficient writer across all styles of writing, including press releases, speeches, briefs newsletters, etc
• Help to effectively utilize agency creative and planning services where required in a cost-effective manner
• Work closely with colleagues throughout the Zeno network as necessary
• Be a positive role model and mentor for others at Zeno
• Manage key relationships with client leads at the local (and regional and global level if required) and therefore contribute to the growth of client revenues
• Billability to be at least 90% of the time

Talent and Leadership

• Be a positive role model for leadership values and behaviours
• Strong people advocate and developer of future talent
• Empower more junior team members to deliver the required business results for growth by providing counsel to junior team members and giving feedback on their work
• Manage staff to maximize performance and productivity
• Identify, shape, attract, and develop talent across all levels; retain and develop key team employees through mentoring, motivation, feedback, and learning opportunities

Business Development, networking, and marketing

• Identify clients with the potential for growth
• Maintain client satisfaction, resulting in client retention
• Network amongst client groups and relevant industry peers
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies and trends and demonstrate a considered understanding of how they integrate into communication marketing programs

Initiative and General Management

• Maintain knowledge of the latest thinking and practices in public relations and apply these to the clients as required
• Engage with journalists of the relevant media to maintain their understanding of how the media works, and new trends, and apply these to the client as required.
• Regularly provide leadership in driving a positive and supportive work culture.
• Nurture and grow junior team members by providing regular feedback to be a team player. Get involved with no task too big or too small
• Be a team player. Get involved with no task too big or too small
• Day-to-day responsibility for managing large projects as well as small teams on several accounts
• Responsible for client-related finance management, including managing large project budgets
• Alert Account Director/ Director of potential scope creep (e.g., expected work product exceeds available budget) within five days of the month close to ensure conversations are held with clients
• Before commencing any work for a client, review MSA to ensure you understand client billing policies (including travel policies); are knowledgeable about agreed rates and that all paperwork to support billing is in place; ensure that the team is aware of and understands the client billing policies (especially as they relate to what can and cannot be billed)

About You

To succeed at Zeno, you need to align with our core values, as these underpin everything we do. We are:

Fearless: We push ourselves and each other into the unexpected

Collaborative: We work together to get somewhere better

Entrepreneurial: We pave the way for our people to make big things happen

Inclusive: We are a place where everyone can be seen and valued as their true, authentic selves

Kind: We communicate openly and directly, always acting with empathy

Ambitious: We aim high, determined to advance our individual and shared goals

We are a TEAM, we always support each other, we lift each other up, and help each other succeed.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following capabilities:

• 4+ years' experience – agency preferred but not essential
• A passion for telling interesting and insightful stories for our clients, supported by solid media, influencer, and/or stakeholder contacts in the Australian and New Zealand markets
• Experience playing an integral role in managing projects and retained campaign work for brands with diverse communications requirements
• The ability to manage up and down within a team and experience supporting the career growth of junior team members
• Independent thinking, courage to challenge the norm, and confidence to generate fresh ideas internally and externally
• Excellent written skills from pitch responses to media releases, case studies, bylines, and online content production
• A genuine passion for the industry we work in, and the brands we work with, and looking to grow and learn as part of a driven and ambitious team
• Is fearless, resourceful, and tenacious - able to hit the ground running
• Flexible, team player keen to mentor and nurture junior team members
• Positive outlook – we like to have fun at work

Our Culture, Perks, and Values

Awards and client wins aside, it is our culture that sets us apart from other agencies. We are fiercely protective and supportive of our people, who are our greatest assets. We invest heavily in training and career development, and we also work hard to ensure that work does not take over your life. We set clear boundaries and have many benefits in place to support your well-being.

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
• Industries: Public Relations and Communications Services

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