PLMR is a leading, fast-growing communications agency with a dynamic, vibrant team, who deliver outstanding results for clients every day. We work across a range of core sectors, including education, health and social care, technology, built environment, energy and sustainability, and professional services to deliver public relations, public affairs, reputation management and digital strategies that play a central role in helping our clients achieve their diverse objectives.  

As an Account Director you will be a leading member of the PLMR Education practice, overseeing and working across client accounts to ensure high-quality support is delivered at all times. You will also develop communications strategies, provide strategic counsel and confidently lead client communications and decision-making. Internally, you will support the Education practice’s senior leadership team by leading by example, supporting junior colleagues and contributing to new business and marketing efforts. 

You will have at least five years’ experience working within communications, including agency settings, spanning all levels of traditional and new media, public affairs and stakeholder engagement and crisis communications. You will also be able to demonstrate your ability to develop a wide network of journalists, clients and political stakeholders and will have a proven aptitude for consultancy and management. 

In this role, you will work on an array of clients within education, spanning multi-academy trusts and schools, edtech providers, further and higher education organisations, education charities and associations, as well as supporting corporate organisations and other businesses working within PLMR’s other sector areas, as required. You will be accountable for seamless and high-quality work, internally and externally, and will have excellent leadership skills that bring the best out of your team. You will have a passion for working across accounts that have positive social impact and be ambitious for your career and for PLMR.  

The ideal candidate will have the following: 

• A minimum of five years’ experience in communications, including time working within an agency setting. 

• Excellent written, presentation and verbal communications skills. 

• Experience leading reputation management and crisis communications, including providing strategic advice and developing effective and considered communications materials. 

• A proven ability to be a self-starter, critical thinker and solutions-driven consultant. 

• A strong track record of account leadership – motivating and coordinating account teams, working efficiently and to a high-standard and successfully managing multiple projects with challenging deadlines. 

• Experience with line management and a can-do attitude and a positive, supportive and engaging approach to work. 

• Experience leading on successful new business proposals and pitches, coordinating a support team and quickly developing positive relationships with prospective clients as part of this process. 

• An expert understanding of the British media and political system. You will have an established network of journalists and wider contacts, even if outside of education. 

• A proven ability delivery successful client work with meaningful outcomes. 

• Knowledge of the education sector is advantageous, but not essential. 

Main responsibilities: 

• Leading and implementing programmes of work for clients across the PR, public affairs and reputation management disciplines.  

• Establishing, building and nurturing strong relationships with clients, key stakeholders, potential new business leads and media contacts (including journalists and industry spokespeople). 

• Providing leadership across a portfolio of accounts – steering the account team to maintain excellent and trusted client relationships, ensuring that the client feels well serviced, able to call for advice at any time and maximising account development through value-adding opportunities. 

• Providing clients with detailed and quality advice according to their needs. 

• Ensuring work is completed on time, to the appropriate standards and anticipates client questions and demands. 

• Ensuring that client accounts are run efficiently and to budget. 

• Ensuring the team closely monitors political and media developments in relevant sectors and considers how this impacts clients. 

• Confidently leading on reputation management enquiries and projects. 

• Managing and mentoring junior members of staff. 

• Proactively identifying new business opportunities and leading proposal development and new business pitches for prospective clients, as well as upselling opportunities to existing clients. 

• Researching, forecasting and evaluating the effects of public policy on an organisation, using public sources, political intelligence and personal contacts. 

• Proactively contributing ideas and activity to support PLMR’s marketing efforts, including attending events and developing thought leadership and social media content. 

• Professionally representing PLMR at all times, setting a positive example for colleagues and external audiences. 

• Preparing and delivering internal training, if required, as well as presenting in team and company meetings as requested. 

• Developing sectoral expertise, particularly in education and skills. 

• Meeting personal development objectives set by line manager.  

Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.   

Salary: Competitive, plus a very attractive range of benefits including: 25 days of annual leave (plus UK Bank Holidays); enhanced pension plan; enhanced maternity pay; private healthcare, gym allowance and outstanding training. 

At PLMR we are committed to reflecting and representing the diversity of the UK and to equal opportunities in employment. The policies and practices of the agency aim to promote an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity and inclusion of all people. At the heart of our policy, we seek to treat people fairly and with dignity and respect. We therefore encourage and welcome applications from people with a diverse variety of backgrounds; age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief.   

Please note, PLMR is unable to offer sponsorship at this time. 

Please submit a CV and Cover Letter, outlining why you’d be perfect for this role. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please let us know.   

Due to the expected high volume of applicants, if you do not hear from us then it is likely that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.