PR Account Manager, Tech Practice
ABOUT THE JOB:
Overview:
Account Manager
Austin, TX or San Francisco, CA / Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Overview
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide boasts over 25 years of supporting leading technology brands in introducing and driving adoption of market-changing innovations. The Technology Practice continues this tradition with a bench of technology enthusiasts who match deep technical knowledge with a passion for the potential of technology to improve lives.
The Technology Practice is looking for a seasoned Account Manager (AM) to join our Austin, TX or San Francisco, CA office. This AM will have a proven track record of successfully managing public relations campaigns for B2B enterprise clients. This person will serve as a day-to-day lead on current accounts, as well as support business development. Strong technical writing experience is highly desired.
This individual will possess:
· A proven ability to develop and grow client relationships
· Strong technical writing experience.
· Proven client management experience as day-to-day account lead
· Experience and confidence to provide counsel to business and marketing executive clients
· Intuitive sense of client needs and ability to match client needs with agency offerings
· A passion for the potential of innovation to impact lives and businesses
· Curiosity about client technology and the ability to translate technical content into compelling customer value and industry impact stories
· Interest in pursuing new clients that build out WE's portfolio of innovative companies across established and emerging technology segments
· Manage, maintain and grow relationships with key, senior level influentials; leverage relationships for client results
· Desire to be an engaged, accessible member of a small, dynamic office and broader global agency community
· Financial management skills, including account budget forecasting and management
· Experience mentoring junior account staff.
Responsibilities:
Influentials:
· Manage, maintain and grow relationships with key, senior level influentials in both traditional and social media.
· Identify communication trends and educate clients agency on them. Level trends appropriately.
· Conceive and tell strategic stories apart from client business milestones.
Model and coach staff on “best practices” in successfully engaging with influentials.
· Oversee enforce consistent adherence to media management processes: media lists, coverage monitoring and industry coverage trends.
Client Service:
· Provide strategic counsel to key clients and serve as a trusted advisor on clients competitors.
Manage, maintain and grow client relationships.
· Assure internal and external stakeholders are aligned.
· Negotiate and manage client expectations satisfaction.
· Participate and may drive communication planning.
International:
· Act as the central strategic and execution hub for teams in the US, EMEA and APAC.
· Communicate client objectives and expectations to global teams, ensure consistency of delivery across multiple geographies.
People Management:
· Mentor and motivate staff with the goal of retention and development.
· Coach, influence and manage performance and career development of direct reports as well as across team.
· Partner with Human Resources to manage employee relations issues.
· Manage up and educate AD’s and above on crisis issues, account health and client/team satisfaction.
· Model and hold team accountable to demonstrating agency values.
Agency Business:
· Involved in budget resource management and tracking team utilization.
· Drive cross-team integration/collaboration.
· Share industry POV, develop networks and follow competition.
· Build awareness and showcase capabilities, talent and results internally and externally.
· Strong understanding of PR competitive landscape and the ability to inform, educate and influence clients on WE value add relative to competing communication agencies.
Qualifications:
Education
· Bachelor’s degree required Master’s degree preferred in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English or related field.
· Technical Writing experience.
· At least 5 years' experience in PR– in an agency and/or within applicable industry. 7-8 years' preferred.
· Minimum of 3 years' individual and team management experience, including experience developing a team.
· Minimum of 3 years' Integrated Communications management and execution experience, including developing plans, launch strategies, product positioning, pitching stories, negotiation, budget responsibility, media training, messaging and creative tactical ideas.
· Demonstrated creative and strategic mindset.
· Made presentations to groups of all sizes
· Pitched new business
· International experience a plus
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) is a global, integrated communications agency. For more than 25 years, the independently owned firm has developed strategic communications programs for innovative and world-changing clients, working to influence markets, inspire people and improve lives. In 2009, WE was awarded Best PR Agency in North America by International Business Awards and Top Place to Work in PR by PR News. In addition, WE was named one of Oregon Business’ 100 Best Companies to Work For. WE was also named European Technology Agency of the Year in 2008. WE has earned numerous honors for its outstanding work on behalf of clients, for its exceptional people and for its innovation in communications. The agency has more than 750 employees in 15 offices around the world, and its 15 Global Alliance partners expand the agency’s reach to 30 additional international markets. WE has seven global practices: Analyst Relations, Consumer Marketing, Corporate Communications, Healthcare, Public Affairs, Technology and WE Social Innovation, along with its digital strategies group, WE Studio D™. More information can be found at http://www.WaggenerEdstrom.com .
Please submit your resume (in a Word document only please) via our website at http://jobs.waggeneredstrom.com/jobs/523321-Account-Manager.aspx .