Account Director, Publicity

Location: Remote

About the role:

Allied Global Marketing is hiring an experienced Account Director to join our Publicity team.

The Account Director will serve as a senior client and team leader, overseeing a portfolio of accounts from strategic development through execution and analysis. This role requires strong client relationship management, strategic thinking, expertise in modern media relations, and established relationships with key national media contacts, journalists, producers, editors, creators, and influencers across the travel, hospitality, entertainment, lifestyle, business, and consumer media landscape.

The Account Director will provide senior level counsel to clients, lead and mentor account teams, oversee the quality of client work, and ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope, on budget, and against agreed upon goals. This individual will stay current on media trends and industry developments, drive effective earned media strategies, support organic account growth, foster cross-functional collaboration, and contribute to new business efforts.

At Allied Global Marketing, we embrace the thoughtful and responsible use of generative AI to enhance creativity, strategic thinking, and operational efficiency. Team members are expected to leverage AI tools to support research, brainstorming, writing, strategic planning, reporting, presentation development, workflow optimization, and other day-to-day responsibilities while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, confidentiality, sound judgment, and client service.

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Client Relations / Account Management

• Serve as senior level client counsel and maintain strong, transparent relationships with assigned clients
• Develop a deep understanding of each client's business, industry, communications goals, audiences, and competitive landscape
• Oversee the overall health, performance, retention, and growth of assigned accounts
• Lead the development and execution of long term publicity strategies that support client goals and elevate brand awareness
• Lead priority client meetings, planning sessions, and senior level presentations
• Anticipate client needs, challenges, and reputational risks, and provide clear, solutions oriented recommendations
• Manage client expectations and ensure all commitments are delivered accurately, on time, and within scope
• Review and approve major client and media facing materials, including communications plans, campaign strategies, messaging, pitches, press materials, and presentations
• Guide account teams in developing creative, timely, and newsworthy campaigns
• Provide senior direction on media strategy, story positioning, target development, and outreach
• Maintain strong relationships with key media contacts, journalists, producers, editors, creators, and influencers
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of modern media relations strategies, journalist workflows, editorial priorities, and the evolving media landscape by staying current on relevant news, media trends, cultural moments, and industry developments, leveraging these insights to develop effective earned media strategies and mentor junior team members.
• Establish clear campaign goals and ensure reporting provides accurate results, meaningful insights, and strategic recommendations
• Maintain oversight of account scopes, budgets, staffing plans, billable hours, timelines, and profitability-
• Hold and maintain strong, established relationships with key national media contacts, journalists, producers, editors, creators, and influencers, particularly across the travel, hospitality,entertainment, lifestyle, business, and consumer media landscape.
• Identify scope changes, staffing needs, or account risks and work with senior leadership to address them
• Support crisis communications and issues management by identifying concerns, escalating appropriately, and assisting with strategy and implementation
• Ensure account teams maintain accurate timelines, project tracking, time reporting, and documentation
• Leverage generative AI and other AI-powered tools to strengthen research, strategic planning, campaign development, brainstorming, reporting, and workflow efficiencies while exercising sound professional judgment and maintaining the highest standards of creativity, accuracy, and client service.

1. Staff Development

• Lead, manage, and develop staff across assigned account teams
• Provide direct supervision and oversight while allowing employees to take ownership of their work
• Coach Account Supervisors, Senior Account Executives, Account Executives, and other team members on client service, strategy, writing, delegation, and account management
• Establish clear responsibilities and expectations across account teams
• Delegate tasks effectively while maintaining quality control
• Provide regular and constructive feedback related to performance, productivity, client service, and professional development
• Address performance concerns directly and in a timely manner
• Conduct annual staff evaluations and goal setting discussions in partnership with senior leadership
• Maintain regular communication with senior leadership regarding individual performance, workload, development, and staffing needs
• Support staff professional development and identify opportunities for employees to take on additional responsibility
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new employees
• Help identify high potential employees and support succession planning across account teams
• Develop a spirit of teamwork and maintain positive morale among employees working under their direction
• Hold account teams accountable for meeting agency standards and client expectations
• Train and mentor team members on modern media relations best practices, helping staff strengthen media pitching strategies, cultivate meaningful journalist relationships, and adapt to the evolving media landscape.
• Coach team members on the effective use of generative AI and other AI-powered tools to improve productivity, strengthen strategic thinking, and enhance overall account performance.

1. Agency Development

• Develop a thorough understanding of the services offered across Allied Global Marketing
• Collaborate with teams across Partnerships, Paid Media, Brand Experience, Strategy and Innovation, Field Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Social Media, Multicultural Marketing, and other agency divisions
• Identify opportunities to bring additional agency capabilities into client programs
• Expand services provided to existing clients by identifying business opportunities, anticipating client needs, and building confidence in Allied's integrated capabilities.
• Work with senior leadership to develop account growth plans and pursue additional revenue opportunities
• Participate in new business development, including research, strategy, proposal writing, pitch development, presentations, and prospect meetings
• Support new business opportunities through professional networking and relationship building
• Identify marketing opportunities created through business contacts and participation in industry, civic, and professional organizations
• Represent Allied professionally at industry events, conferences, networking opportunities, and community activities
• Contribute Publicity expertise to integrated agency campaigns and new business efforts
• Champion the effective and responsible use of generative AI and other AI-powered tools across assigned account teams to strengthen research, strategic planning, proposal development, media analysis, reporting, presentation development, brainstorming, workflow efficiencies, and overall client service.
• Guide staff on how to use AI effectively while maintaining accuracy, client confidentiality, sound judgment, and appropriate human oversight
• Identify account processes that can be improved or streamlined to strengthen efficiency, reporting, and client service

1. Personal Development

• Develop trust and respect from clients, Allied's leadership team, and colleagues by demonstrating sound business judgment, leadership, writing skills, and strong interpersonal communication
• Maintain professional conduct in all business and social situations
• Demonstrate an interest in continuing to develop communication, leadership, financial management, and creative thinking skills
• Continually strengthen internal and external communication skills, industry expertise, and independent problem solving capabilities
• Stay informed about media, culture, technology, client industries, business trends, and the broader marketing landscape
• Practice honesty, integrity, and transparency with colleagues, media, influencers, clients, and business associates
• Demonstrate confidence in recommending strategies that support client goals while protecting the reputation of both the client and the agency
• Collaborate with Allied's leadership team on workload planning, account priorities, annual evaluations, and professional development planning
• Foster team collaboration and contribute to positive workplace morale through mentorship and support

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, integrated marketing, or a related discipline preferred
• Eight or more years of comparable agency, corporate communications, or in house public relations experience
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex client accounts and providing counsel to senior client stakeholders
• Proven success developing and leading strategic publicity campaigns, securing meaningful media placements, and retaining client relationships
• Established strong national, regional, and category specific media relationships
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing employees
• Experience managing account scopes, budgets, staffing plans, billable hours, and profitability
• Excellent writing, editing, presentation, and verbal communication skills, including a strong understanding of AP Style
• Strong strategic thinking, business judgment, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of AI tools and their application across strategy development, research, ideation, media analysis, reporting, presentation development, and account workflow
• Ability to use AI responsibly, including evaluating accuracy, protecting confidential information, and applying appropriate human review and judgment
• Strong understanding of media measurement, campaign analysis, crisis communications, and the evolving media landscape
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant project management, media intelligence, reporting, and communications tools
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams and agency disciplines
• Professional experience within hospitality, lifestyle, travel, entertainment, or related consumer industries is preferred
• Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment while maintaining regular communication, collaboration, and accountability across teams
• Flexible schedule allowing for occasional nights, weekends, and travel based on client needs

Details:

• This position will be eligible to participate in the standard benefits offered to full-time employees of Allied Global Marketing (medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability and life insurance as well as 401k and Flexible PTO). We also offer 10 company paid holidays.

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