PR ACCOUNT MANAGER, U.S. // SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, U.S.

About the role

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We’re looking for an ambitious Account Manager (AM) to join the growing stateside operation of Propeller Group and help us generate brand awareness and fame for an incredible crew of clients in the creative, innovative, ad and tech spaces. While Propeller PR’s UK-arm was founded over 10 years ago, we created Propeller U.S. in late 2021 to expand our offerings for global clients, offering full-serviceB2B PR, content and business development solutions to leading companies and agencies.

Each AM will have their own client caseload, working closely with senior and junior account team members to dream up and execute full-fledged B2B PR strategies, from crafting pitches and press releases to drafting bylines, contributed content and speaking abstracts. Note that our AMs are extremely engaged with our clients and play a core role in designing and executing strategies, and more generally ensuring that goals and KPIs are met.  

What do we do? Whether our clients are U.S.-based or global, seeking to build a profile from scratch or enhance an existing one, we help them reach key decision makers in their space by securing opportunities in the publications and industry events which matter most to their target audiences. 

How do we do it? By executing proactive media engagements that go far beyond news generation, each strategically designed to shift the conversation forward and define industry standards at the same time. Working closely with client teams, we create and elevate thought leaders by identifying concepts and ideas which not only set their businesses apart, but also matter to them as professionals—and then we help champion them to the world. 

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Qualifications

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We’re looking for smart, savvy, creative thinkers and adept communicators who focus on solutions when presented with a challenge.

As an AM, you’ll have a minimum of five years’ experience (seven years as an SAM) in the PR field, with specific knowledge of the B2B space, and be a confident writer and communicator with a knack for nurturing and managing client relationships and colleagues. Above all, you must understand the importance of powerful storytelling.

You’re also a self-starter who has the ability to multi-task and juggle competing priorities and can effectively manage long- and short-term objectives while also hijacking breaking news and daily developments to position our clients as top industry thought leaders.

Whether it’s client-facing or designed to be read by an editor or the CMO of our client’s prospective client, everything we write must be crafted with intention and grammatical perfection—Which means that you must be a solid writer with working knowledge of AP style. You must also be a solid communicator; able to express your ideas and reasoning and persuade others to care. Lastly, you must have a proactive work ethic, meaning you’re willing to work ahead and won’t need to be tasked with individual action items. We also expect you to be able to support and manage SAEs, AEs and interns, as appropriate.

Note that we’re a tight team and can therefore promise you this: We will never ask you to do something we’re not willing to do ourselves. For instance, we all “pitch in” with media lists and pitch distribution, we all take turns taking notes and sending agendas. Rising tides lift all boats and that’s an attitude we stand behind.

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Duties

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While the below is a snapshot detailing what it means to be an AM at Propeller U.S., it is not an exhaustive list:

• Leading both the strategic development and day-to-day execution of client programs and providing reliable support to both junior and senior team members.
• Engaging clients on day-to-day matters, including preparation for, attending and leading client meetings; oversees junior team members to ensure that notes are taken and action items are shared following each call.
• Ensuring that junior team members have updated Propeller’s in-house measurement and reporting system ‘Runway’ with inputs and tasks; Overseeing the creation of weekly reports
• Taking initiative in identifying new opportunities and ideas, working in consultation with account managers and senior team members.
• Proactively pursuing and nurturing relationships with key media contacts.
• Researching and writing news releases and features for internal and client approval; overseeing the crafting of media lists and independently creating them as needed.
• Liaising with media to seed and secure features, mentions and bylines.
• Conducting interviews with clients to gather their insights; drafting thought leadership materials off the back of those interviews (including abstracts and bylines).
• Ensuring that client reporting procedures (contact reports, progress reports, record of program changes, agendas etc.) are implemented in a timely fashion; guiding account team SAEs and AEs accordingly.
• Keeping up to date with clients’ markets, businesses and products and developing a solid understanding of the issues affecting our clients’ business; being able to ideate those issues and solutions.
• Attending brainstorming sessions around new business, as well as conducting desk research to contribute to new business proposals.
• Where necessary, maintaining client hard copy and computer files and preparing press coverage analysis.
• Proactively mentoring junior staff to encourage both soft- and hard-skills development.

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General

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• Maintain awareness and understanding of Propeller's vision, business direction and company goals. Query and challenge if necessary. Help to achieve those goals.
• Be a good ambassador for the company externally and a good role model internally.
• Help to teach others when you have relevant knowledge to share.
• Ensure confidentiality of all sensitive client and consultancy information.
• Be flexible and able to take on other duties on behalf of the company as directed by your direct manager.
• Adhere at all times to Propeller Group’s policies and procedures as specified in the Employee Handbook.

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 Skills and Attributes

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• Skilled understanding of core PR techniques, including media relations and event management.
• Excellent writing skills, including the drafting of press releases, bylines and reports.
• Database management skills.
• Ability to work in a team; ability to manage up and down.
• Ability to identify and force-rank priorities; execute accordingly.
• Effective time management.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft’s and Google’s suite of software and products.
• Understanding of how the different communications disciplines, including advertising, direct marketing and public relations work, and how their roles relate in creating a comprehensive communications program.
• Familiarity with marketing and advertising trade publications, as well as business, tech and creative publications, including, but not limited to: Adweek, AdAge, The Drum, Campaign U.S., Muse by Clio, Advertising Week, Fast Company, Business Insider, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., AIGA, Wired and TechCrunch.

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Personal Competencies

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• Proactive attitude
• Results oriented
• Team spirit
• Ability to work under pressure
• Highly developed organizational skills
• Honesty
• Tech savvy
• Eager to learn and take responsibility

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Measurement and KPIs

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Measurement of individual success in achieving the accountabilities of this role will include consideration of:

• Client retention rates
• Client satisfaction surveys
• Contact and status reports
• Performance appraisals
• Quality control spot checks
• Monitoring of workload via Runway

Note that specific goals and KPI targets will be set by your line manager at regular intervals.

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Benefits

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In addition to a competitive salary (paid once/monthly, at the end of every month), you will receive:

• 20 days annual leave for first year; increasing to 22 days after 1 year, 25 days after 2 years and 30 days after 3 years; one-month sabbatical after 4 years.
• 5 paid sick days; then 5 paid sick days at 50% pay
• Paid federal holidays
• 100% employer-paid health insurance premium, as needed
• $25 monthly “work from home” stipend, beginning your first full month of employment
• $25 monthly stipend toward your phone bill, beginning your first full month of employment
• $15 monthly “self-care” stipend to grab your favorite beverage or cover your Hulu membership, beginning your first full month of employment
• 4% pension match to your independent IRA, paid for by Propeller
• Allowance for continuing education and skills development, pending approval from your direct manager
• One annual trip to London to meet with colleagues and clients, covered by Propeller (details to be discussed with your manager, as appropriate).
• Access to a shared workspace in Manhattan and the ability to work from home a minimum of 3 days a week (details to be discussed with your manager, as appropriate).
• Proactive mentorship by senior staff

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