Account Director at Apex Porter Novelli

Qualifications

• Be able to build partnerships and strategic working relationships,
• Build and manage a high-performance team,
• Excellent strategic planning and organizational ability,
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills; strong flair in written and oral presentations
• Strategy formulation and implementation
• Creative Designs & Event Organization
• Minimum of 7 years’ solid experience in the relevant field with at least 3 years in a managerial level
• A solution-oriented individual committed to driving tangible value in a dynamic business environment
• Excellent emotional intelligence and great interpersonal skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Communication/Journalism or any related field
• A related post graduate qualification will be an added advantage.

Responsibilities

Public Relations

• Key to shaping clients’ reputation and profile through constant s focus on adding value through evaluation of activities.
• Embeds International best practices through championing constant use of APN Communication

Planning/Client Service tools to meet client contract obligations.

• In consultation with the Senior Account Director measures client satisfaction and takes appropriate action.
• Ability to handle difficult situations with client; provides first-stage crisis response, identifies when to seek senior input. Generates greater understanding of PR techniques with client with seamless inclusion of added value digital integration within the agency’s wider PR services
• Champion digital campaigns from plan to live date, delivery of reports and helping generate and relay key insights back to the client to feed back into decisions for future planning.
• Owns day-to-day programme management: planning, coordination and execution of client programmes.
• Demonstrates advanced communication and presentation skills.
• Understands principles of business development (inclusive of growth management, change management).
• Develops expertise in specific field/industry sector.
• Develops and maximizes client relations; positioning APN as strategic partner at all times.
• Proactively builds relationships with key opinion leaders, professional associations and other relevant third-parties.

Administrative/agency Operations

• Ensures business objectives are achieved through development and management of team members;
• Coordinate and manage capacity within the team for assigned client projects.
• Ensures retention and profitability of existing client base for the company.
• Ensures business objectives achieved through adherence to existing procedures.
• Consistently delivers as per APN Gold Standards.
• Proficiency in using APN Account Management tools.

Client services

• The account Lynchpin; – Maintain close and regular client counsel
• Client coaching in advance of any media engagement – i.e. media interviews, etc.
• Developing in-depth knowledge of sector/industry issues pertaining to respective clients
• Conduct client satisfaction reviews and taking remedial measures/flagging feedback

Account management and strategic thinking and planning

• Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for technical, financial and standards’ aspects of clients’ accounts.
• Reviews the Senior Account Manager’s/Account Managers’ project plans.
• Thinks creatively and globally, generates profitability.
• Identifies client’s business objectives and resulting communication strategies.
• Takes the lead on accounts, provides high-level counsel to client.

Business development

• Spearheads new business efforts, assesses and wins new business with support of management.
• Develops and delivers insightful presentations.
• Achieves growth by successfully converting new business or services proposals into revenue.
• Helps develop a strong business ethic within the team.
• Recognizes and identifies new business opportunities existing and potential clients.

People management

• Understands fundamentals of leadership and motivation and applies to team.
• Conducts performance reviews, effectively develops and retains staff.
• Shares knowledge, coaches and mentors AAE’s, AE’s, SAE’s, AM’s and SAM’s.
• Conducts resource and capacity planning within the team.
• Conducts interviews within the recruitment process.