PR Account Director - Senior AD - Manchester/Hybrid

Job Description

My client is a national PR agency which has an exciting opportunity to join their Manchester team. They are looking for a commercially minded Account Director to lead their corporate PR work. This is a small but mighty team, and you'll be central to it: growing the portfolio, developing the people around you and making sure every corporate client gets the strategic counsel they're paying for.

You'll take senior ownership of corporate accounts from day one, with the scope to shape how the Manchester team works and the client base it serves.

This isn't a supporting role. You'll be trusted to make decisions, lead pitches, and build something with real momentum behind it.

Responsibilities

• Leading the team

You'll set the standard for how the Manchester corporate team works, day to day and pitch to pitch. With a small team, that means being hands-on: coaching directly, reviewing work closely, and stepping in on delivery when it matters. You'll help recruit as the team grows, and you'll build the kind of culture that makes people want to stay.

• Client oversight and growth

You'll hold senior responsibility for our corporate accounts, making sure service quality stays high and relationships stay strong. That means spotting where an account can grow, not just where it needs protecting and managing the commercial side so projects are profitable as well as well-executed.

• Business development

You'll play an active part in winning new corporate business: leading pitches, building your own network, and converting opportunities within existing accounts. Part of the brief is building Manchester's profile in the corporate PR market, so a visible presence at industry events and in trade press matters here.

• Operational delivery

You'll oversee capacity and resourcing across the team, keeping timesheets and workload in check without adding bureaucracy. As the team is small, you'll also stay close to the work itself: reviewing output, catching problems early, and keeping standards consistent even without layers of sign-off beneath you.

The person

You're an experienced PR professional with a strong corporate track record, ideally at Account Director level or above, who has run client relationships and delivered results across sectors. You have:

• A track record of growing accounts and winning new business, not just servicing what's already there.
• Sound commercial judgement and the ability to make calls quickly when priorities compete.
• Strong people skills, whether that's managing a small team or bringing juniors on quickly as the team scales.
• Comfort working with a smaller support structure around you: you're someone who takes ownership rather than waiting for direction.

The perks

They are a fast-paced independent agency, with a collaborative and supportive culture and a real emphasis on helping every member of our team achieve their potential. They value energy and commitment highly. If you’re the right person for this opportunity, you can count on:

• A brilliant holiday allowance, including a day off for your birthday, a day off for charity work of your choice and a half day for Christmas shopping.
• Coaching, training, and mentoring programmes, with support for professional memberships and study.
• Free fruit every day, free bar every Friday and free pizza every month.
• Life assurance.
• Contributory pension.
• Lots of social events throughout the year and a company-wide Summer and Christmas party.
• An open, dynamic, and collaborative working environment.
• The opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the best in the business.
• The best colleagues you could hope for!