PR Account Director / Senior Account Director (Food & Drink)

We’re a multi-award-winning consumer and B2B comms agency representing some of Britain’s best loved brands and businesses. Quite simply, it’s our people that drive our agency and creating a culture which genuinely puts them at the heart of our operation and vision is what makes them feel counted. We are a B Corp and Blueprinted agency, and we take our commitment to using our business as a force for good seriously. We don’t tick boxes, we build and evolve initiatives, programmes and partnerships which create meaning, both for the people in our business, as well as the communities and stakeholders we serve. We are proud to be included in the 2024 Campaign Best Places to Work list and were shortlisted for the 2024 PR Week Best Places to Work.

About the role

Our B2B Division is on the hunt for an established Account Director who can help support the agency’s Retail Trade and On-Trade accounts. As Account Director, you'll play an integral role in Cirkle’s B2B team by providing leadership across key accounts, inspiring the highest standards whilst strengthening Cirkle’s longer term relationship with key stakeholders. You’ll be responsible for developing strong and enduring client relationships by acting as a partner in developing their trade communications strategy and adding value to their business. In addition to adopting overall management of key accounts, you’ll be responsible for the line management of other members of the client facing team.

The day to day

• Cultivate and maintain senior client relationships, providing day to day consultancy
• Develop a contact strategy for each client in terms of length, frequency, type and man marking to achieve appropriate “immersion” levels within the client base
• Analyse client market tracking data and trends to gain a deep understanding of the broader strategic issues facing clients’ businesses in terms of industry trends and competitive activity within the retail trade and on-trade space
• Create strategic responses to briefs ensuring synergy and alignment with the account teams
• Working collaboratively with clients to unlock thought leadership opportunities to build business authority in trade and develop personal profiles
• Development of creative content to support client briefs and real time opportunities ensuring it achieves their strategic, commercial and operational business goals
• Actively seek opportunities to unlock organic client growth
• Develop proposals and deliver pitches for new briefs acting as a strong strategic lead
• Challenge conventional thinking and traditional trade PR tactics and make sure that Cirkle is coming up with pro‑active ideas outside of the existing campaign
• Lead and drive strategy development, planning and budget setting processes and evaluation on all accounts
• Lead on the budget creation for clients where relevant and ensure they are submitted and delivered on
• Own and manage profitability and performance across designated accounts, in line with agreed campaign KPIs and financial targets

About you

Specific experience and interest in working on retail or on‑trade accounts within the food and drink or FMCG sector is critical. Experience managing campaigns which centre around managing corporate reputation would also be preferable.

You will:

• Be highly creative and comfortable developing campaigns ensuring they work in an integrated manner and can deliver measurable results
• Have solid project management experience, demonstrating a track record of strategic‑thinking, working in partnership with a number of clients and suppliers
• Have proven success with self‑managing & working independently, multi‑tasking, prioritising and meeting deadlines consistently
• Be able to work in a fast‑paced environment, adapt to changing priorities and calm under pressure
• Have the ability to read a room and tailor your message and style for the audience

In return

• Monthly employee recognition awards
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including health insurance and up to 8 free counselling sessions per year
• Fully funded railcards
• Regular funded socials
• 27 days paid holiday, plus Birthday day off, plus ‘Joy Day’ – an initiative launched by the Wellbeing team in 2022, to encourage the team to take a day off to do something which brings them joy
• Internal and external mentoring and buddy schemes
• An electric car salary sacrifice scheme
• Social purpose led paid time off for volunteering, voting, giving blood and every team member has one ‘allyship’ day per year, where they are encouraged to take a day to demonstrate allyship by supporting the interests of marginalised groups

At Cirkle, we embrace diversity and inclusion and believe it enriches our performance, services and culture. As our industry and team continue to evolve to reflect the growing diversity of our communities, our efforts to understand, value, and incorporate differences become increasingly important.