Senior Account Director – Consumer PR in London

Senior Account Director – Consumer PR in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead creative consumer PR campaigns and provide strategic counsel to major clients.
  • Company: Join a top-rated, employee-owned PR agency with a vibrant culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, performance bonuses, generous holidays, and extensive learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and innovation.
  • Why this job: Make an impact with leading brands while developing your career in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: 5-6 years in consumer PR, strong media engagement skills, and a proactive mindset.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

We are a leading PR, social and creative communications agency that works with clients to promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our team of over 120 people across the UK are united by our ambition to create brand defining work that helps advance the cause of brands that have the scale and commitment to effect positive change in their markets. Our client partners include Aldi, Arla, Molson Coors, Crown Paints, Sykes Holiday Cottages and Forest Holidays. Citypress is independently run, regionally-connected, employee-owned and one of the leading employers in the communications sector.

We have featured in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies list for four years, are the most-awarded agency in the PRWeek Best Places to Work awards over the last six years and have been named as a PRWeek Agency of the Decade and most recently its Mid‑Sized Consultancy of the Year – a first for an agency headquartered outside of London. We are a fast‑growing, entrepreneurial agency with a great culture that backs people to develop their careers and deliver their best work. We recently launched Weave, the consumer creative specialism of Citypress. Composed of specialists from consumer earned, creative campaigning, social media, influencer marketing and video production, we weave together storytelling, culture and creative to make brands found, famed and favoured.

Our culture is inclusive, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome people with different life experiences and backgrounds to bring valuable insight and perspectives to our agency and clients.

About this role: We are growing our consumer specialism and have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and creative Senior Account Director to join the team. This is a leadership role providing trusted strategic counsel and driving exceptional client programmes across a portfolio. The role is ideal for those with experience of leading fast‑paced creative consumer press office programmes and brand campaigns. We’re particularly interested in meeting candidates that have experience working on campaigns that involve experiential, events, stunts, talent management and content production. While sector‑specific experience isn't essential, we’re looking for someone to work across brands in lifestyle, retail, FMCG and travel, so any previous work here would be helpful.

You will be joining a dynamic team of consumer PR specialists to work across some of the UK's best‑known brands, delivering everything from high‑impact product launches to always‑on press office programmes. The team shares an enthusiasm for brilliant creative ideas, cultural insight and staying ahead of media trends, as well as supporting each other to be the best possible consultants. You will play a key role in the leadership of high profile client accounts, supporting and guiding account teams, and helping to bring exciting campaigns to life.

A key element of this role will be leading media relations – ideally you’ll have a little black book of contacts across national, consumer and social‑first publishers and will have a bank of stellar coverage to show for it. Citypress is an entrepreneurial agency with a great culture that backs people to develop their careers and deliver their best work. By joining Citypress you will become part of an employee‑owned agency and directly benefit from our collective success.

Role responsibilities:

  • Acts as a senior client lead and strategic advisor, delivering high‑level counsel across a portfolio of major clients.
  • Leads the development of new programmes and campaign strategies, using research to drive innovative solutions, with high standards of quality control over execution.
  • Builds and strengthens a broad network of senior client relationships, fostering long‑term partnerships.
  • Oversees creative facilitation and media strategies, ensuring brand‑defining work that drives programme innovation.
  • Having a hands‑on approach to media engagement, with the ability to successfully pitch media stories and build quality media relationships.
  • Developing proficiency in AI and other agency tools.
  • Leads, empowers, and develops high‑performing teams, ensuring strong leadership at all levels.
  • Delivers year‑on‑year revenue growth, driving business expansion and innovation.
  • Originates and leads new business opportunities, helping to manage major pitch responses and securing high‑value accounts.
  • Introduces AI and other technology solutions to increase efficiency and effectiveness of client programmes.

Role requirements:

  • Minimum 5‑6 years’ experience in a similar role, with a focus on consumer PR.
  • Strong experience delivering consumer campaigns and leading press office programmes, including media engagement.
  • Proven ability to manage client relationships.
  • Experience supporting or managing account teams.
  • Sector‑specific experience helpful but not essential – we work across lifestyle, retail, FMCG, travel and related consumer sectors.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills with strong attention to detail.
  • Strong organisational and workload management abilities.
  • Ability to think critically, creatively and to demonstrate good judgement.
  • A proactive mindset, flexibility and enthusiasm to deliver work of a consistently high standard.

What we offer:

  • Performance bonus.
  • Annual tax‑free share of profit payment.
  • We work flexibly, spending three days a week in the office to collaborate and connect, and the rest wherever you work best.
  • Generous holiday allowance with additional days accrued through length of service.
  • We offer enhanced family leave policies, with supported return to work programme.
  • Menopause and fertility policies and leave.
  • Paid Support leave.
  • Extensive learning and development programme.
  • Dedicated mentoring and coaching.
  • Healthcare plan, 24 hour GP service and employee assistance programme.
  • Access to independent financial advice.
  • Company mobile and laptop.
  • Interest‑free loans.
  • Regular team away days and socials.

If you need help with our application process, please contact us.

Senior Account Director – Consumer PR in London employer: Citypress

Citypress is an award-winning, employee-owned PR agency that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, encouraging creativity and collaboration among its team of over 120 professionals. With a strong focus on employee development, the agency offers extensive learning opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and generous benefits, including performance bonuses and enhanced family leave policies. Joining Citypress means being part of a dynamic environment where your contributions directly impact the success of renowned brands while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values diverse perspectives.

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Contact Details:

Citypress Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Account Director – Consumer PR in London

Get Involved in PR Events

Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Citypress. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.

Showcase Your PR Skills

Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Citypress, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!

Leverage Your Network

Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!

Tailor Your Approach

When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Citypress inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Account Director – Consumer PR in London

Strategic Counsel
Client Relationship Management
Creative Campaign Development
Media Relations
Press Office Management
Consumer PR
Event Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!

Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Citypress. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.

Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Citypress.

How to prepare for a job interview at Citypress

Master the Art of Storytelling

In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.

Know Your PR Tools Inside Out

Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.

Stay Current with Industry Trends

We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.

Showcase Our Versatility

As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.