Account Executive (Belfast)

Location: Belfast and remote (minimum three days in the office)

Salary: £26,500

Length of contract: Full-time permanent

The Connect Group is an award-winning independent strategic communications agency ranked in the PR Week UK Top 10 for public affairs, winning awards for our campaigns, collaborations and consultants. We have a team of over 50 consultants, with offices in Westminster, Belfast and Edinburgh. We work with clients to enhance their reputation, influence decision-makers, and achieve meaningful change in the economy, society, and environment. Trusted by global and local brands, organisations and leaders, we deliver strategies that achieve outstanding results.

Our expertise spans all major UK and Irish political institutions: Westminster, Stormont, Holyrood, the Senedd, and the Dáil. Our team includes former politicians, journalists, advisers, and communications experts from across the political spectrum and beyond. The Connect Group has been recognised for excellence, winning the Chartered Institute for Public Relations ‘Excellence Award’ three times and multiple PRCA Awards. We are committed to maintaining high professional and ethical standards. We are members of the PRCA and CIPR, adhering to all industry codes across the UK and Ireland. We have retained the Communications Management Standard for over a decade. This Gold standard uniquely combined with our Investors in People Gold Standard reflects our commitment to the highest standards of professional practice and development, ensuring that you will be working with sectoral leaders across client and campaign strategy, business planning, people and financial management and equity. We are committed to measuring and reducing our carbon footprint through our Planet Mark certification.

You will also benefit from ongoing training, external sessions, internal ‘lunch & learn’ events and the sharing of best practice. You will be matched with a mentor from day one to guide you on your path to success in our business and industry.

We are looking for an ambitious and politically engaged Account Executive to join our growing team in Belfast. You will support a diverse portfolio of clients operating at the heart of political and policy debate across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Ireland. From tracking fast-moving legislative developments to supporting high-profile stakeholder engagement and events, you will play a central role in helping clients navigate complex political environments.

Responsibilities:

• Political and media monitoring across Stormont, Westminster, the Senedd, Holyrood and the Dáil;
• Analysis of policy developments and consultation responses;
• Preparation of client-ready briefings and strategic insight;
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning;
• Event delivery and political engagement activity.

This role offers direct exposure to political decision-making and the opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of how policy, communications and reputation intersect. Working at the Connect Group means being part of a collaborative team operating across Belfast, London and Edinburgh, combining local political insight with UK-wide reach. You will gain hands-on experience in strategic communications, reputation management and public affairs in a consultancy environment that values professionalism, integrity and results. Working as an Account Executive at Connect is a great way to develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and strategic thinking that is the bedrock of a successful career in politics, policy and the media.

Qualifications and skills:

• A passion for politics, policy making and current affairs;
• Strong written, presentational, and interpersonal skills;
• The ability to assimilate, analyse and summarise written material quickly;
• Excellent listening skills, as well as the ability to take an impartial view;
• The ability to inspire trust and confidence in clients;
• A team player;
• Commercial awareness and good business sense;
• Enthusiasm and self-motivation.

Benefits and additional information:

• 25 days annual leave (plus 10 statutory holidays) pro-rata, increasing after two and five years respectively to 28 and 30 days;
• Working across Belfast and London team;
• Inter-company travel and team away days;

Closing Date: 2 March 2026

How to apply: Interviews will take place in person on 11 and 12 March. You will be notified if you are selected for an interview by the end of that week. We reserve the right to conduct a second interview if required. If you are having any difficulties or have any questions, please contact Clare Forker on 07500 123400.