Senior Account Manager in Sheffield

The Opportunity

As a growing communications agency with over 30 years’ experience, Counter Context prides itself on fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and innovation, ensuring that every voice is heard, every perspective is respected, and every contribution matters, both within our teams and in the way we engage with clients, communities, and stakeholders. We work across a range of sectors, including Transport & Sustainability, Energy & Utilities, and Regeneration. Our clients are shaping the transition to net zero, delivering sustainable travel infrastructure, regenerating communities, and delivering nationally significant projects. Whether it’s major infrastructure schemes, place-based regeneration programmes, or renewable energy developments, our work influences decision-makers, empowers communities, and builds trust between stakeholders.

As a Senior Account Manager primarily focused in our Transport & Sustainability Team, you will lead a portfolio of projects, managing senior client relationships and shaping communications strategies that deliver real impact. You will provide leadership and strategic direction to your team members, while ensuring the highest standards of delivery and client satisfaction are met, working alongside our Directors.

We are seeking a proven communications professional with excellent leadership skills, experience leading and delivering stakeholder engagement and consultations for complex, multi-stakeholder projects in the sectors we work in and a passion for quality and excellence.

The Role

This is a senior position demanding a strong set of client leadership, commercial, and advocacy skills, alongside the ability to manage individuals and small teams. The principal objective is to lead the successful delivery of multiple client projects across a range of clients, ensuring quality, driving innovation, and maximising impact. You will play an important role in developing your own client relationships, identifying opportunities to add value, and supporting the growth of our work by responding to your clients' needs and contributing to new business opportunities. You will be accountable to the Director of Transport & Sustainability, providing a link between them and the wider delivery team, contributing to strategic discussion, and supporting their leadership, while giving colleagues day-to-day guidance across projects.

Key skills and competencies

We’re looking for a Senior Account Manager with the following core capabilities:

• Strategic judgement across communications and engagement in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments
• Senior client and stakeholder credibility, with the confidence to advise and influence
• Commercial awareness, including budget management and identification of growth opportunities.
• Strong delivery discipline, managing priorities across multiple live projects and driving consistency and quality standards
• People leadership capability, supporting the development of colleagues and teams

Key Accountabilities

As a Senior Account Manager, you will be both a strategic leader and a hands‑on practitioner, responsible for the quality, consistency, and impact of your work. Your key accountabilities will include:

• Strategic Leadership & Delivery - Shape and lead communications and engagement strategies across multiple projects, taking an active role in high‑quality delivery — from drafting or reviewing materials to leading workshops and presentations — ensuring alignment with client objectives, stakeholder needs, and wider sector context.
• Project, Quality & Financial Oversight - Oversee multiple projects concurrently, maintaining control of timelines, budgets, risks, resourcing, and quality standards, while ensuring strong commercial performance and value for both clients and the agency.
• Client & Stakeholder Leadership - Act as a trusted senior adviser to clients and stakeholders, building long‑term relationships, anticipating needs, resolving challenges, and engaging effectively with communities, local and citywide stakeholders, and elected representatives to support client objectives and add value.
• Business Development & Growth – Support the growth of the business by identifying and developing opportunities to add value to our existing clients. Work closely with departmental leads to play a leading role in new business proposals, including identification of opportunities, proposal management and production of high quality outputs.
• Team Leadership & Development - Lead, manage, and mentor colleagues, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and a supportive, high‑performing team culture.

This role offers the opportunity to sit at the centre of our most important work, driving delivery across clients and working with other sector teams to help shape the future growth of Counter Context.

Why Join Us?

At Counter Context, you will have the opportunity to work at the forefront of some of the UK’s most high-profile and complex projects, from regenerating places and delivering critical infrastructure to shaping sustainable transport and energy solutions. Our work has a direct impact on how communities develop, how people live and travel, and how businesses and government communicate.

What you can expect

• Challenging and rewarding work - You’ll lead projects that require both strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, working with senior decision-makers and diverse stakeholders.
• Real influence - Our clients look to us for trusted advice. You’ll be empowered to shape strategies, challenge thinking, and play a visible role in project success.
• Career development - As we continue to grow, you’ll have the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility and broaden your experience across sectors and disciplines.
• A collaborative team - We are ambitious but supportive, working closely together to share expertise, push for high standards, and celebrate success.
• Wellbeing and flexibility - We recognise the importance of balance and support, offering flexibility alongside a range of wellbeing-focused benefits.

What we offer

• Salary from £42,000, depending on experience
• Permanent, full-time position, although we are also happy to discuss fixed-term options
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 36 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Cash plan through Westfield Health
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling support
• Social and networking opportunities throughout the year
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced pension contributions, alongside salary sacrifice options through Scottish Widows

Counter Context is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment where people feel valued, respected and able to be themselves. We know that different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences make us stronger as a team and help us deliver better outcomes for our clients and the communities we work with. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair, accessible and inclusive for everyone.