Communications Account Manager in Cheltenham

We're partnering with an award-winning communications agency that delivers strategic advice, creative campaigns and high-impact communications for organisations operating across complex and nationally important sectors.

Working across areas including renewable energy, infrastructure, transport, construction, housing, sustainable development and the built environment, the agency helps organisations communicate effectively around projects and issues that often involve multiple audiences, political considerations and significant stakeholder interest.

It's a friendly, close-knit agency with an excellent reputation, strong client relationships and a genuine focus on developing its people.

Due to continued growth, they are now looking for an experienced Account Manager to join their Cheltenham team.

The Role

This is a strategic and hands-on communications position where you'll take ownership of client accounts and campaigns, working closely with senior colleagues while leading and developing more junior members of the team.

You'll develop a detailed understanding of your clients, their commercial landscape and the political, social and industry issues affecting them, using that knowledge to provide thoughtful and commercially aware communications advice.

You'll lead campaigns and projects from planning through to delivery, ensuring communications and stakeholder activity is aligned with the client's objectives and produces measurable results.

Day to day, this could include:

• Developing communications strategies and campaign plans
• Providing strategic advice and recommendations to clients
• Leading the delivery of integrated communications campaigns
• Managing media, corporate communications and stakeholder activity
• Producing and reviewing high-quality written communications
• Understanding political, policy and planning developments affecting clients
• Managing client meetings and maintaining strong day-to-day relationships
• Overseeing Account Executives and Senior Account Executives
• Delegating work and ensuring consistently high-quality delivery
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues
• Managing campaign budgets, timelines and priorities
• Supporting events, consultations and stakeholder engagement activity
• Contributing to pitches, proposals and wider new-business activity

You'll be trusted to take ownership of your accounts while having access to experienced senior colleagues when required.

The Clients

A major attraction of this opportunity is the variety and complexity of the agency's client base.

You could work with organisations involved in renewable energy, low-carbon infrastructure, construction, property, housing, transport, planning and the wider built environment.

Many assignments sit at the intersection of business, politics, communities, sustainability and the environment, so this would particularly suit someone who enjoys getting underneath complex subjects rather than simply delivering straightforward consumer campaigns.

Skills & Experience

You'll ideally already be operating at Account Manager level within a communications, PR, public affairs or integrated agency, although an experienced Senior Account Executive ready to make the step up could also be considered.

Previous experience working with clients across the built environment, property, planning, infrastructure, construction, energy, sustainability or other complex B2B/corporate sectors would be particularly attractive.

Skills & Experience:

• A strong written and verbal communicator
• Confident managing clients and providing strategic advice
• Comfortable taking ownership of campaigns and projects
• Interested in politics, current affairs, business and the media
• Able to understand complex organisations and communicate their stories clearly
• Commercially aware and comfortable working with budgets
• Highly organised and able to manage several accounts and deadlines
• Confident reviewing and improving the work of junior colleagues
• A supportive manager who enjoys developing others
• Comfortable presenting ideas and recommendations to clients and stakeholders

An understanding of local and national politics, public-sector structures, planning processes or stakeholder engagement would be particularly valuable.

• 25 days' holiday, increasing by one day per year of service up to 28 days
• Private healthcare through Bupa
• Life insurance at four times your salary
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Simplyhealth and employee wellbeing support
• Electric vehicle salary-exchange scheme
• Company away days, team drinks and lunches
• Structured training, development and career planning
• Opportunity to work towards a profit-based bonus scheme