Associate Director/Senior Associate Director - Reputation & Issues Management - Corporate

This role sits within Burson London’s Corporate and Public Affairs division, a team of over one hundred problem solvers who partner with brands, organisations, and governments to navigate complex reputational, policy and regulatory challenges. It is an integrated role, combining proactive corporate reputation building and reactive issues management. The work is sector agnostic, and we particularly value candidates with a corporate background and a consumer mindset.

The right candidate has built a career of more than five years in fast‑paced agency or in‑house communications environments. They are adept at earned media relations, digital reputation building, and AI‑driven technology. They manage complex client relationships, provide strategic counsel, inspire clients to grow with Burson, and nurture junior teammates. The candidate brings a growth mindset, proven experience leading and winning pitches, and is comfortable networking and leveraging contacts to bring new opportunities to the agency.

What you’ll do:

• Be a trusted advisor to clients, providing high‑level strategic counsel in both proactive and reactive capacities.
• Lead the development of global and UK client work, retain existing work, and grow new business across crisis, issues and proactive reputation management.
• Build the visibility and reputation of the team, helping win new business and attract talent.
• Manage client teams while nurturing current talent and contributing to a dedicated team culture and inter‑agency relationships.
• Oversee budget monitoring, revenue forecasting, planning, resourcing, client budgets, and fee negotiation to ensure profitability.
• Represent the team in specialist forums, network groups, and speaker platforms as appropriate.
• Apply the latest thinking and innovation, including AI.

Experience that contributes to success:

• Agency or in‑house experience, with agency experience essential.
• Entrepreneurial record of seeking and driving revenue growth through prospecting, nurturing, acquisition and relationship management.
• Comfortable working with multiple stakeholder groups: consumers, shareholders, suppliers, employees, and media.
• Experience leading new‑business pitches and inputting to broader corporate and crisis opportunities.
• Proven track record managing relationships, clients and programmes for multinational corporates or prominent organisations in the UK and abroad.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, able to anticipate risks, develop proactive plans and make critical decisions under pressure.
• Competent in team development and managing operational areas such as commercials and resourcing.
• Experience leading crisis simulation exercises and media training.

Our culture encourages ambition, collaboration, and innovation. We offer professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, a vibrant and inclusive environment, and benefits designed to reward and retain top talent. We are committed to an adaptive hybrid workplace with teams in the office around four days a week. Employees requiring accommodation or flexibility should discuss with the hiring team during the interview process.