Associate Director

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

The Company Edelman is the world’s largest communications marketing agency with 4,500+ professionals across 65 offices worldwide. Since it was founded in 1952 it remains independent and family‑owned. The UK & Ireland offices boast more than 550 people with specialist expertise, including brand, research, corporate and financial, public affairs, science and health. These communications marketing experts adopt a ‘client first’ approach, building teams that also include specialist communications skillsets of planning, creative and digital marketing.

The Role Edelman is seeking an Associate Director to join our Brand team in London, working on a major global sportswear brand within its Performance portfolio. This is a senior, client‑facing role, leading global PR programmes across Performance categories such as running, training, outdoor and sport‑specific performance. The role will act as a central hub between the global client team and regional markets, with a particular focus on EMEA and North America. The Associate Director will work closely with a Director to shape strategy, lead execution, manage teams, and provide trusted senior counsel — ensuring world‑class delivery across a complex, multi‑market brief.

Requirements Of The Role

• Client Leadership & Strategic Counsel: Act as a senior day‑to‑day client lead for a global sportswear brand, building strong, trusted relationships with global and regional stakeholders. Help shape global Performance PR strategy across multiple categories, markets and moments. Translate business and brand objectives into integrated, earned‑first communications programmes. Confidently counsel clients on reputational, cultural, and communications opportunities and risks. Lead planning for key calendar moments (e.g. product launches, sport moments, innovation stories, seasonal peaks).
• Global Programme Management: Oversee the development and delivery of multi‑market PR programmes, coordinating teams across EMEA and North America. Ensure consistent strategic direction while enabling local market relevance and activation. Lead global toolkits, messaging frameworks, and playbooks for regional teams. Manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, ensuring quality, consistency, and pace.
• Earned Media, Culture & Influence: Lead earned media strategies across performance categories, including innovation, athlete storytelling, and community‑led narratives. Drive culturally relevant storytelling that connects performance innovation with real‑world participation. Oversee influencer, creator, and community engagement strategies aligned to performance credibility. Ensure strong integration of traditional media, digital, social and experiential PR.
• Team Leadership & Development: Line‑manage and mentor junior team members, setting clear expectations and supporting progression. Foster a high‑performing, collaborative team culture across disciplines and geographies.
• Commercial & Operational Excellence: Support budget management, resourcing, and forecasting for the account, ensuring work is delivered on time, on budget, and to Edelman’s quality benchmarks. Identify opportunities for organic growth, innovation, and expanded scope. Collaborate with other Edelman practices (Digital, Creative, Data & Intelligence, Sport & Culture) to deliver integrated solutions.

Experience & Skills Required

• Proven experience operating at Senior Account Director / Associate Director level within an agency environment.
• Strong track record leading international PR programmes with multi‑market coordination.
• Experience working on consumer, lifestyle, sport, fashion or performance‑led brands.
• Deep understanding of the marketing mix, and how PR integrates with paid, social, creator, and experiential channels.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills — from strategy decks and messaging frameworks to press materials and client correspondence.
• Strong media relations expertise, including global and regional outreach, spokesperson support, and press office leadership.
• Demonstrated understanding of digital, social, and creator ecosystems.
• Confidence operating in fast‑paced, high‑profile global accounts.
• A proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset with strong attention to detail.

Why This Role? This is a rare opportunity to play a central leadership role on a high‑profile global sportswear account, shaping how performance, innovation and sport culture show up across markets.

The Role Offers:

• Global exposure and strategic influence.
• Senior client access and decision‑making responsibility.
• The chance to lead culturally relevant, performance‑driven work at scale.
• A clear pathway for progression within Edelman’s Brand leadership.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.