Associate Director in London

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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.
Brand team
Edelman Brand delivers high quality communications marketing solutions for a wide range of clients and has a simple mission: “To always be the agency of the moment”. To achieve this, we employ our best skills and capabilities to help elevate brands from pedestrian to first rate, to motivate audiences from passive to passionate, and to captivate prospects and convert them to clients.
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