Account Director - Technology (Public Relations)

More about the role:

Burson is seeking an Account Director to oversee a portfolio of B2B and B2C technology clients, drive new business opportunities, build a strong pipeline of prospective clients beyond existing accounts, and support senior management in leading and developing high-performing teams. You are expected to support our corporate strategy and your practice or office to help ensure superior client service, a winning culture and profitability.

What you'll do:

Client Strategy & Servicing

• Strategic Partnership: Act as the primary strategic advisor to clients, leveraging deep industry knowledge to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and provide decisive, high-level counsel.
• Program Architecture: Design and oversee the execution of innovative, integrated communication programs that incorporate digital, social, and AI-driven strategies to achieve client objectives.
• Senior-Level Counsel: Confidently write, present, and communicate complex strategies to senior executive audiences, influencing decision-makers within client and prospective client organizations.
• Crisis & Issues Leadership: Serve as a senior point of contact during crisis situations, guiding clients with clear, strategic, and timely decision-making.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain unshakeable relationships with key clients, ensuring clear communication, and positioning yourself and the team as indispensable partners.

New Business Development & Growth

• Lead Generation & Pursuit: Proactively identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities, moving beyond existing accounts to build a robust pipeline of prospective clients.
• Pitch & Proposal Leadership: Own and lead the development of new business proposals and pitches from start to finish. This includes strategic planning, creative brainstorming, and crafting compelling narratives that win accounts.
• Strategic Networking: Cultivate and maintain a strong network of industry contacts, potential clients, and key influencers to generate leads and position Burson as the agency of choice.
• Growth Strategy: Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute a proactive new business strategy for your practice or office, identifying key markets and targets for expansion.
• Organic Growth: Deepen relationships with existing clients to identify and secure opportunities for account expansion, transforming single projects into long-term strategic partnerships.

Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Talent Development: Mentor and coach junior staff to become future leaders. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment, delegating strategic responsibilities to grow their capabilities.
• Financial Acumen: Drive profitability by managing client budgets, resource allocation, and key financial performance indicators for your portfolio. Ensure all account administration and billing are handled efficiently.
• Operational Oversight: Ensure all client work is executed to the highest standard, on time, and within budget. Champion agency best practices and the use of collaborative tools like SharePoint.
• AI Integration: Champion the strategic use of Generative AI tools across all communication programs to enhance planning, ideation, content creation, and operational efficiency.

AI-Powered Intelligence & Performance

• Embeds Burson proprietary AI tools as a core part of the marketing workflow - applying them to competitor research, content development, campaign performance analysis, and audience strategy to make marketing decisions faster and more informed.

Social Influencer Skills

• Stay updated on social media trends and build relationships with key influencers and community contacts to optimize channels.

Experience that contributes to success:

• Postgraduate degree in any discipline, or a professional qualification in public relations or marketing communications.
• 8+ years of extensive experience in media relations, content management, and communications for Consumer Technology and Enterprise Technology clients.
• You must possess a strong familiarity with how Generative AI tools are used across communications programmes, especially in planning, research, ideation, content creation, and daily operations to drive relevance and efficiency
• Strong track record of driving agency growth through new business development, identifying opportunities, and leading end-to-end proposal and pitch processes.