Account Director - Corporate Reputation

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.

About the Company

We are a leading global communications marketing firm helping business and organisations evolve, promote, and protect their brands and reputations. We are independent and family owned, which allows us the freedom to deliver original thinking and invest in our clients. 

In the UK, there are more than 600 employees based in our offices in Victoria. We create award-winning creative communication programmes for our clients who include DP World, Microsoft, Unilever, Nissan, Starbucks, Shell, PwC, eBay, Meta, Mars and many more.

We have deep expertise and advise on consumer trends, corporate reputation, data, analytics and insights, health, technology, AI, capital markets and government affairs.

About the Team

We are London’s leading Corporate Affairs team.  We create commercial value by delivering campaigns and advisory work for companies and brands that operate in the full glare of the public spotlight and whose reputations shape their businesses.

We have deep industry expertise and advise on integrated media strategy, digital and content production, business marketing, crisis planning & response, litigation & legal affairs, employee engagement & advocacy, research & analytics, capital markets and government affairs.

The team includes more than 80 consultants specialising in all areas of corporate reputation and includes former journalists, senior in-house practitioners, government advisors and industry specialists as well as dedicated sector experts.

We take pride in delivering exceptional work for our clients but, at our core, we are a non-hierarchical team who like to spend time together in and out of the office.  We are relentlessly collaborative and supported by leadership who champion and celebrate our collective achievements.

Key Responsibilities for this Account Director role:

• Day to day leadership of Corporate Affairs account teams, overseeing integrated corporate reputation programmes, developing multi-market campaigns and thought leadership
• Overseeing client programmes and driving creative corporate campaigns that meet audiences where they are today
• Counselling clients on strategic communications marketing including PR, digital, social and content creation
• Identifying potential leads and areas of growth within existing clients as well as broader opportunities from a prospecting perspective
• Writing PR proposals and other strategic communications materials to grow existing accounts
• Leading new business pitches including developing RFI / RFP proposals and formal pitch meetings
• Developing junior team members, and line management responsibilities
• Financial management responsibilities – forecasting, hours allocation for team members, project & plan budgeting, managing servicing levels.
• Support and develop Edelman’s IP and marketing initiatives, helping to develop our position in the market and maximising the role of the Edelman Trust Barometer for existing and potential clients

The ideal candidate for this role will have/be:

• A background in corporate PR/reputation management for UK and international businesses
• An understanding of how Corporate Reputation intersects with other communications disciplines, including Public Affairs, Financial and Consumer
• Experience in handling complex client issues and an ability to provide senior clients with clear, confident, and well-informed strategic counsel under pressure
• In-depth understanding of sustainability, its importance to businesses and how they operate
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills, with an ability to deliver a project against budget and deliver results
• A track record of handling complex stakeholders with ability to influence decisions
• Capability to think and apply solutions quickly
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written
• Strong knowledge of international business media landscape and digital platforms with a network of contacts
• Experience of multi-market coordination, working within integrated teams and across practices
• Using AI or automation tools to assist in communications or campaign support (e.g. drafting content, analysing sentiment, compiling insights), with an understanding of compliance within regulated environments
• Creative, ambitious, entrepreneurial with good initiative, strong organisation and attention to detail

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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.