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We are looking for an Associate Director, Corporate Communications to join our South Africa team.
The role
The Associate Director is a senior client lead who supports the stewardship of key client relationships while ensuring high‑quality delivery across integrated communications programmes. This role blends hands‑on execution with strategic counsel, commercial oversight and team leadership, and operates with a high degree of autonomy.
Working closely with Directors, the Associate Director helps drive strong client outcomes, smooth delivery and sustainable account growth.
What you can expect
Serving as a trusted day‑to‑day client partner on complex, high‑profile accounts
Leading integrated communications programmes across corporate, internal and external communications
Supporting strategy development and translating client objectives into clear plans and briefs
Managing account delivery, ensuring quality, consistency and deadlines are met
Bringing structure to workflows and managing multiple stakeholders and workstreams
Supporting budget management, forecasting and scope control in collaboration with Directors
Identifying and contributing to organic growth opportunities within existing client relationships
Supporting new business activity, including proposals and pitch work, as required
Working closely with colleagues across practices and disciplines to deliver integrated solutions
Leading, coaching and developing junior and mid‑level team members
What you bring
Agency experience in communications, public relations or a related field
Proven ability to manage client relationships and complex projects independently
Strong writing, editing and verbal communication skills
Experience leading and supporting junior team members
A commercial mindset, with awareness of budgets, scope and account growth
Strong organisational and self‑management skills
Confidence managing multiple stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment
A collaborative, hands‑on and solutions‑focused approach to work
What we offer
A hybrid working model with flexibility and trust
Exposure to high‑profile clients and complex, meaningful work
Opportunities to collaborate with multidisciplinary and international teams
A supportive, inclusive and growth‑oriented culture
Ongoing learning and development opportunities
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.
Skills Required
- Agency experience in communications or public relations
- Proven ability to manage client relationships independently
- Strong writing, editing and verbal communication skills
- Experience leading and supporting junior team members
- Commercial mindset with awareness of budgets and account growth
- Strong organisational and self-management skills
- Confidence managing multiple stakeholders
- Collaborative and solutions-focused approach to work
Edelman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Edelman and has not been reviewed or approved by Edelman.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits are described as comprehensive, with health plans commonly framed as a strong part of the overall package. Mental and physical well-being programs are also emphasized as meaningful support.
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Flexible Benefits — Work flexibility is positioned as a standout, including hybrid routines and a “Work From Anywhere” option for part of the year. Flexible public holidays are also highlighted as adding practical choice to how time is used.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings such as a 401(k) match (and pension-style contributions in some markets) are consistently presented as a solid component of total rewards. This tends to improve overall package value even when base pay feels less competitive.
Edelman Insights
What We Do
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead, act with certainty and earn the lasting trust of their stakeholders. We develop powerful ideas and tell magnetic stories that move at the speed of news, make an immediate impact, transform culture and spark movements. Since our founding in 1952 by Dan Edelman, we have remained an independent, family-run company. We use our profits to strengthen our business, provide our employees with opportunities to grow, advance our industry, and serve as a responsible citizen of the world. Every day, we strive to live and work by a long-held set of core values: the pursuit of excellence, the freedom to be curious, the courage to do the right thing, and a commitment to improving society. Edelman is an equal opportunity employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities
