PR Account Executive

Location: Manchester

Working pattern: Full time, hybrid working – 3 days in the office, 2 days flexible

Planned start date: November 2026

About Grayling UK

Grayling is one of the UK’s most connected communications agencies, helping brands, businesses and organisations navigate complexity, shape conversations and make a meaningful impact through smart thinking, cultural insight and creative ideas.

Our people are in equal parts exceptional professionals and wonderful human beings. We’ve been recognised as one of The Times and Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026, reflecting the culture our people have built together – one grounded in trust, transparency, ambition and care.

If you’re building your career in PR and want to work with a collaborative team across a varied mix of consumer and B2B clients, this could be a great next step.

The opportunity

We’re looking for an Account Executive to join our Manchester team and help deliver integrated PR campaigns across a mix of consumer and B2B clients.

You’ll get hands-on experience across media relations, content and campaign delivery – from spotting stories and developing media angles to creating content and building relationships with journalists.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across the agency, contributing ideas, research and insight while taking responsibility for delivering high-quality work for clients.

This could suit an existing Account Executive or someone ready to step up who has already developed strong PR, writing and media relations skills.

What you’ll do

• Help deliver integrated PR campaigns across consumer and B2B accounts, taking ownership of agreed activity and deadlines.
• Build relationships with journalists and media contacts, identify relevant opportunities and confidently sell in stories and ideas.
• Write clear, engaging content including press releases, features, thought leadership, pitches, statements, briefings and social content.
• Monitor the media and wider news agenda, spotting trends, stories and opportunities that could be relevant to clients.
• Keep clients and account teams informed, providing accurate updates, managing expectations and raising potential issues when needed.
• Support client meetings and campaign planning, turning discussions and briefs into clear actions.
• Contribute research, insight and ideas to client campaigns, brainstorms and new business opportunities.

What we’re looking for

Essential experience and capabilities:

You don’t need to tick every possible PR box, but there are some things you’ll need to be able to demonstrate:

• Experience contributing to PR or communications activity and an understanding of how effective media relations works.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to turn information into clear, accurate and engaging content for different audiences.
• The confidence to build relationships with journalists, clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Good judgement and curiosity – you can get up to speed with different clients and subjects, identify what matters and spot potential opportunities.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to take ownership of your work while knowing when to ask for support.

Desirable experience

It would be useful, but isn't essential, if you also have:

• Experience working across consumer and/or B2B communications.
• Experience of digital and social media as part of integrated communications campaigns.
• An understanding of the UK political and media landscape, or an interest in developing your knowledge in this area.

Why join us?

You’ll be joining a collaborative Manchester team while also having the opportunity to work with colleagues and specialists from across Grayling.

Your growth is important to us, and you’ll have access to our internal training programmes alongside the opportunity to build your experience across different clients, audiences and communications channels.

Our promises to you include:

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working, a work from anywhere policy, flexi time and 4pm Friday finishes
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing by one day every year up to 30 days
• An additional day of leave on your birthday and gifted time off over Christmas
• A monthly cash allowance to use on the benefits most important to you
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Free subscription to the Calm app
• Office perks, including free breakfasts and fruit
• Personal development opportunities through our internal training programmes
• New business and employee referral bonuses
• Interest-free season ticket loan and Railcard reimbursement
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering a 24/7 confidential advice line
• Life assurance

Get to know us

Grayling is one of the UK’s most connected communications agencies, working across Public Affairs, Planning & Infrastructure, Consumer and Corporate. With nine UK offices and more than 20 worldwide, we help organisations navigate complexity, shape conversations and make a meaningful impact through smart thinking, cultural insight and creative ideas.

We’re proud to have been named in PRovoke Media’s 100 Best Public Relations Agencies in the World and for Grayling UK to have been recognised as one of The Times and Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.

Our commitment at Grayling is to combine our employees’ unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation that represents all of us and the businesses we work with.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and will consider all applicants regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, family or parental status, neurodiversity and disability status.

If you need any adjustments during the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know.