Associate Director - Corporate & Services (Public Relations)

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company - powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com 

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More about the role:

Burson is looking to hire an Associate Director to manage a portfolio of diverse corporate clients, pursuing new business opportunities, moving beyond existing accounts to build a robust pipeline of prospective clients and support the senior management to manage and develop strong 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.
• 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.
• 10+ years of experience in media relations, content management, and communications across a diverse range of corporate sector clients in Energy, Education, Industrial Manufacturing, Aviation, Automobile, Environment/ Sustainability, Infrastructure & Consulting etc.
• 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.

You belong at Burson:

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view-your talent-is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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