Account Director

AKA is an international communications agency that services every aspect of today's complex and always evolving media. We live and breathe great stories about food, drink, travel, hospitality and wellness on both local and global levels. We are fiercely independent and fully integrated, delivering tailored public relations, marketing consultancy, powerful digital and social media management, synergistic partnerships, high profile event production, and business development.

Here at AKA, we employ experienced digital creatives and public relations strategists. We strongly believe in a non-hierarchical and inclusive culture here at AKA, we give our team the space to think creatively. We know how influencers and journalists think and have extensive networks within both the media and in the wider industry.

About the job

AKA has a unique opportunity for a senior level publicist to join our PR agency's Dubai office leading luxury hospitality accounts. As a senior lead for the hospitality/travel team, the candidate must have a proven track record of developing and executing strategic, integrated media/event/influencer campaigns and successfully managing and mentoring junior team members. The ideal candidate will have agency experience with luxury food & beverage outlets. Strong media contacts and relationships with top-tier consumer press and trade press are a must.

The Account Director will work closely with the Founder Directors. They will be the lead on accounts and projects, serving as a trusted strategist and expert voice for clients. This individual will serve as a mentor, manager, and lead example for all account teams on client management, results, staff development and strategic guidance. The candidate will also be heavily involved in new business.

Overview of the Role

Working closely with the Founder Directors, the Account Director is the senior contact for clients and is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of their area of agency. You will play an integral role in growing the business and shaping its strategic direction alongside generating top-tier media coverage.

Commercially minded and creative in nature, the Account Director is adept at building and maintaining relationships with both clients and the media across all levels. You will direct and lead PR projects and provide strategic-level advice.

As a Account Director, your main responsibilities will be:

Client Account Management

• Demonstrate the ability to consult at the highest levels of client organisation and be recognised as a member of the senior leadership team
• Oversee provision of account resources
• Offer crisis management and counsel to clients and extending networking opportunities
• Continue to give shape, coherence and direction to all written materials, ensuring they meet strategic needs and oversee quality control for all written materials

Campaigns and Strategy

• Strategise, execute, and manage national and global media relations campaigns across lifestyle, travel, food, drink and business media
• Develop media outreach strategy and timeline for launches with relationship to overall project timeline
• Collaborate with Directors and project teams as necessary to seamlessly integrate creative programming into project and ongoing client strategy and ensure successful execution of press and social media campaigns, special events, retail collaborations and other deliverables
• Oversee media strategy and account development
• Formulate business strategy in conjunction with other directors
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of AKA's vision and business objectives, and understanding of the bigger company picture
• Ensure that you and those you manage, are conducting a minimum of 5 proactive media sell-in pitches and a minimum of 5 follow-ups each week

Media Relations

• Ensuring a substantial amount of time is dedicated on a weekly basis to establish and cement senior level media relations with in-person meetings
• Maintain and cultivate strategic media contacts (long-lead, short-lead, consumer media, trade and influencers), working to secure positive coverage for AKA clients in the media
• Secure tier one media large features using your wide experience across the entire media spectrum from broadcast to print
• Maintain active involvement in and relationships with creative communities including food, drink, travel, art, design and lifestyle

New Business

• Proactive participation in agency growth and development of new business pipeline
• Regularly lead new business brainstorms and pitches, educating and inspiring the team to seek new business opportunities and establish multi-level contacts within the client in order to mine for new business
• Explore and support the strategies for the international expansion of the agency, travelling to future markets to source new business, develop media/influencer contacts and build teams

Leadership

• Managing, influencing and guiding mid-level and junior team members, providing them with support and guidance to ensure they fulfil their potential
• Motivate internal teams and line manage mid-level and junior team members, ensuring that new team members are effectively inducted, trained, developed and motivated to deliver outstanding work for clients.
• Taking a proactive role in performance management, leading probationary and performance and development reviews without support, ensuring that challenging and SMART personal development objectives are set and met
• Identify training needs where required and feedback any training opportunities to the Founders
• Oversee the recruitment process for vacancies within the team, leading on the shortlisting and first-round interview process
• Champion the Company's values and brand
• Be an influential figure in the industry yourself

Other

• The Account Director will supervise the client and staffing budgets, feed into projections, providing monthly updates in this feed.
• You will be expected to carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in line with your main duties

Person Specification

• Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire a team by encouraging cooperation, collaboration and partnerships through sharing knowledge, skills and expertise
• Level-headed client management
• Superior high-level media contacts and broadcast, print and digital
• Established relationships with influencers within AKA's areas of focus, including, food and drink, bars, restaurants, hospitality, nightlife, travel, lifestyle, music, art and culture
• Able to identify communication opportunities across multiple media platforms
• Exceptional problem-resolution skills, including the ability to think creatively and prioritise multiple assignments in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Ability to be a team player in an environment that requires and rewards collaboration
• A sharp eye for detail is essential
• Extremely well-organised, methodical and efficient, with a good dose of common sense and initiative
• Ability to work efficiently in a high pressured and fast paced environment
• A flair for creativity, strategic thinking and innovation with the ability to constantly generate and implement new ideas effectively
• Excellent project management skills
• Discreet, professional and articulate, with excellent communication skills
• Strong MS Word skills; working knowledge of PowerPoint and Excel
• Strong negotiation and delegation skills
• Ability to be flexible with working hours
• International press contacts are desirable
• 6-8 years of travel/hospitality public relations experience at a PR agency
• A track record of success opening new hospitality venues (hotels/restaurants) and generating consistent ongoing media coverage
• Familiarity with the luxury market and clientele
• Ability to be very nimble and work efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Integrated communications campaign conception beyond traditional media
• Articulates ideas succinctly and is comfortable with public speaking and presentations
• Superior high-level media contacts across broadcast, print and online media
• A "proactive" attitude and team mentality and experience leading a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional problem-resolution skills, including the ability to think creatively and outside the box

What We Offer

•A high-profile leadership role within a prestigious agency.

•The opportunity to work with some of the most luxurious brands in travel and hospitality.

•A collaborative and creative work environment.

• Work with top-tier clients in the luxury hospitality space.
• Be part of a dynamic and creative team passionate about shaping the public perception of some of the world's most exclusive brands.
• Enjoy a collaborative work environment with opportunities for growth and professional development.
• Competitive salary, benefits, and performance-based bonuses.

If you are an experienced PR leader with a passion for luxury travel and hospitality, we would love to hear from you.

Director

Full-time

Public Relations and Communications Services