PERITUS PUBLIC RELATIONS

DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTS CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Position: Director of Accounts
Posted: October 2024

Location: Firm is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., but open to remote teammates across Alabama

WE ARE PERITUS PUBLIC RELATIONS

We are searching for the next teammate who can help us live our values: taking care of our own, growing smart and making an impact through high-stakes communications work.  

Regardless of your background or experience level, if you're a passionate communicator with a hunger for making a difference, we want to hear from you. Our team is proof that there's no one-size-fits-all path to success in our agency – we are lifelong learners who are eager to learn from diverse perspectives and lean into our unique experiences to move our region forward. 

We're not just looking for someone to fill a role; we're seeking talented individuals who are eager to move Alabama forward by advising clients through high-stakes challenges, advocating for change in our communities and amplifying impactful stories.  

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

  • High level of personal accountability – commits to deadlines, owns projects, understands workflow and what it takes to achieve a deliverable, communicates clearly with teammates and clients on progress  

  • Innate project manager – detail-oriented, proactive, deadline-driven, manages moving parts/teammates/budgets efficiently, predicts cause and effect 

  • Master of strategy – quickly gains an understanding of new industries or issues, deep knowledge of goals and develops actionable plans to achieve them, applies the bigger picture to every conversation and deliverable 

  • Resourceful – starts every project with research, talking with other experts and reviewing past work or industry examples to save time  

  • Lifelong learner – naturally curious, hungry for continued professional development, news/book/podcast junkie, active listener 

  • Communications anthropologist – understands human behavior and the dynamics of a group, intuitive people reader, asks smart questions to dig deeper, bridges cultural gaps, seeks meaningful relationships  

ROLE OVERVIEW

Peritus’ Director of Accounts is a senior level role responsible for overseeing client relationships, driving strategic communications plans and managing account teams to deliver impactful results. This role is crucial for ensuring client satisfaction and fostering a high-performance culture. The Director will also focus on team professional development, team mentorship and business growth. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

+ Client Impact & Strategic Counsel

  • Serve as the firm’s primary manager of client service, building relationships with clients and ensuring client satisfaction.

  • Maintain an understanding of all Peritus clients' businesses and industries, serving as a resource for strategizing, overcoming challenges and ultimately, growing client relationships across the firm.

  • Lead high-stakes client meetings or presentations, providing experienced insights.

  • Manage the firm’s client teams simultaneously, anticipating challenges and proactively proposing communication solutions to overcome roadblocks and drive results.

  • Oversee the creation and execution of strategic communication plans with measurable goals and objectives.

+ Project & Capacity Management

  • Master of capacity planning and forecasting through auditing teammates’ workloads to help problem solve, minimize inefficiencies and determine more productive approaches.

  • Ensure projects are well planned and on track through close monitoring of deadlines and deliverables through project management software.

  • Partner with leadership team to plan and monitor firm’s workload, incoming new business and available manpower and bring recruitment needs to the forefront to fill in gaps.

+ Team Leadership & Mentorship

  • Mentor account team members, proactively offering guidance on strategy, client deliverables and tactical execution.

  • Hold weekly 1:1s with Line of Business leaders to coach through their individual Growth Action Plans, professional development goals and business growth within Advisory, Amplification and Advocacy services.

  • Support professional development and soft skills by coaching team members, offering regular feedback and identifying firmwide opportunities for training or upskilling.

+ Growth & Business Development

  • Cultivate relationships with community influencers and actively participate in community initiatives, strategically connecting your involvement back to the firm.

  • Foster strong client, community and industry relationships, leading efforts to retain and expand existing clients.

  • Collaborate with the Growth Pillar (i.e. business development team) to identify new business opportunities and external marketing initiatives (lunch and learns, awards strategy, digital presence, etc.).

  • Participate in client pitches, proposal writing and new client onboarding.

  • Regularly scan industry trends and potential opportunities for client growth and agency innovation.

+ Peritus Culture

  • Embrace feedback, demonstrating a growth mindset and willingness to learn from mistakes.

  • Understand teammate behavioral drivers and needs and communicate in the best ways to foster growth.

  • Lead the agency’s value-aligned Impact Pillar (i.e. how we are making an impact through our work), ensuring alignment with OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) related to team growth, development and client impact.

  • Monitor the progress of OKRs and facilitate quarterly reviews to track achievements and adjust strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Recommended 7-10 years of experience in public relations or a related field, with at least two years in an account management or leadership role. 

  • Strong understanding of strategic communications, client management and business development. 

  • Proven ability to lead teams and mentor account executives to success. 

  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide high-level client counsel and troubleshoot complex issues. 

  • Experience managing and growing client accounts year-over-year. 

PERKS

WORK FLEXIBILITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

DEFINED CAREER TRACKS

TEAM BUILDING

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS