Senior Account Executive, Issues & Crisis

at  Ketchum US

ABOUT KETCHUM

As a global communications consultancy with 100 years of experience, Ketchum is a trusted partner who is equal parts creative and analytical. Ketchum is a place where all perspectives and points of view are welcome and encouraged. We are a collection of communications specialists, content creators, creatives, researchers, data analysts, media pros, digital strategists, issues and crisis counselors, and tech nerds. And we love when those worlds collide to create the very best teams and solutions for our clients. We work with the world’s leading brands, emerging start-ups, and everything in between. We are beyond proud to have created some of the most celebrated and award-winning campaigns in our industry. We’re just crazy enough to think we can impact the world – and how it responds to ideas – through communication.
We encourage our employees to be curious, brave, inspiring, and a force for good. Let’s talk. Come belong at Ketchum!

OVERVIEW:

We are looking for a Senior Account Executive for our Issues & Crisis team. This is a tremendous opportunity to work on high-profile accounts, where your work directly impacts our clients’ businesses. This exciting opportunity will help our clients with reputation management, including building issues management and crisis-response infrastructures that support business operations and corporate objectives. You will be tasked with helping establish clear lines of responsibility for issues management, crisis preparedness, and crisis response; specific protocols for each; and regularly monitoring and evaluating the system designed to refine plans and strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skills and knowledge for successful performance would qualify. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, Marketing or a related field preferred
• Three to five years of experience in public relations agency or similar position
• Ability to work in multi-faceted, fast-paced environment

• Build understanding and knowledge of the clients’ businesses and their competitive environments
• Actively participate/contribute to the development of account plans/ideas.
• Demonstrate knowledge of client media monitoring process and be able to efficiently conduct/review on a daily basis
• Demonstrate ability to effectively develop a full range of written materials consisting of but not limited to: standby statements, question & answer documents, issues analyses, position papers, client correspondence, and reports
• Independently implement defined crisis preparedness projects
• Counsel clients through basic issues management and crisis response situations
• Some day-to-day client contact through written and direct counsel on basic issues situations enlisting senior counsel on tough issues when appropriate
• Foster client-agency relationship to build trust and become a valuable resource to our clients
• Facilitate teamwork by delegating and involving junior staff members whenever possible
• Take on lead responsibility for all aspects of budget management and client billing/administration
• Seek counsel from financial manager to be able to review financial reports, project budgets, and related financial materials
• Develop an understanding of various research methods; coordinate internal and external resources in implementing research projects
• Assist senior management in developing proposals and gathering information for new business opportunities