Ketchum is a top five national and international public relations agency, with more than 1,000 people in 50 cities around the world. Ketchum has been named "Agency of the Year" four times. We were also recognized by PR WEEK for Public Affairs campaign of the year for three years in a row.

Opportunity:

Ketchum Washington is looking for a Vice President /Group Manager to act as senior liaison for a group of accounts with responsibility for program creation and execution, account planning and supervision of account teams in our Public Affairs practice area. Responsible for staff utilization and development, revenue generation, income projections, expense control, and administrative functions related to executing the annual business plan and in meeting profit objectives.

Profile:

We are seeking a dynamic communications counselor with a passion for public affairs who understands the nexus of politics, policy and public relations and who can successfully lead multi-pronged proactive campaigns while maintaining a supportive work culture for a talented team of professionals. The position requires someone can who "own" and manage client relationships and can think and implement quickly and creatively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:

• Client Management
  
  
  
  • Serve as senior agency contact to a group of accounts; lead and direct all program efforts to ensure client satisfaction; bring a value-added approach to all issues and projects.
    
  • Manage clients appropriately to cement relationships and better understand their business; include other agency staff when appropriate.
    
  • Demonstrate and develop presentation, negotiation and problem-solving skills; demonstrate ability to effectively develop full range of materials including media materials, byline articles, speeches, client correspondence and reports.
    
  • Stay on top of PR trends in the industry; bring them to the attention of clients and associates, as appropriate.
    
    
• Staff Development
  
  
  
  • Work with office management to develop and implement company policies and procedures; reinforce Ketchum values, ethics, culture and critical success factors.
    
  • Maximize utilization of team members through effective recruitment, employee goal setting, appraisals, development plans, etc.; work with human resources in dealing with personnel matters.
    
  • Encourage and create a can-do, "get-it-great" working environment, reinforcing the importance and value of each team member's contributions.
    
  • Encourage and train account teams on managing business through people techniques.
  
  
• New Business Development
  
  
  
  • Generate incremental business opportunities with existing client base.
    
  • Function as key player in pursuing new business opportunities and in leading the proposal and presentation processes.
    
  • Participate in and encourage the development of special practice areas, such as labor relations, crisis, healthcare, environmental, etc., on both local and national levels.
  
  
• Financial Management
  
  
  
  • Work with financial manager to ensure client budgets are comprehensive, actual costs are monitored and approved, and billed account receivables are collected in a timely manner.
    
  • Maintain team billability and productivity requirements; monitor for account profitability.
    
    

Qualifications:

• At least nine years of agency and/or corporate public relations experience.
  
• Must have agency experience.
  
• Superior analytic writing skills.
  
• Demonstrated competency in strategy and plan development; writing and presentations; media relations, and consultative selling.
  
• Proven track record in growing business.
  
• Direct experience in building and managing teams comprised of professional and non-exempt personnel.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, Marketing or a related field. Master's degree in a communications field desirable.
  
• Government, political, campaign experience is a plus.

EOE/AA/M/F/V/D

Ketchum and its subsidiaries do not accept resumes from independent recruiters or persons other than the applicant via Ketchum.com. Ketchum therefore does not recognize any claim for recruiting, referral or any other fees arising out of applicants engaged or hired by Ketchum or its subsidiaries with respect to resumes received via Ketchum.com in violation of this policy. By submitting a resume to Ketchum via Ketchum.com, you acknowledge that you are aware of Ketchum's policy and unconditionally waive any and all recruiting, referral or any other fees based on such submission.

SOURCE: ONLINE JOB WEBSITE 3/11/09
TO VIEW THE ORIGINAL JOB OPENING PLEASE CLICK HERE