We are hiring: Associate Account Director

Job Title: Associate Account Director

Working For: CMS Strategic

Location: London

Salary: In line with experience

Length of Contract: Permanent

Job Details

CMS Strategic is a London-based specialist communications agency for the global defence, aerospace and security sectors. At a key time of growth, an opportunity is now available for an Associate Account Director to join the team.

The successful candidate must be highly motivated, personable, professional, discrete and able to manage a variety of responsibilities to support our busy and productive agency.

Working as part of the CMS team, the successful candidate must be able to manage day-to-day PR activity across several existing accounts. Key responsibilities for this role will include:

Client Leadership

• Serve as the senior strategic advisor for a portfolio of client accounts.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships.
• Lead regular client meetings, presentations, and strategic reviews.
• Anticipate client needs and provide proactive communications counsel.
• Manage crisis communications and reputation management initiatives.

Strategic Communications

• Develop integrated PR and communications strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Oversee campaign planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Identify newsworthy opportunities and create compelling media narratives.
• Advise clients on corporate communications, thought leadership, executive profiling, and stakeholder engagement.

Public Affairs

• Develop and deliver a range of defence specific public affairs strategies to include parliamentary and Whitehall engagement.
• Analyse policy developments and implications for client base.

Media Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, influencers, and industry stakeholders.
• Secure high-quality media coverage across print, broadcast, online, and social media.
• Oversee the development of press releases, media materials, speeches, opinion pieces, and briefing documents.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop account managers, executives, and junior team members.
• Help to foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

Account Management

• Responsibility for delivery against agreed scopes of work: drive project delivery to a high standard and across all client deliverables.
• Oversee reporting, campaign measurement, and client evaluation.

Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client accounts.
• Lead or support new business pitches and proposal development.
• Build strong industry networks and represent the agency at events.
• Contribute to marketing and thought leadership initiatives.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• 4+ years senior experience in public relations, communications, or corporate affairs, preferably in Defence.
• A strong knowledge of UK politics, Parliament, Whitehall, government departments, and the public affairs landscape.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering integrated communications campaigns, public affairs strategy, parliamentary engagement and reputation management.
• Experience managing multiple high-profile client accounts.
• Excellent strategic planning and problem-solving skills.
• Strong media relations and political network.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proven leadership and people management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Desirable

• Experience across agency-side corporate communications roles.
• European/international PR/public affairs experience.
• Crisis communications experience.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and analytics tools.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Client relationship management
• Commercial awareness
• Leadership and coaching
• Influencing and negotiation
• Excellent communication skills
• Project management
• Creativity and innovation

Person specific:

• A highly motivated, enthusiastic, collaborative and professional individual who would thrive as part of a growing team.
• Excellent attention to detail, taking pride in delivering to CMS’ high standards of work.
• Ability to execute sound judgement and discretion.
• Confidence to lead meetings with senior clients, officials and political representatives.
• Proactive approach to engagement across our sector: network development, new business leads, pitching and client representation.
• Creative mindset to develop ideas and drive activity into tangible outcomes for clients.
• An interest in driving growth in the business.

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualifications are advantageous.

Reporting To

• Managing Director
• Chief Operations Officer

Direct Reports

• Account Managers
• Senior Account Executives
• Account Executives

Benefits:

• Central London location with flexibility to work from home 1 day per week and ad hoc as needed
• Competitive salary with performance-related bonus
• Reservist policy
• Training and professional development
• Expense account
• Health insurance
• A sociable team with regular group outings and social events
• Showering facilities and off-street bike storage

Application details:

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to: Oliver.Tillard@cmsstrategic.com

Please describe clearly why you would like to join CMS Strategic and how your personal skillset meets our requirement. Examples of how you have delivered this type of work (respecting necessary sensitivities) is preferable.

Please prepare to provide references.