Senior Account Executive

Big Sky Public Relations is a Montana firm specializing in community relations and media management for state and municipal construction projects, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. In a state where residents highly value a handshake, Big Sky Public Relations delivers an excellent outreach solution backed by local representation.

Based in the breathtaking mountains of Northwest Montana, the Big Sky Public Relations team gets it when you say "limitless potential." After all, they are surrounded by it. That backdrop lends to the creativity and passion behind the big ideas developed and executed daily: the friendly handshake of a neighbor and the flexibility to live with one foot in the great outdoors and one in the concrete jungle.

Job Location

This Senior Account Executive (SAE) opportunity is a work-from-home position that includes regular face-time with the public, public events, and on-site meetings at client and Big Sky Public Relations offices. Although the location is flexible, the ideal candidate will live within one of the following communities (or within an hour's commute of the following): Spokane, Spokane Valley, Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, or Sandpoint. Big Sky Public Relations will provide all necessary work equipment; the SAE is responsible for providing a professional workspace in their home and an internet connection capable of supporting video conferencing. Work-from-home affords our team incredible flexibility, a relaxed working environment, and less drive time. It also requires excellent, consistent team and client communication. The SAE will be a self-starter capable of delivering results with exceptional efficiency and minimal oversight.

Job Description

The SAE has strong leadership and organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks on an ongoing basis. They have a superior work ethic, excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to lead with grace under pressure. The SAE is practical and creative who learns quickly, thrives in a fast-paced environment, breathes the daily news, and loves people. Equally as necessary, the Senior Account Executive works independently, thrives in an environment with limited supervision, and works to maintain team connections. The SAE will serve as clients' primary point of contact, ensuring their needs are met and their expectations are exceeded. This role requires strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The SAE will manage complex and often challenging projects.

The SAE is responsible for managing all aspects of account work within their dedicated practice and performing administrative assignments as needed for the benefit of clients and the firm. The Senior Account Executive (SAE) plays a critical role within their practice by leading client relations, overseeing junior staff and interns as assigned, and ensuring high-quality and accurate work is completed on time. The SAE may support or manage numerous accounts or projects independently. In this role, the SAE may assist with staff oversight and operations support when key leaders are unavailable. The SAE will also serve as a representative of the company to clients, stakeholders, and the public. Each week, the SAE will be responsible for completing a minimum of 35 billable hours weekly and producing the quality and quantity of deliverables appropriate for that billable time.

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Responsibilities

-Develops and maintains productive relationships with clients and stakeholders, as well as with the members of the media influencers and influencers with whom they will regularly interact.

-Demonstrates excellent judgment and ability to solve problems on their own. They should be able to develop public relations, marketing, and social media strategies and coordinate team efforts to implement them.

-Possesses excellent writing and editing skills. Ability to write to media and other marketing materials as indicated by an account supervisor, including public outreach materials, opinion editorials, press releases, marketing materials, pitch letters, source sheets, social media publishing calendars, program reports, and memos. They must pay close attention to detail, particularly in editing, and be able to multi-task.

-Organizes and facilitates client meetings and stakeholder outreach activities, such as presentations, open houses, etc.

-Ability to serve confidently and effectively as a spokesperson, facilitator, or moderator in public, stakeholder, and client meetings.

-Works with account supervisor to develop and implement program strategies and assist in writing public relations plans.

-Ability to graciously manage and diffuse contentious stakeholder communications; Desire and ability to build trust with stakeholders.

-Coordinates, facilitates, or assists with initiatives such as creative campaigns, videos, stakeholder outreach, and special events.

-Conducts research, including measuring public relations, integrated marketing and social media results, which includes, among other tasks, compiling press clips, writing media placement and digital analytics reports.

-Manages reporting and tracking billable hours for any accounts worked on, including monthly client billing memos, invoicing, and other reporting as necessary.

-Builds, coordinates, and monitors client media buys; manages communications with advertising representatives.

-Plans, conducts or supervises the media/blogger relations tasks, including pitching efforts, follow-up contact, reporting, campaign fulfillment, etc.

-Conduct research to identify target audiences, key messages, and optimal communication channels.

-Collaborate with team members to brainstorm creative campaign ideas and tactics.

-Assists with administrative assignments and duties for the firm, such as answering phones, running errands, etc.

-Manage inquiries and de-escalate members of the public if needed; effectively conduct outreach efforts such as canvassing in a positive and personable way.

-Manages and trains staff as assigned.

-Participates in developing new business in the Eastern Washington and Idaho markets through networking, assistance in proposal development, and serving as a team representative at competitive interviews for prospective clients.

Technical Skills

-Must possess outstanding writing, editing and communication skills.

-Must pay close attention to detail, particularly in editing and reporting.

-Must be proficient with the Microsoft Office suite of products, as well as other Internet tools and technologies such as Gmail, Google Docs, and task management and time-tracking software.

-Capabilities with photography and social media are beneficial but not crucial.

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Interpersonal Skills

Develop and maintain productive, trusting relationships with clients, stakeholders, elected officials, members of the media, and other influencers with whom they will regularly interact. Work cooperatively and positively with other members of the Big Sky Public Relations team on a daily basis. Possess a commitment to giving and receiving feedback honestly and graciously.

Requirements

-BA/BS in Communications/Marketing/Public Relations/Integrated Marketing/Business Management or similar.

-Minimum 5 years of professional public relations, marketing, journalism and/or social media experience; Project and/or event management experience is a benefit.

-Ability to accurately track and manage project budgets (both agency hours and direct expenses).

-Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of products, and comfortable using internet tools and technologies such as Gmail, Dropbox, digital task management software, and file sharing platforms.

-Excellent media relations skills; versed in AP Style.

-Capacity to effectively build trusting relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.

-Superior writing ability.

-Creative, strategic thinker.

-Strong initiative, leadership skills, and work ethic; exacting attention to detail.

-Excellent communicator.

-Outstanding ability to work independently.

-Teamwork mentality including the ability to multi-task in a team-oriented, technology-driven environment.

-Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to be flexible.

-Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, multitasking effectively and prioritizing tasks accordingly. Leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire team members to achieve goals and deliver exceptional results.

Benefits

-Great medical, vision, and dental benefits, life insurance.

-Wellness incentives such as quarterly massage and gym membership

-Opportunities for remote work out of home base as schedule and projects allow

-Paid vacation, paid holidays, and paid sick days.

-Annual, customized training opportunities based on employee goals and organizational needs.

Job Classification: Full-Time, salaried

Work Schedule: The SAE typically works 42 to 50 hours per week, Monday through Friday. At times, work on weekends and evenings will be required. Additional hours may be required during public meetings, special events, or high-volume seasons with project rollouts.

Travel: Yes, 10-20%

Salary Range: $71,000-$79,000 dependent upon experience - plus bonus based on performance and company profitability.