Account Director/Vice President - Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, named PR Week’s Large Agency of the Year for 2004, and the Holmes Report’s Best Large Agency to Work For in 2006, is one of the world’s leading independent multiservice public relations firms. The ideas, customs, interests and traditions that make up Waggener Edstrom's culture are the result of the contributions of the more than 800 employees. Over the past 25 years, our commitment to Innovation Communications has driven the way we deliver value to people who influence opinion in the marketplace and - through our insight, influence and sheer passion - has propelled our innovative clients to the forefront of their industries. With roots in technology, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide’s Global Practices now encompass Consumer Marketing, Corporate Communications, Environment, Healthcare, Public Affairs and Technology.

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide is a global agency, headquartered in Seattle with wholly-owned offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Dallas, Hong Kong, London, Munich, New York City, Paris, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore and Washington, D.C., and affiliates in nine other markets.

Our services include strategic communications, crisis counseling, press release production, translation, media relations and training, news monitoring, event management and direct marketing.

The company is committed to hiring and developing the talents of the best and brightest and ensures that professionals have a working environment that allows them to thrive and rewards creativity and innovation in the craft of communications.

 

Account Director/Vice President

Waggener has an opportunity for an Account Director/Vice President to lead strategic communication efforts for Microsoft Tellme Networks.  Tellme Networks is a leading provider of voice services for everyday life, including nationwide directory assistance, enterprise customer service and voice-enabled mobile search. In March, Microsoft announced its acquisition of Tellme which is now a wholly owned subsidiary. Tellme and Microsoft share a vision around the potential of speech as a way to enable access to information, locate other people and enhance business processes, any time and from any device.

 

Responsibilities:

• Point of strategic integration and counsel for their team by managing the business and resources on a day to day basis

• Manages high-level influential relationships and shapes broad industry themes, messages and storylines with key press

• Leadership role in strategic agency business planning as well as account staff development

• Proactively craft and place stories, shape broad industry themes and story lines, and negotiate client inclusion in coverage

• Solicit feedback from influentials regarding their perception of your client/s, competition and industry position and share with team and client as appropriate.

• Coach team and broader account staff on agency “best practices” in engaging with influentials story placement and packaging

• Identify broad trends among media and analyst communities and translate significance to team and staff and clients

• Identify and cultivate relationships with new and emerging influentials

• Provide strategic communications counsel to executive-level clients and serve as a strategic resource and champion to clients, based on knowledge of the client’s industry, technology and major products/services; competitors’ products and strategies; and emerging technology and industry trends/issues

• Manage client relationship and client satisfaction. Hold regular meetings and/or maintain regular phone or written contact to keep senior-level clients apprised of WE work progress, address issues that appear and, solicit feedback from clients, and assess PR results against client expectations. Manage the development of client scorecards and resulting actions

• Forecast, propose and track budgets. Manage a single or multiple accounts in client(s) annual budget

 

 

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelors degree or above in communications, journalism or related field preferred

Preferred experience • 8-10 years experience in PR – in an agency and/or within the high tech industry – providing public relations consulting service to high technology clients.

• Established strong relationships with business, technology trade and consumer media, market analysts and proactively placed stories

• Minimum of 5 years individual and team management experience, including experience developing a team

• Minimum of 5 years PR management, crisis management, and execution experience, including developing plans, client management, launch strategies, product positioning, pitching stories to the media, negotiation, budget responsibility, media training a client, messaging and creative tactical ideas

• New business development

· Knowledge of high tech industry and players

• International experience

 

 

How to Apply:

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide believes its people are its greatest asset. The company offers outstanding professional development and competitive compensation and benefits. Please submit your resume (in a Word document only please) via our website at www.WaggenerEdstrom.com/careers  Job 3299