Account Director, Social and Influencer Strategy

VICE PRESIDENT – EARNED MEDIA STRATEGY  

At Weber Shandwick, we build brand stories designed to earn attention, coverage and conversation. We’re a passionate and diverse team that protects and promotes some of Canada’s (and the world’s) most iconic and beloved brands … and has fun while doing it!  
  
If you’re a dynamic media relations maestro with an integrated-marketing mindset, here’s an opportunity to play a leadership role at a forward-thinking, award-winning and globally leading agency. Over the last five years, Weber Shandwick has been recognized as PRovoke Media’s Canadian Agency of the Year, IABC Canadian Large Agency of the Year, a certified Great Place to Work (six years running) and boasts the most exciting client list of any agency in the country. 

 
POSITION PROFILE 

We are currently seeking a Vice President – Earned Media Strategy to join our Integrated Media team in Toronto. We’re looking for a self-starter who is ready to take the lead in driving the agency’s media relations offering forward. As a key leadership position as the Earned Media lead for Canada, this person will lead media relations for several major accounts while establishing best practices, driving growth and developing skillsets across the agency. 

 
The ideal candidate has deep experience in media relations and/or journalism and specializes in earned-first storytelling that drives coverage and impact. They have established connections to top-tier journalists, understand the inner workings of newsrooms, love the thrill of the pitch and are driven by landing that perfect headline. Most importantly, they champion earned-first thinking, lead by example in developing and maintaining media relationships and inspire a passion for pitching. 

We’re looking for someone who understands how to break through today’s modern media landscape, while keeping their finger on the pulse of where the industry is heading and how outlets and audiences are evolving. Expertise in healthcare, and a desire to support the work and growth of our healthcare team is a must.

This role requires a leader who can motivate a team, tap into their passion and lead with a sense of integrity, honesty and humility – someone who can set the big-picture strategy but isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and dive into the work. 

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who wants to put their strategic skills to work driving coverage for great brands, is highly collaborative and willing to grow and lead a team doing bold new things.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Oversee, participate, and counsel on the strategy and implementation of strategies that drive earned media coverage across traditional, online, and emerging platforms 

• Serve as the primary Canadian earned media lead for major global brands – with a focus on healthcare 

• Collaborate with teams across the agency (e.g., account, creative, social, influencer) to develop powerful integrated approaches for earning attention, advising on the right angles for strong editorial cut through and coverage 

• Ensure the agency maintains top-tier media relationships and is continuously building new ones with emerging media 

• Meet regularly with a strong network of key editors, producers and journalists to uncover proactive opportunities to our clients 

• Advise clients on media strategy development across traditional, online, and other platforms, providing strategic counsel and insightful recommendations  

• Set standards and oversee the production of media materials including media lists, media pitches, key messages, media audits, briefing books, etc. 

• Advise clients on media approach, issues management and media training 

• Oversee media relations training and talent development 

• Lead the media strategists within account teams and act as an inspiring role model to junior talent across the agency. 

REQUIREMENTS 

• 12+ years’ experience focusing on media relations and/or journalism 

• Healthcare industry experience 

• Proven media relations skills, including developing strategy, building and maintaining media relationships and pitching and landing stories 

• Experience leading large-scale, integrated activations and campaigns 

• Strong writer and editor – ability to craft messages and story narratives for both corporate and consumer audiences 

• Strong leadership skills – the ability to manage and prioritize multiple work streams and staff 

• Strong presentation skills 

• Must be proactive and flexible, a team player able to work in a fluid environment with changing priorities 

• Proven new business expertise and success 

• Established experience building teams, managing and mentoring junior staff and working collaboratively in a cross-functional setting  

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• RRSP (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) – $50 monthly cell phone reimbursement
• MyDays – Flexible time off
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave Policy

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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We Are Seeking

We are seeking an Account Director to join our Media Relations team within our Health Practice. As a Director, you will be responsible for managing client, media and inter-agency relationships, playing a critical role in determining the future and long-term success of our Health practice.

You will be responsible for all aspects of a client relationship and account team as it relates to earned media . You will supervise major pieces of business and team members. Other responsibilities include recommending programs and activities, coordinating with clients’ goals, effectively delegating projects, offering counsel to team members, and allocating agency resources to match client budgets.

You are also engaged with business development, strategic program planning, and the development of creative concepts. Ideally, you will have consumer health experience and a proven track record of managing branded and unbranded consumer campaigns with media and third party partnerships. The following is a general outline of primary responsibilities.

Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Day-to-day client support and counsel
• Leading media relations efforts for team including managing junior staff
• Driving communications support around campaigns
• Working across internal and external specialists including media, digital, creative and agency partners
• Working with senior counselors on strategy

What We Are Looking For

• Capacity to convey ownership of assigned projects to junior team members
• Can solve conflicts
• Can mobilize and motivate teams
• Can work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent oral and written business communication skills
• Aptitude for financial analysis
• Can complete challenging projects within set parameters
• Exceptional judgment when working with team members, client contacts and vendors
• Commitment and dedication to the agency’s success as well as individual career
• Can anticipate client and team needs
• Attention to detail and quality
• Instills confidence with clients and colleagues

Qualifications

• At least 7 years’ healthcare public relations/communications experience, including an interest in working with the media
• BA or BS in Communications or in a related field

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

NYC Salary range: $115,000 – $135,000

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-JR2

Weber Shandwick is seeking a Manager (Account Supervisor level) to join our Integrated Media team within our Healthcare Practice.

We Are Seeking

We are seeking a strong Manager to join our Media Relations team within our Healthcare Practice who loves the thrill of the pitch, building relationships with media, and has a passion for healthcare innovation. As a Manager, you will have the opportunity to work on various top tier brands in various healthcare categories, including high science, health and wellness and consumer health.

What You Will Be Doing

• Develop a strong understanding of the client’s business and target audience, and work with sr. media members, strategists and creative team members to deliver solutions that meet program objectives
• Monitor media outlets, understand industry issues that directly and indirectly affect the client, and analyze and distill meaningful insights from media coverage
• Generate story ideas and topic angles, draft media materials, and pitch media to land earned coverage
• Develop strategic messaging for clients and support creation of media plans and proposals that take an integrated approach to driving awareness with target audiences
• Maintain real-time understanding of health news and trends and support creative ideation for evergreen opportunities on a consistent basis
• Proactively seek relationships with journalists on behalf of clients
• Serve as a role model to team members
• Participate in office-wide initiatives, seminars and meetings to further professional learning and development
• Actively participate in agency development and assist with new business as needed

Competencies

• Business Acumen– align talent strategies to drive business goals
• Client Service– client focus and ability to build trust and rapport across all levels
• Proactivity – exhibit relentless pursuit for new and innovative talent strategies
• Collaboration– build strong relationships at all levels across the organization
• Critical Thinking– ask probing questions; anticipate and address critical talent gaps and needs
• Conflict Resolution– possess sound judgment and savvy in navigating and resolving complex talent and organizational issues

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations
• 3 to 4 years’ relevant experience
• Media relations experience
• Spanish-speaking a plus

The Weber Shandwick Collective recognizes that your health and wellbeing are a priority. This is why we offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k (with employer match)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Juice Money – $60 monthly reimbursement to be used towards purchases that nourish your health, mind, body, and soul
• MyDays – Flexible holiday schedules
• Short-Term Disability
• Paid Employee Family Leave
• Family Building Benefit

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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