SUMMARY:

Senior Account Manager – Public Relations

POSITION INFO:
Please note: This is not a junior or developmental PR position. The successful candidate must be confident working independently, managing clients and campaigns, dealing directly with the media and producing polished, publication-ready written content with minimal supervision.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field.
• Minimum 4–7 years’ relevant PR experience.
• Demonstrable Sport and Lifestyle PR experience is strongly preferred.
• Established South African media contacts, particularly within Sport and Lifestyle.
• Excellent professional writing and editing skills.
• Proven experience managing client accounts and PR campaigns.
• Strong understanding of traditional, online, broadcast, social and emerging media.
• Own reliable transport is advantageous.

What We Are Looking For

• 4–7+ years of solid Public Relations experience, preferably within an agency environment.
• Proven experience working specifically within Sport and Lifestyle PR.
• A strong understanding of the South African sporting, lifestyle, entertainment and cultural landscape.
• An established personal network of media contacts, particularly across sport and lifestyle media.
• Existing relationships with relevant journalists, editors, producers, presenters, content creators and influencers.
• Exceptional writing and editing ability.
• The ability to independently produce press releases, media pitches, statements, opinion pieces, executive profiles, speeches, Q&As and briefing documents.
• Strong editorial judgement with excellent grammar, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience developing and executing PR strategies and integrated campaigns.
• Experience managing multiple client accounts and competing deadlines.
• The confidence and experience to lead client meetings and provide strategic PR advice.
• The ability to identify strong media angles and proactively generate earned media opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Sport & Lifestyle PR

• Develop and execute PR campaigns across sport, lifestyle, entertainment and culture.
• Stay closely connected to sporting calendars, major events, teams, leagues, athletes, personalities, sponsorships and relevant lifestyle trends.
• Identify opportunities for brands to participate credibly in sporting, lifestyle and cultural conversations.
• Develop creative and relevant media angles around sporting moments, sponsorships, entertainment properties and consumer trends.
• Understand how sport, lifestyle, entertainment, creators, media and communities intersect.

Media Relations

• Utilise and continuously grow your existing media network.
• Proactively pitch stories and secure quality editorial opportunities for clients.
• Maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, producers, presenters, influencers and content creators.
• Coordinate interviews, media briefings, profiles, press conferences and other media engagements.
• Manage media relationships around events, launches, sponsorships and activations.

Writing & Content

• Press releases
• Media pitches
• Statements
• Opinion pieces
• Media alerts
• Executive profiles
• Speeches
• Q&As and talking points
• Briefing and interview preparation documents
• Campaign messaging and storylines

Client & Account Management

• Take ownership of allocated PR accounts and manage them confidently.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings, brainstorms and campaign planning sessions.
• Translate client objectives into effective PR strategies and deliverables.
• Manage deadlines, budgets, approvals and campaign requirements.
• Anticipate challenges and provide proactive solutions.
• Ensure work is delivered to a consistently high standard.

The Person We Want

• Experienced and self-sufficient – you do not need to be taught the fundamentals of PR.
• A strong and confident writer with excellent editorial judgement.
• Well connected within the South African media industry.
• Genuinely knowledgeable and passionate about Sport and Lifestyle.
• Mature, professional and confident when dealing with clients and senior stakeholders.
• Proactive and able to identify opportunities without waiting for instruction.
• Highly organised and capable of managing several priorities simultaneously.
• Strategic and creative while still being able to execute.
• Calm and professional under pressure.
• Comfortable mentoring and guiding more junior team members.
• Commercially aware and focused on delivering measurable results for clients.