Brown O’Connor Communications is one of Ireland’s most trusted and respected communications advisory firms.
Specialist in Public Affairs, Corporate Media Relations, Issues Management & Crisis Communications, the agency was awarded the CIPR Best Public Affairs Campaign 2022/2023 and was named the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Consultancy of the Year (Small) 2021/2022.
We have a track record for managing and delivering complex public affairs programmes for some of the UK and Ireland’s leading businesses, professional services, charities, trade bodies, interest groups and public-sector organisations.
We help our clients gain impact and outcomes through specialist insight and influence with editors, government ministers and corporate decision makers.
The Person
Brown O’Connor Communications is seeking a talented and ambitious Client Manager (Public Affairs) to join the team.
This is an exciting and demanding role within a leading consultancy and requires a resilient individual with demonstrable client management and leadership ability.
You may be already working in public affairs or corporate communications in an agency; as an in-house communications manager; in politics; or as journalist.
You will have a deep professional interest in business, the media and politics and have a detailed understanding of the role that media relations, public affairs, and stakeholder relations plays.
Job Specification
Strategic Counsel
- Proven client handling skills with experience in managing large accounts, providing proactive strategic advice;
- Ability to manage a high level of client interaction and be able to design and implement strategies.
Day to Day Delivery
- Proven ability to work in a fast paced, often pressurised, outcome orientated environment;
- Create and manage lobbying campaigns securing policy change, legislative change and the smooth running of political engagement programmes;
- Oversee the delivery of the Brown O’Connor Communications political monitoring services;
- Manage and lead the forward work programmes of All-Party Groups at the NI Assembly;
- Devise and manage pre-application community consultations for important planning applications;
- Write strong editorial content on behalf of clients including press releases, opinion/platform pieces and blogs and ensure coverage across a range of media outlets;
- Manage an entire range of suppliers such as photographers, graphic designers, videographers, economists and sectoral experts integral to the successful delivery of client activity campaigns;
- Manage public awareness campaigns integrating various methods to create significant public interest;
- Be able to create engaging social media content across multiple platforms;
- Forward plan to ensure smooth running of client campaigns on time, and within budget.
New Business Development
- Take a leading role in new business development and organic growth opportunities alongside company directors and be comfortable in pitching and proposal development;
- Supporting successful tender writing from start to submission;
- Experience in identifying and converting new business opportunities;
People Management
- Line management duties with wider members of team;
- Understanding the requirement to work with efficiency and profitably;
- Manage team members on client accounts to ensure work is carried out successfully and within allocated budgets;
- Work as a team player with Brown O’Connor colleagues to ensure success across client accounts;
- Deliver outcomes for clients and work to raise their profile in the media and with key stakeholders in a positive way.
Criteria
- Proven experience working in the areas of Public Affairs and/or Corporate/Strategic Communications or within a communications environment (Agency experience preferred);
- Third Level Degree or equivalent in the preferred areas of Communications, Law, Politics, Business, Social Science or Humanities;
- Possess strong writing and editing skills with ability to write attention-grabbing media material, client correspondence and reports;
- An excellent communicator both written and oral;
- Commercially and politically aware;
- Outstanding organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at the same time;
- Strong initiative, leadership skills and work ethic;
- Ability to hustle to make things happen;
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by client and other activity;
- Clean driving licence and access to a car is a must due to client requirements.
Desirable Criteria
Experience in working in a similar role in the Republic of Ireland.
What we offer
- 22 Days Annual Leave and 11 Public Holidays;
- Flexible working 1 day per week (Friday);
- Paid Annual CIPR Membership;
- An exciting and dynamic working environment in a city centre-based office;
- Training opportunities;
- Mobile Phone allowance;
- Regular team social events.