Brown O’Connor is one of Ireland’s most trusted and respected public affairs, stakeholder relations and strategic communications advisory firms. We operate from a vibrant central Belfast office and have recently expanded with a new Dublin base, reflecting our continued growth across the island.
The Person
Brown O’Connor is seeking a talented and ambitious Senior Client Manager / Client Manager to join the team. As we continue to grow across the island of Ireland, this is a chance to play a central role in an ambitious and dynamic advisory firm.
This is an exciting and demanding role within a leading consultancy and requires a resilient individual with demonstrable client management and leadership ability.
You will be responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of clients, contributing to strategic planning, and delivering high‑quality advice in fast‑moving environments.
The ideal candidate will bring strong writing skills, sound judgement and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders, journalists and elected representatives.
You will thrive under pressure, enjoy problem‑solving and be motivated by the opportunity to shape impactful campaigns.
You may be already working in corporate communications / public relations / public affairs in an agency; as an in-house communications manager; in politics; law; professional services or as a 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.
This role will suit a person who is well-organised, proactive, curious, accurate and collaborative.
Role 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 client activity and implement strategic advice.
- Expert knowledge of the local business and political environment in Ireland.
- Proven relationships with ministers, departmental officials, journalists, editors, civic and business leaders.
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 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.
- Experience in the drafting of media materials that relate to matters such as financial results, senior appointments, mergers and acquisitions, redundancy notifications, investment announcements and general business issues.
- Ability to synthesize complex business issues and communicate to a wider range of audiences, often under deadline.
- 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 corporate communications and public awareness campaigns integrating various methods to create significant public interest.
- Proven ability to curate 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
- 5Demonstrable experience in the areas of Corporate / Strategic Communications / Public Relations / Public Affairs or within a communications environment.
- 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.
- 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.
- Consultancy background or experience in a client facing role.
Based: Position is located in Belfast City Centre, with occasional travel to our Dublin office (circa 25%).