Public Relations Account Executive

PR Account Executive Job Description

Orientation Marketing is a leading pharmaceutical and life-sciences marketing and communications agency. Headquartered in the U.K. with offices in North America and on mainland Europe, we have grown consistently since our inception in 2015. In the last year alone, we added a specialist communications practice and in-house creative/design studio to our service portfolio, and moved to a new, larger head office premises in The Steam Mill, Chester.

Our clients are the powerhouse behind the development and manufacture of medicines and medical devices. They value us because we understand their markets, and we have a deep knowledge of the tools available to help them effectively communicate their capabilities to pharma, biotech, and specialist healthcare companies of all sizes.

It is an exciting time to join Orientation Marketing, our client base has grown to include clients across Europe, the U.S. and further afield. Our clients value our marketing expertise and knowledge of their business. We want our customers to benefit from people who know what they are doing, and know them, so we work hard to develop and retain our people. We’ll challenge you to find the best solutions for our partners, but we are committed to prioritizing a healthy work-life balance for everyone in to maintaining a fun and friendly environment, whether that’s in the office, working remotely, or travelling to shows and meetings.

Position Summary

We are seeking an Account Executive to assist our communications and content team in implementing integrated communications programmes for our pharmaceutical and life-sciences clients. In collaboration with the director of communications and content and leadership team, the Account Executive will manage project plans and timelines, and coordinate account activities. They will also help ensure clients’ projects are completed efficiently and on time, with the utmost attention to detail.

The Account Executive carries out media outreach, social media outreach and marketing communication tactics outlined within clients’ strategy and tactics. You will also contribute to the planning and research necessary to drive strategy and tactics for the agency and for clients, and interact with and manage projects with leading media partners, including writers, editors and publishers.

Account Executives handle in-depth writing assignments, including press communications, award entries and content marketing pieces, as assigned. They actively pitch a range of business-to-business, and general media, so relationship-building skills are imperative. The Account Executive will also play an integral role with social media execution, creating content and unique concepts attuned to clients and our own business goals.

Position Requirements

Must demonstrate PR and journalistic writing capabilities, experience of media relations and media pitching would be an advantage, as would experience in defining and executing social media campaigns for businesses. Must be eager to build new relationships with the media in accordance with clients’ needs. The ideal candidate will also be able to juggle multiple projects at once while communicating key actions to other team members, meeting deadlines, and offering recommendations to improve plans and processes.

This position is based in Orientation Marketing’s Chester offices, however we will consider remote/hybrid applications from exceptional candidates . The right candidate must be self-motivated, independent and able to execute job duties without direct supervision throughout the workday. However, that doesn’t mean our Account Executives operate alone Our team is collaborative and meets virtually and in-person regularly, and we leverage modern communications tools (e.g., Teams, WhatsApp) to keep in touch.

We are looking for someone who wants to add to their skills and exceed clients’ expectations, so expect ongoing guidance and mentorship, and be expect to demonstrate resourcefulness and reach out frequently to update teammates on tasks, ask questions, and seek feedback from experienced team members.

A “can do” attitude is essential, coupled with an understanding that all tasks, no matter how fundamental, contribute to the overall success of a campaign. We take pride in our work at all levels, and encourage everyone to bring fresh ideas to the table.

• 3+ years professional experience in PR, marketing, communications or journalism
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science, PR, marketing, communications, journalism or a related field
• Deadline driven, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple communications projects, and understand integrated campaigns where one activity may impact one or many related activities
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Understanding of social media tools and networks, including LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram
• Familiarity with Associated Press style and media tracking and outreach applications (e.g., Cision) would also be an advantage, but is not a prerequisite
• Driven to grow and seek out learning opportunities
• Available for occasional pre-planned travel, e.g., to industry shows and to meet clients.

Key Responsibilities

An Account Executive’s duties include, but are not limited to:

Account Management

• Oversee account coordination activities to ensure all account service communications are accurate and on time, including status reports, agendas and meeting notes
• Serve as a contact for client service, efficiently and proactively providing general support and answering client questions as they arise
• Route communications through the approval process internally and with clients, strategic partners and other stakeholders
• Attend and participate in client meetings in person and over the phone (unsupervised at times)
• Complete other account services tasks, as assigned by senior leadership

Public Relations

• Participate in creating PR/marketing plans and strategies for clients, offering creative ideas and tactics to achieve goals and objectives • Keep current with client industry news; regularly recommending research-based media pitch and press release ideas
• Play a primary role in media pitching (online, print and broadcast) and press release distribution, as part of a greater multi-faceted PR strategy that is overseen by senior leadership; assertive with pitching and placement
• Oversee media interviews and offer sources guidance, as directed by senior leadership
• Ensure media lists are accurate, effective and continually updated
• Foster and maintain relationships with journalists

Marketing Communications

• Draft various PR materials and marketing communications, including press releases, award entries, social media content, blogs, emails, brochures and sales kits
• Draft in-depth content as part of a content marketing strategy, which may include white papers, case studies, video scripts and articles
• Proofread a wide variety of PR and marketing communications

Social Media

• Carry out social media activities that are part of a greater strategy, as directed by senior leadership
• Collaborate with Social Media Strategist/Manager to ensure networks are managed, grown thoughtfully and relevant conversations are managed
• Develop timely and thoughtful social media content calendars
• Offer recommendations to improve engagement and reach new followers
• Forge relationships with relevant social media influencers and identify opportunities to engage clients

Benefits

• Flexible working location*
• Health insurance
• Reimbursement/fees covered for industry association memberships and events
• Environment and culture that supports physical and mental wellness

Orientation Marketing Values

• Quality: Critical thinking, resourcefulness and adhering to deadlines are the pillars of producing high-quality work
• Goals Oriented: A clear vision of how actions aligns to the client's brand and goals, and an eagerness to meet high standards for clients and position them ahead of their competitors
• Continuous Improvement: Our people should dedicate time to improving their skills and behaviours. We strive to deliver mature solutions to clients, and value building networks and connections with clients, in business-to-business media, and marketing services companies. We want you to continually seek out and strive to achieve best practice, including understanding and introducing new concepts and ways of working
• A positive, can-do attitude: In the face of both opportunities and challenges, proactivity, creativity, enthusiasm and resilience ensure the most successful outcomes.
• Balance: Maintain a healthy work/life balance that includes physical and mental wellness. A sense of fun is important. Be flexible, when necessary, to meet goals.