Account Director - Sustainability & Social Impact London, England, United Kingdom

Burson Group; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Account Director for their Sustainability and Social Impact team. This role involves serving as a trusted advisor to clients, managing client relationships, and driving impactful strategies. The ideal candidate will have strong client service skills, a deep understanding of sustainability issues, and the ability to lead diverse teams. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with a passionate team dedicated to making a positive impact on society and the environment. Join a dynamic workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and be part of a mission to inspire change.

Qualifications

• Strong client service skills with a focus on sustainability and social impact.
• Experience in strategic communications and developing successful client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on sustainability goals.
• Manage client relationships and ensure flawless execution of projects.
• Support new business growth and assist in proposal writing.

Skills

Client service

Strategic thinking

People development

Business development

Analytical techniques

Sustainability knowledge

ESG metrics understanding

Job description

Account Director - Sustainability & Social Impact

London, England, United Kingdom

Burson is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. Burson is part of WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. Learn more at www.bursonglobal.com.

WHAT MAKES US BURSON
The Sustainability and Social Impact team at Burson is a key area of growth for the company. We are a team of passionate and experienced consultants focused on challenging companies and brands to have a better impact on people and the planet. We work with a diverse range of clients across various industry sectors, supporting them on issues such as:

• Climate change and reducing environmental impact
• Sustainable consumption and the circular economy
• Sustainable supply chains
• Diversity and inclusion
• ESG performance evaluation and reporting
• Governance and the future of society

We collaborate closely with other sector teams within Burson to drive growth and manage risk and reputation for clients. In terms of role in the agency, the Sustainability and Social Impact team acts as:

• A team building capacity, to support understanding of sustainability and social issues across our UK business
• An advocate for change within our business

YOUR ROLE AS A BURSON PERSON.....

• Client service and consulting: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior clients, providing strategic advice, insights, guidance, and creative solutions to meet their sustainability and social impact goals.
• Account Direction: Manage day-to-day work with clients and ensure flawless execution of client work. Develop and nurture successful client relationships.
• People Development: Demonstrate exceptional people skills and the ability to work with, develop, and motivate diverse teams. Encourage collaborative working practices and a high-performance culture.
• Strategic Thinking: Translate strategy and strategic thinking into creative marketing and communications plans and action.
• Business Development: Support new business growth on existing client accounts and assist with new business development, writing proposals with support from senior colleagues.
• A strong track record of developing and nurturing successful client relationships and managing and growing a profitable portfolio of clients.
• A broad understanding of strategic communications and the application of different disciplines into campaigns that deliver real-world impact.
• An interest in developing different specialisms in sustainability and social impact. Ability to draw critical human and cultural insights from data and observation.
• Strong critical thinking skills and experience using analytical techniques to help clients better understand sustainability issues.
• Some understanding of the use and application of ESG metrics and frameworks to evaluate performance and experience supporting clients to implement ESG metrics to deliver change.
• Experience of creating and building partnerships and collaborations to tackle sustainability issues. Knowledge of individuals and institutions that are leading sustainability and contacts with key institutions is desirable.

OUR LONDON OFFICE
Burson employs over 450 people in the UK, and our stunning Southwark offices run over two floors as part of the larger WPP Campus, Rose Court. We have access to a beautiful roof terrace with panoramic views across London and a bar/restaurant area, which is a great spot for client meetings and socialising with the wider agency and other WPP OpCo’s.

DE&I At Burson, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just values; they are strategic imperatives that fuel our future in an industry built on the art of understanding, connecting, and developing relationships. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue and cultivating meaningful experiences that drive innovation and creativity. It also enables our agency to thrive and deliver brilliant work. For more information, visit www.bursonglobal.com.