Account Manager - Sports PR

Hill+Knowlton Strategies; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A strategic communications firm in London is seeking an experienced individual to join their sports PR team. The role involves creative planning, media relations, and drafting PR toolkits. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in sports PR, excellent written communication skills, and a passion for social media trends related to sports. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with renowned brands while being part of a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in sports PR, especially football.
• Proven track record in media relations.
• Strong written skills adaptable for various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support creative planning and ideation sessions.
• Develop PR toolkits including press release and Q+A.
• Engage with UK sports journalists and media.

Skills

Media relations

Creative planning

Written communication

Client liaison

Social media knowledge

Job description

Hill & Knowlton is a strategic and creative partner to drive breakthrough opportunities for growth and value creation, advance corporate strategy, and build reputation capital and resiliency. We’re a proven partner for business and brand transformation. A full-service global firm, we provide strategic communication, marketing and corporate affairs solutions distinguished by intelligence and creativity. Hill & Knowlton is part of the Burson Group and WPP (NYSE : WPP), the creative transformation company.

About Burson

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 operates under WPP (NYSE : WPP), the creative transformation company. Learn more at www.bursonglobal.com.

OUR TEAM

We are trusted advisors to the industry’s highest profile sponsors and sports organisations, The Sport team has been behind some of the most talked about sponsorship activation and sports communication campaigns for more than a decade.

Work is fast paced, varied and challenging, as the team run busy press offices, devise, and implement major brand initiatives - both globally and locally - and activate social media programmes. The work done by the team takes a story-first approach rooted in PR but often breaks free from traditional barriers of what a PR campaign looks like, with our best-in-class campaigns requiring an understanding of what drives conversation across owned, earned, shared and paid channels. Some of our clients include, adidas, HSBC, SailGP and Gillette (& more!)

THE ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning

• Supporting team on creative planning.
• Input into ideation sessions.

Media

• Decent experience + understanding of media, pulling together media lists.
• Strong UK sport journalist relationships and media engagement expertise.
• Understanding of new media trends / platforms.

Toolkit

• Drafting of PR toolkits – including press release, Q+A, tech sheets, bios + quotes.
• Social media.
• Interest in and understanding of the variety of social media platforms for brand use.
• Understanding of new social media trends.

Account management

• Supporting team on day‑to‑day client liaison.
• Experience working on global brands, including supporting team on market liaison.
• Ownership of workback schedules / status updates agenda / meeting minutes.
• Coverage tracking and sharing with client.
• Strong written skills with adaptability for different audiences and styles (press releases / writing for social / writing to update clients etc).
• Cultural connection – closely following the topics and trends that engage Gen Z.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES

• Previous experience within Sports PR – ideally football specific
• A passion for, and strong track record in, creating written tools
• A passion for, and strong track record in, media relations (football media experience preferred) – and interest in the next generation of media publishers
• Detail orientated with ability to project manage
• Strong knowledge of the sports, culture, and lifestyle media landscape
• Excellent communications skills and strong written ability
• Strong multi-tasking and prioritising skills, with the ability to use initiative and be proactive
• Good knowledge of social media platforms, with first-hand experience of the core channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok)

OUR LONDON OFFICE

Burson employs over 300 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.

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