Account Manager / Senior Account Manager - Brands (Public Relations)

Burson; Gurugram District; Hybrid; INR 3,000,000 - 5,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Burson in Gurugram, India, is seeking a Public Relations Manager / Senior Manager – Brands to join our Brands, Sports & Entertainment practice. You will support client activities, mentor juniors, and drive integrated campaigns that shape reputation and growth.

You will guide client relationships, craft media strategies, and leverage AI for planning and ideation while collaborating across sectors like FMCG, lifestyle, and hospitality. Hybrid office model included.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of work experience in public relations or communications.
• At least 1 year in a leadership role.
• Experience managing clients across FMCG, F&B, lifestyle, hospitality, travel and related sectors.
• Familiarity with generative AI tools used in communications.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day client activities and guide junior team members.
• Support senior leaders in client issue resolution and strategic counseling.
• Develop media strategies, write pitches, and respond to media queries.
• Build strong journalist relationships and oversee integrated communications programs.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Client service mindset

Generative AI familiarity

Education

Postgraduate degree in PR or marketing communications

Job description

Who We Are

Burson, part of WPP, 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. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

Who We Are

Burson, part of WPP, 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. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation. WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company –powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More About The Role

Burson is looking for a Public Relations Manager / Senior Manager – Brands to join our Gurugram office. The role will be part of our Brands, Sports & Entertainment practice, a team of specialised communications professionals delivering integrated campaigns across FMCG, lifestyle and luxury, hospitality, F&B, retail, entertainment, and sports. The team works at the intersection of brands, culture, and communications - building and strengthening brands through impactful storytelling and integrated campaigns that enhance reputation, shape culture, and influence consumer behaviour. As a Public Relations Manager, you are expected to support day-to-day client activities and provide guidance to junior team members through ongoing counsel and effective delegation. You will contribute to Burson’s performance by managing client relationships and integrated communication (IC) programs, satisfying, and delighting clients, helping, generate new business and growing existing accounts. You are required to support our corporate strategy and your practice or office to help ensure superior client service, a winning culture and profitability.

What You’ll Do

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Service

• Stay current on your clients’ businesses, industries and competitors and use your knowledge to develop comprehensive, strategic, and integrated communications programs that complement the client’s business objectives and deliver results.
• Act as a day-to-day client leader and maintain a clear and consistent communication channel between the client and the account team.
• Be actively involved and oversee quality implementation for one or a group of accounts within time and budget constraints.
• Manage client relationships and be the client’s key contact, counselor, and strategic thinker.
• Timely Decision Making – The ability to identify a problem and find solutions. Make decisions in a timely manner, using available information and under tight deadlines.
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills including development of various types of materials such as Q&A, key messages, holding statements, press release etc.
• Be able to support the senior managers and leaders in resolving client issues.
• Maintain a strong rapport with journalists/bloggers/media members who cover your clients’ industries and businesses to optimize channels.
• Help develop media strategies, write pitch letters, and respond to media queries.
• Stay updated on social media channels, trends and analytical tools and make recommendations to strengthen our capabilities.
• Support the digital media strategy implementation.
• Stay updated on social media trends and build relationships with key influencers and community contacts to optimize channels.
• You must possess a strong familiarity with how Generative AI tools are used across communications programmes, especially in planning, research, ideation, content creation, and daily operations to drive relevance and efficiency.

Business Development

• Support the Directors and other senior leaders to identify new business opportunities within existing and potential clients.
• Be proactive during new business brainstorms and take ownership of portions of new business proposals under the guidance of Directors and senior leaders.

Experience That Contributes To Success

• Postgraduate degree in any discipline, or a professional qualification in public relations or marketing communications.
• Minimum 4+ years of work experience in public relations or the communications industry. with at least one year leading a team.
• Prior experience of managing clients across FMCG, Food & Beverage, Lifestyle, Hospitality, Travel, and related sectors is must.
• You must possess a strong familiarity with how Generative AI tools are used across communications programmes, especially in planning, research, ideation and daily operations to drive relevance and efficiency.

You Belong At Burson

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading “academy company” for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.