Senior Account Manager/Director | Integrated Communications Agency

The Shortlist.; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shortlist. is seeking a Senior Manager or Director for its Malaysia team to provide senior counsel, elevate accounts, and shape client relationships over the long term.

The role involves coaching a 20-person team and driving strategic, integrated PR work for a diverse portfolio across B2B tech, corporate, and consumer clients. You will bring sharp thinking, a track record in Malaysia’s PR scene, and a collaborative leadership style to help the team win new business while delivering

Qualifications

• Significant recent PR agency experience in Malaysia.
• Proven track record of leading integrated PR accounts.
• Ability to advise C-suite and senior leadership.
• Experience leading and developing a 20-person team.
• Collaborative, low-ego leadership style with mentoring skills.
• Experience in both established agencies and fast-paced entrepreneurial environments.
• Business development experience is a strong advantage.
• Based in Malaysia with deep market knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Elevate accounts strategically and provide senior counsel.
• Develop and lead on integrated PR strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
• Coach and develop the Malaysia team to move up the value chain.
• Contribute to new business development and client growth.
• Lead and mentor a 20-person team across PR-led accounts.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Senior client counselling

People management

Business development

Team leadership

Job description

We're an independent PR and communications agency with over a decade of experience delivering real business results without the fluff. Now a regional player with offices across SEA, they work across PR, content, branding, and social for a portfolio spanning B2B tech, corporate, and consumer names.

The Malaysia team of around 20 is capable and delivery-strong, with a strong senior structure. What's needed now is someone who can elevate accounts strategically, not just deliver against them: senior client counsel, sharper thinking, and the ability to coach a team that's already good at execution.

They're looking for a Senior Manager or Director to join the Malaysia team on a permanent basis, stepping into a senior counsel role with real influence over how the team grows.

What you'll be doing

You'll be the person clients turn to for strategic thinking, not just delivery: elevating an account rather than simply running it, and bringing the kind of senior counsel that shapes a client relationship over the long term. Ideally you'll also bring business development capability, helping the team win as well as deliver.

You'll coach and develop an existing team that's strong on execution but needs support moving up the value chain, working across PR-led accounts with scope into broader integrated comms. B2B tech or corporate experience is a strong plus, as is a mix of agency and entrepreneurial or start-up experience.

And who are you?

We're looking for a Senior Account Manager / Associate Director who meets all of the following criteria:

• Significant recent PR agency experience in Malaysia. This is not an in-house or corporate communications role.
• A proven track record of leading integrated PR accounts and developing communications strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes for clients.
• Strong senior client counselling experience, with the confidence to advise C-suite and senior leadership stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing teams. This role will help lead a 20-person PR agency, so previous people management and agency leadership experience is essential.
• A collaborative, low-ego leadership style. We're looking for someone who is open to feedback, comfortable giving feedback, and enjoys mentoring and growing a team.
• Experience working in both established agencies and fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments is highly valued.
• Business development experience is a strong advantage. We're looking for someone who can contribute to winning new clients and growing the agency, not just managing existing accounts.
• Candidates must be based in Malaysia and have significant experience working in the Malaysian market.