Account Director, Client Experience

Weber Shandwick; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Weber Shandwick in Chicago is seeking a seasoned Account Director to lead integrated communications and earned media programs for corporate, advocacy, and public sector clients. This role sits on our Corporate team, delivering trusted counsel and high‑impact campaigns in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in PR, strong media relations, and a proven ability to guide senior leaders. Based in Chicago on a hybrid schedule, you’ll lead cross-functional teams and shape stories

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in communications and PR
• Experience leading integrated projects across disciplines
• Strong earned media strategy and media relations experience
• Experience providing counsel to senior leaders
• Bachelor’s degree required

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute integrated communications strategies in partnership with agency and client teams
• Counsel and interact effectively with clients and leaders at client organizations
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with top-tier media across business, national/local broadcast, multicultural and lifestyle verticals
• Stay immersed in the media and cultural landscape and emerging issues
• Approach client work with curiosity and understand the brand, competitors and industry context
• Craft compelling, newsworthy stories that drive earned coverage
• Develop strategic, earned-first plans and write pitches, press releases and messaging documents
• Deliver high-caliber work with a client-first mindset and attention to detail
• Collaborate with agency and inter-agency partners to drive alignment on large-scale campaigns
• Mentor and develop junior team members through hands-on guidance
• Cultivate and participate in new business opportunities and pitches

Skills

Earned media strategy

Media relations

Counsel senior leaders

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Agency

Weber Shandwick

Job Function

Communications and PR

Job Subfunction

Public Relations

Job Description

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations. Weber Shandwick is seeking a curious, creative, and media-savvy Account Director to join our team in Chicago. This role is part of our Corporate team, a unit delivering trusted, agile C‑suite counsel by blending communications expertise with cultural insights to accelerate stakeholder and organizational value. This role will focus on executing communications, reputation and earned media strategies for corporate, advocacy and public sector clients at the intersection of business, policy, media and culture. The ideal candidate is a seasoned media strategist who understands the complexity of today’s business world and has a passion for creating communications strategies that make a real‑world impact. They bring a proven track record of delivering effective integrated media campaigns and experience thriving on high‑performing teams in a fast‑paced environment. Candidates should have experience working with corporations across multiple sectors – experience in retail, technology, financial services, consumer lifestyle and healthcare sectors is particularly relevant. This position will be based in our Chicago office on a hybrid schedule.

About You

You live for a great story and have the strategic savvy to shape and deliver stories to multiple audiences across media platforms. With deep knowledge of top‑tier business and lifestyle outlets, you know how to get stories placed – and noticed. You move seamlessly between legacy media and emerging platforms like Substack, podcasts, and content creators. Fluent in internet culture and always ahead of the trends, you know what’s hot, what’s next, and how to help organizations break through. You’re a strategic thinker who thrives in fast‑paced environments and knows how to manage multi‑faced, integrated campaigns without missing a beat. You bring structure to ambiguity, all while juggling deadlines, media moments, and client needs with calm confidence. You’re immersed in media and culture and know how to turn insights into earned impact. A creative storyteller and collaborative partner, you bring curiosity, originality, and drive to everything you do. Ready to drive high‑impact communications? Let’s talk.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute integrated communications strategies in partnership with agency and client teams
• Counsel and interact effectively with clients and leaders at client organizations
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with top‑tier media across business, national/local broadcast, multicultural and lifestyle verticals
• Immersed in the media and cultural landscape, as well as emerging issues that may impact clients directly or indirectly
• Approach client work with curiosity – always seeking to understand the brand, its competitors, and the broader industry context
• Proactively and reactively craft compelling, newsworthy stories that drive earned coverage
• Develop strategic, earned‑first plans and write high‑quality media materials, including pitches, press releases, and messaging documents
• Deliver consistently high‑caliber work with a client‑first mindset and sharp attention to detail
• Collaborate with agency and inter‑agency partners, serving as a key contributor across teams to drive alignment and deliver cohesive, large‑scale campaign work
• Mentor and develop junior team members through hands‑on guidance, feedback, and professional development
• Cultivate and participate in new business opportunities and pitches

Competencies

• Business Acumen – accelerate work to meet client and agency objectives
• Client Service – build trust and deliver results across engagements
• Proactivity – exhibit relentless pursuit for new and innovative ideas
• Collaboration – build strong, high‑impact relationships that deliver results
• Critical Thinking – ask probing questions; anticipate and address gaps and needs
• Conflict Resolution – possess sound judgment and savvy in navigating and resolving issues
• Future‑Forward – curious and engaged in AI as a tool to enhance work and impact

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience
• Experience leading integrated projects from start to finish, working with teams across various disciplines
• Robust earned strategy and media relations experience
• Experience providing counsel to senior leaders
• Bachelor’s degree

Salary Range

$95,000 USD – $125,000 USD

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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