Assistant Account Executive, Burson Global Marketing & Communications

bursonglobalcareers; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Burson, part of WPP, is seeking an Assistant Account Executive to join our Global Marketing & Communications team in Chicago. This early-career role supports senior leaders and collaborates across creative, digital, operations, disciplines and markets to deliver integrated programs that advance Burson's brand and client work.

You'll assist with external communications, media management and events, helping to translate messages for different audiences, draft content, track trends and support

Qualifications

• Early-career communicator eager to help develop a brand from the inside out.
• Ability to draft and edit content packages for earned media.

Responsibilities

• External Communications: draft content, tailor messaging for audiences across markets, review materials to align with brand voice, propose ideas and manage multiple workstreams.
• Media Management: assist with AI-enabled monitoring tools, track coverage, surface narratives, build journalist/beats maps, draft pitches and coordinate follow-ups.
• Events and External Marketing: coordinate events, manage timelines and guest lists, support campaigns from conception to launch, liaise with cross-functional teams to ensure delivery.

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.

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:

Fresh off being named PR Agency of the Year at the 2026 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity - yes, we're still enjoying saying that - Burson is looking for an Assistant Account Executive to join our Global Marketing & Communications team.

What you'll do:

This role is ideal for a curious, driven self-starter, with a creative spirit and attention to detail; an early career communicator who is eager to help develop a brand from the inside out. You'll work closely with senior leaders - including the EVP, External Marketing; Global Head of Communications; and Global Chief Brand and Corporate Strategy Officer - and collaborate with colleagues across creative, digital, operations, disciplines and markets. Much like Burson builds reputation at scale for its global client partners, this role is focused on helping to develop and deliver integrated programs that advance Burson's strategic priorities and strengthen its own brand reputation.

External Communications

• Track category trends to sharpen our communications strategies, messaging, content development and outreach.
• Draft and edit content packages that support all of our earned efforts - from press releases and pitches to bylines and presentations.
• Translate one message into many, tailoring content and messaging for different audiences, channels and markets without losing the thread to Burson's brand voice.
• Review local market, practice group and Burson Group brand materials to ensure they align with Burson's brand voice, tone and messaging guidelines.
• Show up with ideas, news angles and relevant industry perspectives.
• Keep multiple workstreams moving at once.

Media Management

• Help design and shape how AI transforms our communications workflows and infrastructure, serving as an early adopter and proof point for Burson's innovation tools and services across media intelligence, outreach and reporting.
• Use real-time media intelligence and AI-supported monitoring tools to flag coverage, surface emerging narratives and identify story opportunities as they happen.
• Build and maintain a living map of journalists, publications, podcasts, newsletters and emerging channels, tracking beats and interests to sharpen where and how we pitch.
• Draft and execute targeted pitches, coordinate follow-up and track outcomes.
• Partner with social and owned-channel colleagues to extend the life of earned coverage - turning placements into content that performs across platforms and formats.
• Keep a daily pulse on the industry, including competitor coverage, Burson's earned media and the broader conversation. Flag trends, risks and opportunities for the team.
• Turn outreach and coverage data into insight by tracking results, distilling takeaways and using what you learn to sharpen future strategy. "It felt like a good week" is a mood, not a measurement framework.

Events and External Marketing

• Partner with cross-functional teams to plan and deliver events and external marketing activations aligned with Burson's broader brand and communications strategy.
• Develop event timelines, project plans, guest lists, invitations, agendas, speaker materials, briefing documents and other logistical deliverables.
• Support thought leadership and practice marketing campaigns from conception through launch, coordinating with stakeholders across the organization to keep materials, timelines and deliverables on track.
• Coordinate with creative, digital, operations, regional teams, external vendors and partners to help ensure event materials and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.