PR Account Executive

Publicis Groupe Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading marketing agency in Cape Town is looking for an Account Executive to develop media relationships and manage client expectations effectively. The role involves maintaining quality reporting processes, contributing creative ideas in planning meetings, and mentoring interns. Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong media relations skills, excellent attention to detail, and a proactive approach to learning. This position provides an exciting opportunity to grow within a vibrant team environment.

Qualifications

• Proven media relations skills with a strong understanding of the South African media landscape.
• Ability to write compelling media pitches and releases.
• Strong project management skills to oversee specific projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage media relationships and ensure timely reporting to clients.
• Contribute to brainstorming and planning sessions with creative ideas.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to interns or junior staff.

Skills

Media relations

Pitching skills

Computer skills

Research

Writing

Project management skills

Client knowledge

Client relations

Creativity

Coverage tracking

Reporting

Attention to detail

Upskilling

Profile management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Overview

As an Account Executive at MSL, you are becoming a media relations expert, working to seamlessly manage media relationships and interviews. You own the reporting process and ensure your manager receives accurate, quality reports on time, and that clients receive regular, accurate coverage updates. You are starting to build good relationships with your clients, and write quality content beyond media pitches and emails. In addition, you provide guidance to your team’s Intern/AA (if applicable).

Responsibilities

• Media relations: Display an excellent knowledge of the South African media landscape (and an interest in the broader African media landscape), develop solid media relationships, and own the effective running of your team’s entire media relations process.
• Pitching skills: Demonstrate an ability to effectively identify angles, write and pitch relevant stories to targeted media, displaying creativity and an understanding of newsworthiness in the process.
• Media lists: Work with Intern/AA (if applicable) to ensure media lists are regularly updated, inform the broader agency of media changes, compile tailored media lists per client content piece, and keep master client media lists updated.
• MSL Newsdesk: Participate in daily newsdesk/media meetings and write up relevant news and angles in email format to share with clients (with your AD’s/AM’s approval); take notes in Newsroom meeting if asked.
• Computer skills: Strong proficiency in all Microsoft Office packages including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (or other company-preferred applications), taking Marcel Classes to become an advanced user of these programmes.
• Research: Demonstrate effective research skills, assimilation and presentation of information.
• Writing: Start to develop media pitch and release writing skills, beyond email communication.
• Project management skills: Build ability to take responsibility for specific projects from start-to-finish (if required).
• Client knowledge: Demonstrate constant efforts to grow your understanding of clients’ business and knowledge of competitors, for effective idea generation.
• Client relations: Demonstrate and build on personalised, friendly rapports with clients, and show a growing ability to manage their expectations.
• Creativity: Confidently contribute own ideas to planning or brainstorm meetings.
• Coverage: With Intern/AA, take ownership of daily coverage tracking for reports and timely client coverage updates.
• Reporting: Ensure quality, timeous monthly reports are delivered to clients.
• Timesheets: Demonstrate effective time recording and reporting (daily, accurate data logged on Chase, as per Groupe deadlines).
• Respect: Acknowledge and respond to instructions from senior staff as soon as possible (email, instant message or spoken).
• Know the agency and Publicis Groupe Africa (PGA): Demonstrate familiarity with both MSL and PGA’s organisational structures and offerings.
• People development:
  • Begin to build supervisory skills by coaching and assisting graduates/interns/AA (if applicable).
  • Assist your fellow AEs with skill development and peer-to-peer mentorship.

Qualifications

• Quality: Consistently deliver quality work to professional, MSL standards.
• Detail‑orientated: Execute unwavering attention to detail in all aspects, including documents, presentations, emails and all other communiques.
• Proactive upskilling: Display a basic understanding of content for all clients (even beyond your portfolio) and clients’ industries, staying abreast of the broader news environment and spotting opportunities for media conversation building.
• Proactive learning: Regularly make use of the Marcel Classes portal (and other internal training sessions) to upskill yourself, taking initiative and responsibility for your learning journey.
• Profile: Manage and build your own profile within your team and the broader agency.