Senior Pr Account Executive

Publicis Groupe; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A global communications agency in Cape Town is looking for a PR Account Executive to manage media relations and deliver high-quality reporting. The role requires excellent writing skills, initiative, and 3 years of experience in a PR agency, preferably with corporate clients. You'll have opportunities to grow your skills and contribute creatively within a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• 3 years in a PR agency with corporate brand experience.
• Strong skills in media relations and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage media relations and ensure timely client coverage updates.
• Develop and maintain media lists and relationships.
• Write media pitches, releases, and content beyond emails.

Skills

Media relations

Writing

Creativity

Project management

Research skills

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary Qualification in Public Relations

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

As a PR Account Executive at MSL, you are a media relations expert, seamlessly managing media relationships and all interviews. You ensure the reporting process is slick – making sure your manager receives accurate, quality reports on time, and that clients receive regular, accurate coverage updates. You have good relationships with your clients and media, and frequently write quality, media‑ready content beyond media pitches.

Client services

Client knowledge: Continuously 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 an ability to manage their expectations. Creativity: Confidently contribute own ideas to planning or brainstorming meetings, and encourage same in Intern / AA / AE. Agency operations: Coverage: With Intern / AA / AE, take ownership of daily coverage tracking for reports and timely client coverage updates. Reporting: Ensure quality, timely monthly reports are delivered to clients. Timesheets: Demonstrate effective time recording and reporting (daily, accurate data logged on Chase, as per Groupe deadlines).

The MSL Way

Know and live MSL's company values in all professional interactions and work, and encourage same in Intern / AA / AE (if applicable).

Know the agency and Publicis Groupe Africa (PGA)

Demonstrate familiarity with both MSL and PGA's organisational structures and offerings.

People development

Grow your supervisory skills by coaching and assisting graduates / Interns / AAs. Assist your fellow AEs with skill development and peer‑to‑peer mentorship.

Additional Information

Taking initiative: Demonstrate consistent, proactive, positive contribution at all times, as well as a self‑starter approach to your work. Proactive upskilling: Display a good 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. Communication skills: Demonstrate excellent face‑to‑face, telephonic and email etiquette (internal and external), and encourage this with your team's Intern / AA / AE (if applicable).

Time management

Effectively use and manage your own time to meet deadlines and help Intern / AA / AE (if applicable) to manage their time. Prioritisation: Demonstrate an excellent ability to prioritise tasks and apply urgency where needed. Detail‑oriented: Execute unwavering attention to detail in all aspects, including documents, presentations, emails and all other communiques, and encourage such attention to detail with your team's Intern / AA / AE (if applicable).

Quality

Consistently deliver quality work to professional, MSL standards, quality check‑in. Intern / AA / AE work before it is sent to your manager / client. 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. Respect: Acknowledge and respond to instructions from senior staff as soon as possible (email, instant message or spoken).

Profile

Manage and build your own profile within your team and the broader agency.

REQUIREMENTS

Responsibilities

Media lists: Take responsibility for work with Intern / AA / AE (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.

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, write and pitch relevant story angles to targeted media, displaying creativity and an understanding of newsworthiness.

Writing: Regularly write basic media pitches, releases and content, beyond email communication.

Research: Demonstrate effective research skills, and assimilation and presentation of information.

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.

Project management skills: Assist AM / SAM with taking responsibility for specific projects from start‑to‑finish.

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.

Qualifications

Tertiary Qualification in Public Relations. 3 Years in a PR Agency. Ad Agency experience is advantageous. Corporate brand experience beneficial. Based in CT. Corporate and/or financial services experience. Strong media relations. Strong reporting capabilities (Excel and PPT competent). Good communication skills (written and speech). Good organisational skills (timelines / deadlines / reporting / feedback loops).