Public Relations Account Director

About the Job

Stanton Communications, an award-winning, independent public relations and public affairs agency, is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking senior professional to join our team. With decades of blending serious strategic thinking with client service excellence, we support some of the world’s most successful corporations, industry associations, and non-profits from our offices steps from the White House.

This full-time hybrid role is designed for a strategic, high-energy professional who thrives on elevating corporate visibility and executing strategic earned media campaigns, while actively embracing the future of the profession. We are looking for a manager-level practitioner who can spearhead sophisticated earned media campaigns and thought leadership strategies, while confidently navigating and implementing emerging AI technologies to optimize PR workflow, insights, and campaign analysis. Someone who truly understands integrated communications.

The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $125,000 commensurate with experience. 

What You’ll Do

• Drive Media Relations & Corporate Visibility: Develop and execute impactful, national, and trade media relations strategies that secure top-tier placements, advance client reputations, and elevate executive thought leadership.
• Lead Account Management: Serve as a trusted daily advisor to mid-to-large-scale corporate and association clients, ensuring strategic alignment, swift response times, and exceptional program execution.
• Integrate Emerging AI Tech: Act as a champion for innovation by assessing, piloting, and ethically implementing emerging AI tools into media tracking, predictive trend analysis, content optimization, and performance reporting to augment human strategy.
• Craft Substantive Content: Write and edit high-level communication assets, including messaging architectures, press materials, op-eds, pitches, and crisis response plans.
• Mentor & Collaborate: Work closely with senior agency leadership while guiding, mentoring, and developing junior staff members in media pitching and data-driven storytelling.
• Support Our Growth: Contribute to new business proposals and pitches, bringing fresh ideas, creative angles, and technological insights to potential client campaigns.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in public relations, corporate communications, or public affairs, preferably within an agency environment.
• Media Savvy: A proven track record of building relationships with national business, tech, and trade media, with a portfolio of substantive earned media successes.
• AI & Tech Literacy: Foundational, practical experience utilizing emerging AI technologies (e.g., generative AI tools for research/brainstorming, AI-driven media monitoring platforms, predictive analytics) paired with a strong understanding of the ethical considerations surrounding AI in communications.
• Strategic Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; a professional who prioritizes deep listening, critical thinking, and intellectual agility over cookie-cutter outreach.
• Adaptability: A collaborative teammate who embraces our culture of independence, mutual respect, and client service excellence.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.

Why Stanton Communications?

• True Independence: We are wholly dedicated to serving our clients, not external shareholders or parent companies, allowing us to put creativity and people first.
• Award-Winning Culture: Consistently recognized as an Agency Elite Top 100 firm and a Best Place to Work by the  Washington Business Journal .
• Professional Growth: Direct collaboration with senior leadership, high-profile clients, and an environment that encourages you to lead initiatives and shape the technological future of our agency.
• Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive healthcare, 401(k) matching, generous PTO, and a flexible hybrid work schedule.