Account Director

Who are we? J/PR is a global communications firm specialising in public relations, content creation, and social media. We work with some of the best hotels, resorts and destinations in the world. You can see our current client list here. Being a part of this international powerhouse agency will connect you to a roster of distinguished hotels, resorts, restaurants, real estate projects, and destinations across the globe, elevating your career (and your frequent flier status). We tell compelling original stories to connect brands to their target audiences. We’re passionate, professional, and purpose‑driven. We're dedicated to our work, the agency, our clients, and each other. Forbes said “These are the Women Dictating Where You’re Traveling,” and Inc. Magazine featured J/PR in an article titled, “How Two Millennial‑ish Women Built a PR Powerhouse.” This is in addition to numerous awards like PR News Best Places to Work, New York Observer PR Power 5 for five years in a row, The PR Net 100, Forbes Five Star Agency, PR Couture Spotlight Agency of the Year, and Crain’s Best Places to Work (to name a few). At J/PR, we’re incredibly intentional about our company culture, and we wholeheartedly believe in a work‑life blend, where you'll be empowered to continue learning and growing through travel, mentorship, training, and retreats, along with a connected company culture. Who are you? Creative, collaborative, connected. You manage and oversee accounts and teams with dedication, strategy, and drive. You strive to be your best and help others be their best, and your motivation and passion for the industry help you mentor the next generation. You’re driven, dedicated, strategic, and solution‑oriented. Business‑minded and creative, you have proven experience developing and implementing successful campaigns for travel, hospitality, and lifestyle brands, both big and small. You bring a time‑tested roster of travel and lifestyle media and influencer relationships. If this sounds like you, then please read on! The Role As an Account Director, Public Relations you are running accounts autonomously, driving the overarching account strategy while making sure the team is set up for success and understands their roles and responsibilities. You’re the main client contact for more nuanced conversations related to the team and the work, and you drive the strategy and deliverables making sure there are results and movement each quarter. At this stage in your career, you are guiding your team to get hits by helping to identify the right media and outlets for a story to live and offering feedback and coaching along the way. You also use your close media contacts to get big A‑list placements when warranted by the client. Duties and Responsibilities Account + Client Management You play a significant role in client retention and relations. Lead through significant agency engagement by: Develop and lead overarching account strategies aligned with clients’ business goals, ensuring programs deliver measurable ROI and target agreed‑upon KPIs, while acting as a trusted partner providing expert guidance and leading strategic conversations. Design and lead standout PR campaigns (e.g., crises, renovations, hotel openings) as well as activations, partnerships, and programming with strategic oversight and clear client communication while driving meaningful results and long‑term brand impact. Demonstrate positive leadership with both clients and internal teams by providing strategic insight, industry knowledge, and clear direction. Oversee scopes of work and guide teams to deliver impactful work aligned with clients’ revenue and business objectives. Monitor team activity, budgets, and account performance to ensure work remains within scope and maintains high client satisfaction. Identify opportunities for additional projects or expanded scopes that deliver value to the client while growing the account. Review performance metrics and time tracking reports and adjust strategy, resourcing, or priorities as needed. Lead conversations around contract renewals and proactively address evolving client needs or scope changes. Step in across initiatives—large or small—to support client success and reinforce a strong partnership and servant leadership for account teams. Nurture client accounts using proven strategies to drive year‑over‑year renewals while maintaining client attrition below 12% annually. Attending client networking and industry events, which may occasionally be outside daytime working hours. Traveling for clients as necessary. Media Relations Nurture your network of editors, writers, and freelance connections for agency clients, as well as create new relationships, through ongoing introductions, targeted pitches, and a minimum of two (2) meetings (phone, virtual, or in‑person) each month. Continue to be a trusted source of media knowledge for your teams, while landing top tier placements. Success is your team members getting those hits and hitting campaign mark, and you playing a role as needed. Create and contribute big‑thinking pitches that land in bigger and bigger features, multi‑page spreads in magazines, and in meaningful unexpected sections. Guide your teams to proper media who will execute KPI story ideas. Remain relevant, and always navigate the changing turns of the media industry. New Business You play a role in agency growth and business development. As such, responsibilities include: Leading or supporting the creation of new business decks and case study development. Traveling to participate in new business pitches as needed, which may include overnight and weekend travel. Build and maintain an industry network that generates new business leads, sourcing 1‑3 commissionable opportunities annually. Provide thought leadership and ideation for new business proposals. Attend new business meetings and presentations as the voice and face of account leadership. Develop a specialty area at the agency (i.e. regional specialty, meetings/groups, wellness, uber‑luxury, culinary, family) – be the agency go‑to and tastemaker in the space; positioning our brand in the space. Attend conferences and events on behalf of J/PR and build and grow your and the agency’s network. Team Leadership Leading team / giving expert counsel for team and client, making sure everyone's set up for success, serving as a visible and trusted leader within the office, contributing to a positive and collaborative agency culture. Lead at least two (2) trainings annually for team members, whether agency‑wide or office‑wide. Deliver 2‑3 internal presentations, training moments or case studies per year to share insights, best practices, client wins, to help support the agency, your teams and new business efforts. Manage up to four (4) direct report(s), providing leadership, guidance, feedback and coaching to direct report(s) and account teams both in person and remotely, and making recommendations for staff promotions. Attending workshops, media events, webinars, and conferences on behalf of the Agency and its clients which may include weekend travel. Mentor and guide team members as they grow in their careers, providing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities. Foster a motivated, engaged, and positive team environment that supports strong performance and collaboration. Support team retention by creating opportunities for professional growth, skill development, and advancement. J/PR / Industry Impact Contribute to agency growth through participation in account staffing and resourcing conversations. Develop and implement efficient processes, training, and systems that strengthen team performance, leading at least two educational workshops annually to support internal learning and development. Lead agency initiatives, workshops, and trainings, and help cultivate meaningful media and industry relationships. Champion and promote the J/PR culture across teams and within the broader industry. Stay informed on industry trends and continuously expand expertise in hospitality, media, and client business sectors. Represent the agency at conferences, workshops, and industry events. Other And other tasks, projects, or duties as required. Experience College Degree or comparable experience required. At least 10+ years of public relations experience in hospitality, working with top luxury clients. Agency or in‑house experience is a plus. Requirements Creative and strategic thinker with a proven track record of identifying and resolving problems in a timely manner. Able to act tactically while keeping long‑term objectives in mind. Skilled at managing time‑sensitive projects, prioritizing multiple objectives, and driving initiatives to completion with minimal guidance. Attention to detail and ability to work independently in a fast‑paced environment. Strong leadership, coaching, and management skills. High‑energy, positive self‑starter willing to go above and beyond to make a difference. Stellar client references and proven ability to maintain and grow client relationships. Strong, established relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts. Ability to travel for client needs as required, must have a valid passport for international travel. Advanced proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office in a Mac OS environment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills. Benefits Competitive base salary: $100,000 ‑ $120,000, commensurate with experience. Commission opportunities. Eligibility for year‑end discretionary bonus. Monthly Cell Phone Stipend. Company‑sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance. 401K with employer match. Accrued PTO. Birthday PTO. Flexible Release Fridays. Hotel trade with our world‑class clients (complimentary stays across our entire portfolio). Hybrid office schedule (2‑3 days in office), Fridays remote. Corporate ClassPass discounts. Pet insurance discounts. Milestone gifts at 1, 5, and 10 years. Annual holiday and summer parties, plus regular socials. Ongoing training and development opportunities. Applicants for employment must possess work authorization for the country in which they are applying, which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY J Public Relations (J/PR) and 20Two Studio (Studio) strongly support equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. HIRING PRACTICES The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. J/PR and Studio recruitment policies are designed to place the most highly qualified persons available in a timely and efficient manner. J/PR and Studio may pursue all avenues available, including promotion from within, employee referrals, outside advertising, employment agencies, Internet recruiting, job fairs, college recruiting, and search firms. #J-18808-Ljbffr