About Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton is the global strategic communications leader for transformation. We help brands, businesses and leaders build reputation, manage risk, and create breakthrough opportunities for growth. Founded in 1927, today’s Hill & Knowlton operates 70 offices in over 30 countries, providing advisory, public relations and creative solutions to local and global clients. Our global team offers integrated strategic services, grounded in deep sector expertise, and enabled by creativity and intelligence. Headquartered in New York, Hill & Knowlton is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.
About the Role
As a Director, you are a highly skilled Communications Professional with proven track record in securing and retaining new business and leading client accounts and internal teams. You are a trusted leader with prior account leadership roles on large client remits and possess the strategic skills required to be a successful public relations consultant with experience in leading teams.
You will ensure that client satisfaction is maintained by serving as the overall client relationship lead, responsible for developing plans for multiple accounts and seeing that these plans are executed. You will independently manage multiple staff members and can analyse and problem-solve issues for clients and your team members. In addition, you will take an active role in business development, including but not limited to responding to RFPs and participating in new business pitches. As part of the Singapore leadership team, you will also be expected to deliver our company objectives and proactively take an interest in our business
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
New Business Development (New Clients/Organic Growth)
- Work closely with the CEO to identify growth areas and expand business for Singapore in all aspects of Communications, not limited to PR.
- Actively develop and secure leads for new business from different avenues (personal network and H&K Global network leads) with the support of internal teams such as Business Development and the Innovation + Creativity Hub.
- Lead business development pitches, assemble pitch teams, strategize for proposals and presentations by working with different internal teams such as Business Development and the Innovation + Creative Hub.
- Grow existing client relationships as appropriate and lead the organic growth and diversification of existing client businesses.
Commercial Acumen and Strategic Thinking
- Support the CEO in managing P&L responsiblity of up to multimillion dollar in annual revenue.
- Understand how purpose-driven communication drives brand connection and trust among organisations, their leaders, and their stakeholders.
- Provide senior counsel to crises, business challenges, and opportunities that clients are looking to solve.
- Responsible for team members’ utilization and resource allocation/management.
- Play a pivotal role and contribute to H&K Singapore’s business planning activities.
Client Servicing
- Overall team management and planning, client day-to-day management and successful financial management of client accounts.
- Shape strategy, development, and execution of PR programs for clients.
- Demonstrated track record and success in nurturing, growing, and sustaining client relationships.
- Ability to undertake and enact change within client organizations, identify gaps in accounts and work with teams to implement solutions.
- Proactively engage clients in dialogue about business and economic issues.
People Development
- Ensure team members are cross trained, participate actively in H&K’s Performance Management Process to support the professional development of the teams.
- Ability to act as a sounding board, mentor, and motivator to the teams, and contribute to employee retention and development.
- Oversee resource allocation across teams.
- Partner closely with the People + Culture team and CEO to manage any hiring requirements, career development discussions and employee relations issues, and work towards developing high-performing teams and a positive work environment.
Requirements:
- Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or related fields
- At least 10+ years of working experience in PR (minimum 7 years of agency experience and managing/mentoring Junior levels)
- Experience in managing relationships with clients, internal stakeholders, media, consultants.
- Proven ability to identify client issues or risks and react quickly/ appropriately to resolve them.
- Possesses grit and tenacity to go after new business leads, secure new businesses, and proven ability to mentor teams.
