Public Affairs Senior Account Executive

Location: London

Working Pattern: Full time, hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 days flexible) 

About the role

Grayling is looking to recruit a Senior Account Executive to join our award-winning public affairs practice, where you’ll have the opportunity to work on a number of flagship client accounts, including for some of the country’s most recognisable organisations (a full list of our clients can be found on the Public Affairs Board Register). Our client base covers a broad range of sectors including transport, energy, food & drink and technology.  Grayling has a prestigious public affairs practice and this year won the PRCA Consultancy Campaign of the Year for the work with Stena Line on delivering a new freeport for Anglesey.

As a Senior Account Executive, you will have already developed a strong grasp of the political landscape with an in-depth understanding of parliamentary process and procedure. Core responsibilities will include client servicing, political monitoring, problem solving, researching and writing but you’ll be fast developing into an active client facing role whereby you’ll start to be exposed to advising senior executives, politicians or decision markers so excellent communication skills are essential.

The day to day

• Account management of top public affairs accounts
• Providing daily and weekly intelligence reports for our clients
• Drafting political briefing notes and parliamentary correspondence
• Attending and contributing to client meetings
• Organising client events and parliamentary receptions
• Contributing to our departmental marketing strategy and set-piece Grayling events
• Supporting Account Executives in the delivery of their roles
• Connecting with colleagues from across the global Grayling network, leveraging opportunities to work together to enhance professional development and learning

What will give you the edge

• You will ideally have previously worked in-house within a public affairs team and/or have agency experience
• A strong, demonstrable understanding of politics, politicians and political processes
• A meticulous eye for detail
• Curious – a desire to learn, improve, apply new knowledge and develop self
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Creative thinker and problem solver, with strong judgement
• Confident networker
• Supportive, inspiring and motivational team player
• Personal drive and passion for politics
• Ability to juggle multiple and changing priorities

Our promises to you

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working (where you can work remotely two days a week)
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing by one day every year up to 30 days.
• Duvet morning on your birthday 
• Gifted time off over Christmas 
• Flexible benefits platform where you are in complete control of what you receive. It could be anything from dental to gym membership, wellbeing initiatives, training, discount deals or simply a contribution to everyday bills and subscriptions (think Netflix, Amazon, Spotify etc!)
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Free breakfasts & weekly drinks in the office
• Regular team socials and early finish Fridays. 
• An abundance of personal development opportunities, through our Grayling Advantage Academy (with courses ranging from writing, resilience, creativity and more) 
• External mentoring via Creative Access for anyone from an under-represented background
• New business and employee referral bonuses.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering a 24/7 confidential advice line
• Life insurance

Get to know us

Grayling is the UK’s best-connected communications agency. With nine offices across the UK and 70 offices around the world, we create advantage for our clients through insight-led campaigns that deliver tangible results.

We’re in the top 5 of Newsweek's 100 UK Most Loved Workplaces due to our open and supportive environment and were ‘Highly Commended’ in the large consultancy of the year category in the 2022 PR Week awards. We’re a sociable bunch and life at Grayling will offer you a whole host of benefits including Friday finishes, hybrid working, regular training workshops and regular socials – not to mention the opportunity to work across award winning global campaigns!

We are proudly part of Accordience. Accordience is an international public relations, public affairs, financial and corporate communications group – made up of Grayling, Citigate Dewe Rogerson (CDR), Red and Cirkle.  Together, we have c.1,000 employees and operations in 30 countries. 

We believe diversity is strength. Our commitment at Grayling is to combine our employees’ unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build a more diverse and inclusive organization that represents all of us and the businesses we work with.  We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and will give fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, family or parental status, neurodiversity and disability status. 

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and will be very happy to provide any reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process. For any advice or assistance please contact lucy.southall@grayling.com