Account Manager, Local (Property & Planning)

 

Are you interested in the politics of planning, infrastructure, property and regeneration?  Do you want to engage with stakeholders and consult local communities?

 

We are Newington

We understand business, politics and the media and how it affects our clients. We are an award-winning issues-led, outcomes-focused agency that builds and protects reputations at a local, regional and European level.

The role

Due to extensive growth and new business wins we are currently recruiting for a new Account Manager to join Newington’s Local Public Affairs division. The Local division provides political and public affairs support to clients on a local and regional level, and focuses on the politics of planning in real estate, infrastructure, renewable energy sectors etc.

 

The right candidate will join a team focussing on local government, strategic communications and campaigning. You will work with a range of exciting clients, from charities to FTSE 100 companies, across sectors including transport, development and energy.

 

We are looking for exceptional candidates who have the right attitude, determination and above all a passion for political communications.

 

The ideal candidate will:

  • Have a demonstrable background in politics, policy or communications, ideally with strong existing consultancy and management experience
  • Have knowledge of planning and local government
  • Be actively engaged with a major political party (preferable, but not essential)
  • Understand how to devise and implement a campaign, meeting client objectives
  • Be passionate about working as part of a team and developing junior staff
  • Have excellent research and organisational skills
  • Be graduate level or equivalent
  • Have some experience of developing and executing political and corporate communications strategies
  • Feel comfortable providing strategic counsel to senior clients and thinking on their feet
  • Be able to demonstrate excellent written and oral communications skills, research and organisational skills
  • Have exceptional attention to detail
  • Be a confident presenter, and be able to play a co-ordinating role in a pitch team

 

The role will involve:

  • Leading a range of significant public affairs accounts – including but not limited to clients across planning, development and local government – on a day-to-day basis, working closely with junior and senior staff
  • Developing an intuitive grasp of how political and regulatory developments will affect your clients – and an ability to rapidly advise them on what action (if any) to take
  • Working with the team to formulate imaginative tactics and strategies for responding to political and regulatory developments
  • Working with the team to develop and execute long term strategies built around the objectives of your clients
  • Identifying creative ways to build momentum behind campaigns, including through utilising media channels
  • Drafting and developing a range of written materials, including position papers, policy documents, campaign plans and new business proposals
  • Developing more junior members of staff – nurturing their understanding and skills
  • Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, and generally promoting the strength of Newington’s offer
  • Demonstrating well-grounded political knowledge in specific areas which are of relevance to the client accounts you work on
  • Producing informed, concise and high quality written briefings and reports

 

We offer

Training and opportunities to learn, plus formal mentoring and line manager feedback to grow.

Salary: £30,000 – 37,000 (depending on experience).

 

Benefits: performance related bonus, flexitime working pattern, company drinks on a Friday, yearly trip away, season ticket loan, employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme and more.

 

Location: Central London, close to Southwark and Borough tube stations

 

To apply: email [email protected] with a one-page covering letter and CV. Closing date: Friday 18th October

We are award-winning, we are experts, and we are growing, to find out more:

 

Twitter: @NewingtonComms

Website: www.newingtoncomms.co.uk

 

For role specific queries: [email protected]

 

All applications will be dealt with according to Newington’s equal opportunities policy. Due to the volume of applicants, unfortunately we will not be able to respond to each individual application.

Please note that Newington reserves the right to appoint candidates to the roles before the closing date. Applicants are therefore advised to submit their CV at their earliest convenience.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working.