Account Director, Higher Education

ABOUT BERLINROSEN

BerlinRosen is a fast-growing, full-service consulting and communications firm with more than 300 communications and campaign strategists in New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2005, BerlinRosen has powerfully expanded its presence in corporate, social impact/ESG, nonprofit, entertainment, media, racial justice, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, architecture, design, urbanism, land use, lifestyle, technology, issue advocacy and workers’ rights communications. They have received more than 50 awards and recognitions, including being the only agency to be named #1 on Observer’s PR Power List for three consecutive years, #2 in City & State’s New York Political PR 75 (2024), PRNews’ Large PR Agency of the Year (2023; 2021), PR News’ Digital Firm of the Year (2023) and 5/5 Stars on Forbes’ latest Best PR Agencies in America list.

People of color, people with disabilities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. BerlinRosen is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff, and recognizes that its continued success depends on hiring and retaining high-quality creative professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Opportunities for advancement exist, and we are committed to helping all staff develop and grow.

ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION TEAM

BerlinRosen’s Technology & Innovation practice comprises over 40 communications professionals who bring a unique campaign-style approach to strategic communications, combining expert strategy and nimble execution with the creativity and speed of a startup. We represent some of the biggest newsmakers defining the future of technology across higher education, consumer tech, climate, gaming, healthtech, sports and urban innovation including Dartmouth, Cornell Tech, Columbia School of Social Work, Bloomberg Media and the Washington Commanders.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

BerlinRosen is seeking an experienced strategic communicator to join our growing Higher Education team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in PR with a proven track record of creating and driving strategy, managing campaigns and promoting programs that drive media coverage. They should excel at managing multiple clients and work streams, thrive in a fast-paced environment and bring a strategic mindset that helps drive innovative, results-driven PR campaigns. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who carries a passion for higher education and the role it plays in society, in elevating the stories of colleges, universities and other corollary organizations and in leading on client work to achieve and advance their goals and initiatives.

Role location: This role is based in our New York, N.Y. or Washington, D.C. office on a hybrid basis. The Tech and Innovation team is in-office at least 3 days per week.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

As an Account Director on the Technology and Innovation team, you will…
• Lead strategic conversations and advance the communications strategy for multiple high-profile client accounts to deliver top-notch results for our clients
• Develop and oversee integrated campaigns that leverage public affairs, media and digital tactics to reach key audiences and achieve client goals
• Hold the pen on drafting high level materials including strategy decks, communications plans, messaging and op-eds
• Directly manage and mentor staff, and provide overall strategic direction and feedback for their development and client work
• Collaborate closely with the management team to develop and inspire our team of strategists to be innovative and creative

Essential skills:
• Has 6+ years of relevant work experience in communications: PR agency or in-house for higher education institutions, companies, nonprofits media or journalism
• Is an avid consumer of news, with a strong news sense and knowledge of the media and experience engaging and maintaining strong relationships with key reporters covering the top issues of the day
• Ability to confidently communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing, with varying levels of staff, clients and the media, and is comfortable thinking on their feet
• Ability to multi-task easily, including handling multiple assignments at once, working quickly and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment while paying close attention to details
• Enjoys managing people and has experience in successfully motivating, leading and mentoring a diverse team to meet objectives

Note: Interested in this role but it’s not quite the right match? Applicants who meet some but not all or exceed the above criteria are still encouraged to apply! We are eager to speak with candidates with diverse backgrounds and can assess role leveling on an individual basis.

WORKING AT BERLINROSEN

Compensation philosophy: BerlinRosen offers competitive industry rate salary bands with the goal of retaining and growing talented individuals. We regularly review and adjust our compensation structure as needed to ensure equity across teams and levels.

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $110,000-$130,000

Account Directors are eligible for end of year bonuses based on firm, team and individual performance.

Benefits: BerlinRosen will make sure that you have what you need to excel in your role, encourage self-care and drive professional development, including…
• Medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Pre-tax Health Savings Account Savings Plan (HSA-SP) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401K with a 4% employer match and no vesting period
• Generous paid time off (PTO)
• 20 vacation days, 10 wellness days, 1 day for your birthday, collective PTO between Christmas and New Year’s Day, plus 11 holidays
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Mobile phone reimbursement for data and minutes
• Employer-funded life insurance
• Discounted annual bikeshare membership
• Corporate discounts through Tickets at Work