Vice President, Public Relations

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Company: Ogilvy
Location: Los Angeles, CA

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Overview

Ogilvy PR is currently seeking a Vice President to join our Public Relations & Influence practice. A VP is responsible for managing the client relationship and teams of one large account and/or several smaller accounts with limited senior cover. This includes recommending programs and activities that coordinate with client’s goals and budgets. Accountable for delivering contracted work on time and within budget, staffing accounts appropriately and producing high-quality work and excellent results, while ensuring team members produce the same. Must have a demonstrated record of developing and executing successful public relations strategies and programs. Proactively prospects, identifies/develops and supports new business opportunities, including leading RFI and RFP submissions.

Specifically, this role would be overseeing the First 5 Los Angeles account, one of Ogilvy’s largest accounts in the LA office. First 5 was created to fund safety, health and education programs for California kids ages 0-5. The team this role would be overseeing is 15 people, most in the LA office, and a few in Sacramento. This position will be stationed out of the Los Angeles office.
Our “want” list of expertise is the following: experience managing integrated marketing communications campaigns with budgets of $1M or higher (earned, owned and paid media), background or experience in public affairs, social marketing, and Multicultural marketing. Early Childhood education or anything related to children’s programs is also required. Bilingual Spanish speaking a plus.

Responsibilities

Account Management:
  • Creates client strategy and overall PR plan for their accounts
  • Independently leads day to day account operations and serves as a primary client contact.
  • Is responsible for overall account relationships and for building relationships with key day-to-day client contacts to ensure that client/agency relationships exist on multiple levels/points of contact and grow over time
  • Engages other leaders to enhance offerings and counsel to key clients
  • Ensures effective communication and management of client expectations and that team is completing their deliverables on strategy, on time and on budget while servicing the client at an appropriate level. Develops and delivers client presentations
  • Provides strategic counsel, develops long-term plans, insights and program recommendations for clients, demonstrating a thorough understanding of their business, industry competition and relevant media
  • Leverages a strong knowledge of Ogilvy tools and services to add value to client programs and build organic and new business growth
  • Develops and manages multiple projects and programs including strategies implementation plans, evaluation mechanisms, staffing plans, budgets and timelines
  • Accountable for final review of all communications, reports and client materials developed by account team
  • Proactively anticipates and/or leads the resolution of account problems and issues quickly and adeptly

Business Health/Growth Driving:
  • Manages overall financial performance of accounts and to staff utilization targets.
  • Forecasts client revenue on assigned account(s) and projects
  • Negotiates fees with clients
  • Scopes accurate budgets for clients on projects and retainers and obtains client approval
  • Ensures that team members adhere to WPP financial policies and practices
  • Identifies and develops new business opportunities within the practice
  • Develops and directs new business program development and/or presentations
  • Leads the organic growth and maintenance of assigned accounts. Create and sells in ideas for new programs/proposals.
  • Cultivates an area of specialty or subject matter expertise that adds value to prospects and existing clients.

People Leadership:
  • Serves as a positive role model and mentor to others and drives a positive, collaborative work culture
  • Provides regular direction and support to direct reports, ensuring they have clear expectations, training and timely performance feedback. Manages effective and timely goals and performance appraisals for direct reports as well as provides ongoing guidance on career development plans
  • Manages staff to maximize performance and productivity to meet/exceed client expectations; efficiently works to address under performers
  • Actively engages in efforts to identify, grow and retain top talent
  • Actively recruits, interviews and identifies best-in-class staff; responsible for team hiring and staffing decisions
  • Assists Group Director in driving communication down through the team to ensure every employee has the necessary information to do their job well

Qualifications

  • Minimum of 10+ years of experience in communications, public relations, or marketing with proven expertise in successfully driving nonprofit and government account portfolios
  • Demonstrated project management skills and the ability to set priorities, develop work plans, and monitor progress.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential
  • Leadership experience in growing an agency practice area and/or successful client portfolio
  • Ability to efficiently manage cross-office teams
  • Previous experience managing and mentoring a multidisciplinary team with an established approach to coaching and long-term talent growth/ development
  • Strong time and priority management skills and an ability to juggle multiple client needs
  • Ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing
  • A high level of integrity and sensitivity to confidential information
  • A strong work ethic and an ability to be a self-starter
  • Bachelor’s Degree required.