The job may be located in either Waukesha, Wisconsin or Waterloo, Iowa.
Primary Purpose of this Position: Responsible for building and maintaining good client relationships, to develop programs that are high quality, cost-effective and timely. Two areas of particular interest are those applicants who have experience in the swine or cattle industries.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
Account Management:
Maintain direct, day-to-day, senior level contact
Direct the activities of account team to ensure proper service to clients
Work in a proactive manner to provide clients’ marketing plans with the greatest amount of value added through communications
Involve research department as early as possible to assure plans and programs meet client needs
Analyze client input, together with background knowledge, research, field feedback, etc., to produce full communications plans
Devise communications strategy
Brief creative and media staff in support of account team
Ensure technical and product representations are appropriate
Provide creative, production, media and interactive department personnel with well-documented input support data and production materials as required; ensure that strategies are clearly defined, approved by clients and understood by the creative and media groups
In the absence of creative and media personnel, present and effectively sell communications plans, concepts, media and interactive marketing plans to clients; where creative and media personnel are present, support them in selling concepts and plans
Provide client with budget updates
Keep appraised of all relevant client, industry and market developments
Coordinate and authorize quotations for client approval
Assist in preparation of client invoices
Check and approve copy, design and production art and coordinate client approval of same
Ensure prompt collection of accounts receivable
Coordinate project timing and budgets with all relevant agency personnel
Write client contact reports; review important developments with relevant account executives and director of client services
New Business Development:
Seek out new business opportunities with new and existing clients and play a supportive role in their development
Agency-Related:
Keep accurate time and expense records
Ensure that overall account revenues meet agency goals
Develop account team
Represent the agency at industry functions – promote the agency at every opportunity. Be fully familiar with agency credentials and specialties.
Continuously work to upgrade knowledge and skills through available reading, courses and seminars
Education/Experience:
College degree in communications, journalism, public relations, advertising or a related business program (agriculture, food, financial services, technology)
5-10 years position specific PR experience
Knowledge/Skill Qualifications:
Familiarity with position specific issues and trends
Print and broadcast media knowledge
Comfort with new technologies/electronic communications
Possess strong writing and verbal communications skills
Excellent organizational abilities, utilizing personal skills, other people and
material resources
Some experience in account team management and control of client budgets
Possess an excellent client service attitude
Physical/Mental Demands: Ability to give, receive, and analyze information, formulate work plans, prepare written materials, and articulate goals and action plans. Must understand people and be able to communicate effectively with them. Must be able to handle occasional high stress situations.
Special Working Conditions: Work in a typical office setting. Some traveling required.
A full range of benefits available including 401(k), health insurance, company paid life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, generous vacation time, 10 paid holidays, EAP, medical reimbursement plan and dependent reimbursement plan.