Account Executive (Pipeline) at Ogilvy South Africa

Role

An account executive should be a capable communications and public relations professional able to handle a broad variety of tasks with increasing independence and sound judgment.

Concept

An account executive has the ability and experience to play a primary implementation role in client work. They must have basic public relations, writing, media, influencer, social media, organisational, research and production skills, and be able to handle direct client contact.

Account management

An account executive meets all responsibilities and expectations of an assistant account executive and:

• Performs day-to-day account work which may include: drafting a wide range of written materials, assisting in coordinating events, maintaining client and media contact, managing projects performed with and by others and supervising more junior staff.
• Is fully familiar with the teams communications plans for accounts and understands and tracks clients businesses.
• Acts as a liaison between client, outside suppliers (content creators, graphic designers, photographers, A/V houses, etc.) and, as appropriate, other internal and external audiences (e.g., employees, media, influencers, interest groups).
• Interacts with client contacts and others in a professional, positive and appropriate manner.
• Is gaining knowledge of the full range of resources available throughout the company.
• Is generally familiar with work of other account teams, other offices and operating units.
• Pursues opportunities for enhancing involvement and contributions to the account, team and agency.

Professional skills

• Assists in the implementation of events such as press conferences, media briefings, analyst meetings, media tours third party advocacy, etc.
• Demonstrates competence at using internal and external research capabilities and in preparing analyses and proposals.
• Is building presentation skills.
• Contributes to presentations using internal or external resources.
• Balances work load and tasks, communicating effectively with team members to reliably implement assignments on budget and on deadline.
• Exemplifies solid teamwork capabilities while beginning to build supervisory skills.
• Begins to build and apply specialised expertise in particular subject or functional areas,
• Executes media and influencer advocacy relations activities and has working knowledge of media, influencers and their needs.
• Has a good understanding of social media with in-depth platform knowledge and capabilities.

Financial/administrative

• Routinely applies understanding of budget development and budget monitoring.
• Contributes to budget development.
• Understands and manages billing and activity reporting processes.
• Completes timesheets daily and otherwise acts in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Manages time for optimum productivity and maximum billability.
• Meets billability targets established for the account executive position.

Business development

• Contributes to the development and presentation of new business programmes for potential and existing clients.
• Is gaining ability to conceptualise programme strategies, elements and implementation tactics.
• Supports opportunities to grow existing accounts or to pursue new business.
• Contributes informed suggestions, as well as creative and effective answers to client issues and needs.

Initiative and general management

• Is familiar with, and supports achievement of, the companys vision and exemplifies the companys values.
• Demonstrates initiative in identifying and proposing enhanced ways to advance team, group, agency and client interests.
• Operates with a high degree of independence, but knows when to rely on own judgment and when to seek advice of supervisor and other team members.
• Applies sound judgment in anticipating and taking action to avoid many workplace and client issues and problems.
• Recommends solutions when problems arise.
• Assists peers in problem solving.
• Uses talents of colleagues in own problem solving.
• Proactively seeks and shares information with colleagues and clients.
• Participates actively in team, staff and client meetings.
• Displays work ethic and values of the agency in day-to-day behaviour.
• Takes initiative in building skills and knowledge increasing her/his value to the agency and to clients.
• Increasingly demonstrates ability to manage agency and client resources: people, time and money.
• Works with supervisor to identify and address training, education and skill-building needs.
• Continually seeks new ways to learn and improve.
• Exhibits a sense of curiosity about client work and seeks more information and knowledge in response.