The Senior Account Executive at Merritt Group is a detail-oriented problem-solver with excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills. Senior Account Executives exhibit extraordinary drive and ambition, as they evolve into a leader and mentor. They are flexible and able to roll with the punches, while maintaining a sense of humor. Senior Account Executives continuously look for new and different ways to provide value to the client; manage client relationships and ensure goals are met; and set challenging goals for themselves and the team. They also continue to refine advanced media relations skills and have a good understanding of technology issues and trends. Senior Account Executives at Merritt Group exercise sound judgment and are able to respond quickly to change. And, like all Merritt Groupers, they have an insatiable curiosity and interest in technology and business, digital media, marketing and creative.
This position will specifically support our Health IT practice. Relevant experience strongly preferred.
KEY FUNCTIONS
- Domain Expertise: Capable of sharing recommendations and ideas based on technology issues and trends with confidence.
- Account Management & Client Relations: Manage at least one account with little oversight from senior staff, including providing day-to-day counsel to clients. Stay on top of trends and issues that might impact clients and proactively address. Contribute meaningful input both strategically and tactically to clients; think a few steps ahead of the client and beyond what they have asked of us. Drive the agenda during external client calls and meetings. Ensure account and project goals are met.
- PR Planning: Actively participate in internal team meetings and find opportunities to bring up new and creative ideas for clients. Attend new client kick-off meetings. Play a strong role in annual, quarterly, and monthly client planning meetings.
- Content Creation: Able to write a full range of documents with minor editing needed from senior staff, including press releases, background materials, case studies and others. Edit and provide direction on writing work of other team members. Contribute to writing and development of higher-level strategic documents, including messaging platforms and PR plans.
- Media & Analyst Relations: Has strong media relations skills and solid reporter relationships. Understands how to craft proactive pitches that drive results and handle reactive inquiries. Able to manage interviews with little oversight. Is becoming more of a storyteller. Manage product reviews and customer relations programs. When needed, manage and implement outreach to industry analysts, including scheduling and prep work for analyst/client sessions.
- Speaking & Awards: Research opportunities; draft award and speaking submissions; manage calendar of events; provide research to teams as needed. Exhibit knowledge of events and opportunities relevant to clients’ respective industries, and indicate an understanding of those that client may not be familiar with.
- Social Media: Have an understanding of strategy and execution with regard to relevant social media channels for our clients; develop compelling social media content; populate that content within social media channels.
- Marketing: Have an understanding of marketing methodologies, including online content strategy and development, multimedia and social media production and management, email communications, electronic database and content management, and web analytics. Learn best practices across various marketing channels.
- Measurement: Have the ability to create measurement strategies given the measurement tools and methodologies available to us. Utilize the measurement tools and methodologies to better understand the progress of our strategic communications campaigns across paid, earned and owned channels.
- Business Development: Research and bring new ideas to the team’s attention. Participate in new business opportunities. Take ownership of an operational campaign or program.
- Agency Operations: Is a proactive and positive driver of the agency’s culture.
KEY SOFT SKILLS
- Client-Focused : Show a genuine interest in the broader technology landscape and take the time to learn each client’s business and competitive landscape. Has an active voice in client meetings. Is execution-oriented and meets or exceeds all deadlines.
- Action-Oriented : Able to identify problems and bring solutions to their manager. Is able to effectively juggle multiple projects, re-prioritizing when necessary, and help teammates do the same. Does more than is required or expected in the job; does things that no one has requested that will improve or enhance the service to the client or avoids a potential problem.
- Team Player : Build and maintain a strong team environment, demonstrating by example the ability to be a committed team player. Act as a collaborator and mentor for Interns, Account Coordinators and Account Executives.
- Communicate with Candor : Open to new ideas and change and committed to being direct in all communication with colleagues and teammates. Receive feedback positively and implement immediately.