Account Associate

Location: United States - fully remote position with occasional travel

If you want an agency experience that will equip you with the foundational skills you need for a thriving career in the fields of public relations and social media, read on. Account Associates play an integral role on the Belle Communication account team, executing work across multiple client accounts under the guidance of account leads and agency leadership. This role covers a variety of activities, including media and influencer research and coordination, organic and paid social media, content development, industry trend monitoring, thought leadership and awards drafting, and exposure to crisis communications, on behalf of our foodservice, restaurant, and B2B clients. 

In this role, you’re trusted to work independently with guidance, applying what you learn to contribute to team execution under the direction of your account lead and function heads. To succeed in this position requires the ability to take direction well, communicate effectively within a team and be highly organized and self-motivated. This position is essential to the success of the agency and directly contributes to our team through excellent content creation, influencer partnership and media management, research and reliable follow-through. Within this role, you’ll build foundational skills across media relations, social media, influencer marketing, content and creative execution, thought leadership and crisis communications, and learn how to successfully contribute within an account team.

Our Core Belle-iefs:

1. Think BIG: Innovate and strategize.

2. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

3. Be a team player. 

4. Enthusiasm: Bring it.

5. Never stop learning. 

6. Adapt to get results.

7. Care.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct media research and build media lists by proactively identifying relevant reporters, media influencers and outlets for account teams to pitch
• Conduct research on industry trends, media landscape, competitor brands and other areas as needed to inform the development of strategic PR and marketing plans
• Research and identify speaking engagements and award submission opportunities
• Conduct influencer research and build influencer outreach lists
• Conduct outreach and manage coordination with media or influencer partners
• Monitor for and capture media coverage opportunities and influencer content
• Monitor media and social channels for potential issues or negative sentiment affecting clients, and flag them promptly to your account lead and clients
• Contribute to regular reporting of media relations, influencer marketing and social media outcomes to clients and team
• Develop and schedule content across social channels that is brand consistent and creative
• Provide community management for multiple client social media accounts, replying to follower comments and promoting engagement with and among the community
• Contribute to the growth of client social media accounts through engagement and hashtag research
• Use social listening to uncover timely, relevant content and opportunities for engagement
• Use analytics tools to evaluate and report social media outcomes to clients and team
• Research social media trends, hashtags and new tools
• Execute paid social media efforts, including ad set-up and creation, boosting posts and monitoring campaign performance
• Contribute ideas during team brainstorms for client content, social and campaign concepts
• Keep a pulse on industry trends for both clients and Belle’s service areas, and report on relevant changes and insights
• Research and identify potential event opportunities, community partnerships, sponsorship opportunities or grassroots marketing activations for clients
• Draft speaker abstracts, award submission entries and other thought leadership materials, with review and approval from your account lead
• Create weekly/monthly reports and slide presentations for client meetings, ensuring meeting materials are prepared and organized
• Attend and present on client meetings and take notes to capture key takeaways and action items
• Edit and/or proofread documents, projects, presentations and other materials as needed
• Collaborate with other team members to help achieve client objectives and deliver results
• Ad hoc responsibilities as needed for the Belle team, agency and clients

Core Competencies:

• Applied Learning - Applies lessons from one area of work or task/project to improve another. Shares learnings with the team to strengthen strategy.
• Contributing to Team Success - Recognizes team goals, supports momentum, and proactively shares input that may affect strategy or progress. Contributes to meetings through preparation, active participation, and thoughtful input that supports team goals.
• Initiating Action - Acts when the next step is clear. When it is not, shares recommendations and checks alignment with the team.
• Work Standards - Sets high standards of performance for self and others; assumes responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, communication or related field
• Previous internship or work experience within public relations, or in an agency setting, strongly preferred
• Previous experience with media relations, influencer relations and social media management preferred
• Highly resourceful and self-motivated, with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently in a remote workplace setting
• Organized and adaptable team player with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple time-sensitive projects seamlessly with excellent attention to detail
• Self-starter with the ability to learn new tasks quickly and thrive in a fast-paced working environment
• Ability to conduct research and present information in a clear, succinct and well-written manner
• Excellent writing, editing, grammatical, organizational and research skills
• Forward thinker who actively seeks opportunities and brings new ideas and creative solutions
• Approaches work with eagerness to learn, takes direction well, and applies feedback and guidance from account leads and agency leadership
• 1-3 years of related experience
• Exposure to or coursework/experience in paid social media, content strategy or crisis communications is a plus, but not required

KPIs:

• Responds promptly to internal and external messages during regular business hours
• Meets or exceeds all assigned deadlines
• Provides timely, proactive communication on the status of tasks
• Secures client media or influencer hits monthly/weekly through pitching research, pitch writing or outreach and coordination
• Contributes to client satisfaction scores of 90% or above
• Contributes to achieving 80%+ rate of weekly client hits or meaningful touchpoints
• Takes initiative by regularly asking questions and taking ownership of assigned work
• Communicates professionally with clients and team
• Regularly brings ideas for how to innovate and improve areas of their work
• Promptly flags potential client issues to the account lead and agency leadership
• Effectively works across 6-8 client accounts, applying the above KPIs

Belle Life:

Belle Communication is a woman-owned and led, award-winning digital PR, influencer, social media and creative strategy firm. Founder Kate Finley launched the agency with the vision to empower meaningful work and thriving relationships. Now with a team spanning the U.S., Belle fuels brands that want fresh ideas and fast results, with creative communication strategies for now and next. The agency has received numerous awards for client campaigns and has been recognized as a top place to work by Inc., PRWeek and PR News. 

Specializing in foodservice and B2B, Belle has partnered with more than 80 brands including Dearfoams, Shake Shack, Nestlé and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams to reach target audiences through mass awareness and hyper-local activations.

At Belle, we are intentional about the culture we create. We keep our Core Belle-iefs front of mind to ensure we live out what it means to thrive in both work and life. Our culture is cultivated with the contribution of each team member’s thoughts, words and actions. We are each accountable and hold each other accountable in our communication, teamwork and candor.

Belle Communication believes in the value of a diverse workplace. We strive for and encourage a diverse, equitable and inclusive team in all things we do. Learning about different perspectives makes us better people - for each other and for our clients - as we seek to understand others' experiences. Diversity, equity and inclusion are an important part of our culture and Core Belle-iefs.

Belle Communication is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, sex, gender, age, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by the law.

Benefits:

• Fully remote position with occasional travel, approximately 3-5 overnight trips per year
• Flexible PTO with encouraged minimums that increase with tenure
• Company-funded health reimbursement benefit (QSEHRA) for eligible individual health insurance premiums and qualified medical expenses, up to the annual allowance
• Dental, vision, life and accident insurance plans
• Two weeks’ paid company closure at year-end
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Annual home office allowance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Annual team retreat
• Paid sabbatical leave every 7 years