Head of Corporate at Publicis Groupe

Job Description

The Head of Corporate role will play an essential role in the leadership team.  This person will work with the Managing Director and Managing Partner to manage the teams and clients in the corporate division of the agency. The person is expected to demonstrate skills in accordance with this senior position, with the ability to influence decisions of the leadership team and maintain this credibility going forward with a key focus on reputation management (including issue & crisis), high level media relations and stakeholder communications.

Responsible for strategic account planning and reputation management and stakeholder communication services across corporate PR clients and projects, which includes overall account management, project scoping, manage the account team, providing strategic client council, guide collaboration and integration of client portfolio. Grow the business, accurate reporting and forecasting and manage talent planning by resourcing the right team against it.

The Head of Corporate will oversee:

• All corporate clients and accounts with regards to strategy, reputation management, stakeholder communications and other key corporate comms requirements such as internal comms – with a focus on large clients, and AD's report in with daily detail in servicing client, admin and delivery
• Assist with managing crisis communications with clients across the business, including consumer brands
• Efficient management of teams and activities
• Good understanding and ability to use and mine intelligence from online and digital tools used for crisis communications and reputation management
• Build revenue growth in the corporate division
• Integrate with MSL global and Publicis Group Africa (PGA) agencies when needed
• People growth and development
• Contribute to the running of the agency

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE NEEDED

• Corporate PR  and a working knowledge in crisis communications, investor relations and, public affairs
• Ability to consult to clients at a senior level
• Business development skills – ability to seek and respond to new business opportunities
• Project Management
• Strategy and planning
• Financial metrics
• People management

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 8 years leading client projects, 5 of which should be involved in corporate communications, reputation management (issue and crisis) , stakeholder communications and high-level media relations
• At least 4 years of strategic experience and understanding
• At least 3-5 years budget management, forecasting and resourcing management
• At least 10 years managing people experience

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Conceptual cross-discipline thinking
• Business acumen and project management skills
• Action orientated, strive for results
• Lateral thinking
• Problem solving and decision making skills
• Long and mid-term strategic thinking
• Client relationship building
• Analytical, strategic competencies
• Problem solver
• Leadership

TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Financial acumen
• Client relationship management
• Excellent communication via all channels - incl. presentation and negotiation skills
• Excel, basic financial understanding
• Negotiation, conflict management, performance management
• High EQ