Lead PR Consultant at BHM

Job Overview: 

• Are you an experienced PR professional, experienced in providing strategic communications guidance, leading client engagements and managing a team of consultants? Do you have experience delivering exceptional customer service? Are you interested in continuing a career at the intersection of communications and consulting, media and marketing, technology and creativity? Would you consider an opportunity to be part of an organisation building Africa's first global communications services company? 
• If your answer to all of the above is 'nah, not me', we thank you for reading this far. You may leave now and consider forwarding to anyone you know who fits the bill. 
• But if you can answer yes to some or all of the above, then it may be you we've been looking for. We want you!
• We are a fast-growing African consultancy seeking a Lead consultant/Adviser to spearhead the development, selling and implementation of effective communication strategies and business management ideas within BHM and to BHM clients (corporations and brands). You will advise clients' senior management on broad PR and communications, media relations, and consumer engagement strategies. 
• In your role, you will help execute our ambition to become the number one company of choice on the continent and beyond for professionals who want to put themselves and the African continent on the map for good.  
• We put people before profit and want you to help us institutionalise this ethos while creating a dynamic, engaging and inclusive workplace that fosters excellence and innovation for the benefit of colleagues, clients, and shareholders

Key areas of responsibility for the role will include: 

Business Development:

• Identifying, developing and nurturing business opportunities, including cross-selling and upselling to existing clients; 
• Providing strategic direction for the portfolio team; 
• Leading the portfolio team to provide analytics on Clients' Brands and competition by ensuring the delivery of quarterly reports, developing effective Online Relationships Management (ORM)  for Clients and producing data-driven insights;
• Leading the portfolio team in providing community management for and on behalf of Clients and social media platform protection;
• Develop and deploy content and strategies that shape the perception of BHM Clients in line with the Clients' business objectives;
• Develop viable platforms to harness the influence and readership of advocates of BHM  Clients and promote BHM Clients' viewpoints.
• Conducting pitches and presentations to prospective clients, showcasing our expertise and value proposition;
• Contributing to proposal development, including strategy, scope, deliverables, and pricing.

Issues, Crisis Management & Stakeholders Management:

• Early detection and mitigation of potential situations that could lead to a crisis; and management of public perception towards preservation of BHM's reputation and the reputation of clients' brands;
• Packaging, presentation and defence of Clients' Brands' position in potential and/or existing problem and/or crisis situations;
• Development of a crisis response strategy to serve Clients' Brands on an ongoing basis and specific crisis communication plans for individual events, engagement and activations that ensure Clients' viewpoints gain empathy and acceptance;
• Creating a crisis management plan that includes making decisions ahead of time, including Identification of issue owners who will handle specific aspects of a crisis if and when it occurs;
• Periodic development and activation of Crisis management drills; 
• Assessing and improving Clients' existing crisis response protocols;
• Conducting stakeholder listening sessions to determine stakeholders' current perceptions;
• Develop and advise Clients on opportunities for Clients to delight stakeholders.

Multimedia Content Development & Content Marketing: 

• Developing strategic communications and marketing plans focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content materials to attract and retain clearly defined audience groups amongst consumers of Clients' Brands;
• Leading the portfolio team to identify relevant areas of interest to target audiences and create exciting and shareable pieces of content for distribution across multiple media platforms in various formats for Clients;
• Undertaking regular Clients' stakeholders' segmentation and developing content for syndication and distribution. 

PR Event Management: 

• Managing end-to-end consumer event PR activities;
• Facilitating media engagement, including print, online and electronic media at all Clients' events;
• Developing and executing PR event briefing documents, which will include event flow, photo/video brief, media interaction and other mandatories, to ensure positive outcomes in line with each brand's communication objectives;
• Seamlessly managing guest relations, media invitations and accreditation;
• Briefing and managing talents and influencers at all Clients' events in line with PR/Communications briefs;
• Detailed preparation ahead of each brand's PR and consumer engagement activation,  including venue recce to ensure compliance with Clients' codes of conduct, brand essence,  and in line with PR/communication objective.

General Account Management & Operations:

• Assessing Clients' Brands and compiling a quarterly report of the assessments with findings and recommendations on the health of Clients' Brands; 
• Conducting a competitive analysis/SWOT analysis of the market segment Clients' Brands are engaged in;
• Identifying and recommending suitable sponsorship opportunities for Clients' Brands in line with the vision of Clients' Brands;
• Build stakeholder awareness and affinity for Clients' Brands and activations;
• Developing PR and EM (Earned Media) plans, strategies and ecosystems; 
• Managing the development and planning of unpaid and content media strategy. 
• Identifying and leveraging new technologies to extend earned reach;
• Managing portfolio team in tracking, measuring and amplifying earned media coverage;
• Overseeing project management and projections and recommending effective project spend; 
• Acting as lead "client-care officer" through direct contact with clients and partners (Community, Media, Brand, etc.); establishing an ongoing relationship with all stakeholders; 
• Generate and maximise media inch space to drive Clients' viewpoints and strategies to promote Clients' image. 
• Representing the firm with clients, investors, and business partners; 
• Ensuring consistent innovation and streamlining of campaign strategies to achieve value for business and client. 

Industry Knowledge and Thought Leadership:

• Staying up-to-date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in PR and communications;
• Sharing insights and thought leadership through speaking engagements, articles, and social media platforms;
• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients, offering innovative ideas and strategic recommendations.

Team Leadership & Management

• Leading a portfolio team and providing day-to-day leadership and management to the team that mirrors the adopted mission and core values of the company; 
• Motivating and providing mentoring as a  cornerstone to the career development of members of your team; 
• Fostering a success-oriented, accountable environment within your portfolio team; 
• Delegate tasks effectively, ensuring optimal utilisation of portfolio team skills and abilities;
• Conduct performance evaluations, identify development opportunities, and foster a collaborative team environment.

Person Specification

Educational/Professional Qualifications:

• Tertiary education (e.g. Higher Diploma or Bachelor's) in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or a related field required;
• Postgraduate degree in relevant business, consulting or communications field preferred;
• Professional certifications in Public Relations, Management and Marketing are mandatory (i.e. CIPR, PRCA, PRSA, NIPR, CIM). 

Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in the public relations industry: PR Account Management/Client Services, Marketing Management, and/or Brand Management, with at least 3 years in a Leadership role.
• Proven record of successfully leading an account or portfolio in an agency or consultancy.

Knowledge Skills and Aptitudes:

• Strong understanding of PR and communication principles, strategies, and tactics, with a proven track record of developing and implementing successful PR strategies;
• Crisis communications expertise, with experience managing issues, handling crises and providing strategic advice;
• Strategic thinking and ability to create innovative PR solutions to achieve client objectives;
• Ability to build and nurture client relationships, fostering trust and loyalty;
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically;
• Proficiency in using PR tools and technologies, including media monitoring and analytics platforms; 
• Excellent knowledge of the Nigeria media landscape, including print, broadcast, digital, and social media;
• Proficiency in media relations, including pitching, relationship building, and interview preparation;
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build rapport with clients and other stakeholders;
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal;
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple clients and projects simultaneously;
• Proven experience in crisis communication and issue management within;
• Proficiency in using PR tools and platforms, such as media monitoring and social listening tools;
• Familiarity with key local and international media platforms and journalists, bloggers and editors  covering popular culture, business, finance and politics in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the UK, and the US;
• Strong business acumen and a results-oriented mindset;
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to create compelling content.
• Strong leadership abilities, with the capacity to inspire and motivate a team;
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills;
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities;
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and mentor junior team members;
• Results-oriented mindset focusing on delivering high-quality work and exceeding client expectations;
• Familiarity with social media platforms and digital channels (Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, etc.);

Desirable requirements for the role: 

• Project management qualification (Prince 2, PMP etc.)
• Previous consulting experience 
• Experience using social media platforms such as Linkedin, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram to build employer brand awareness and develop thought leadership 
• Interest in and ability to travel across Africa, the UK, and America.