Account Director, Strategic Communications Consultancy, London

An award-winning reputation, risk and crisis advisory firm is looking for an Account Director to join its growing team. Over 15 years, the firm has built deep expertise advising clients through complex and high-stakes situations — including multi-fatality events, criminal proceedings and regulatory scrutiny — across sectors spanning education, finance, charities & faith institutions and the public sector.

The Account Director Role

This client-facing role will suit someone with several years’ agency experience managing reputation, risk or crisis issues. You’ll work closely with senior colleagues to identify solutions to complex reputational challenges, while taking ownership of day-to-day client delivery and building trusted, long-term client relationships. Alongside client work, you’ll play a key role in shaping and promoting new services to prospective clients and partners.

Key Responsibilities of The Account Director

Client work

• Advise and support clients experiencing urgent crisis situations and reputational issues
• Draft reputational risk and crisis readiness materials, including written advice packs and crisis management protocols
• Support clients on broader reputation, risk and change advisory work, including organisational change, governance, stakeholder engagement and reputational preparedness programmes

Collaboration

• Work alongside external advisers, including lawyers and other specialists, where needed

Client management

• Act as a main point of contact for key clients on day-to-day matters
• Help manage project timelines and coordinate work across the team
• Support and review the work of junior team members where appropriate

Business development

• Identify opportunities for new work with existing and prospective clients
• Propose ideas for new products and services to help broaden the firm’s remit
• Contribute to new business pitches, including research, writing and presentations
• Take part in marketing activities such as events, content and networking, including speaking at company or partner events
• Write thought leadership pieces for the firm’s channels or media outlets

Experience Required in this Risk and Advisory position

• Proven experience in a communications or advisory agency
• Proven ability to manage client relationships independently
• Experience in crisis communications, issues management, risk management or corporate reputation work
• Experience working with legal teams and other external advisors
• Strong writing skills and excellent attention to detail
• Interest in business development and marketing activity
• Experience supporting or taking part in new business pitches

What Matters Here

• This is unusual work — supporting organisations and individuals through sensitive, high-stakes situations where judgement, trust and relationships matter. Who you are counts as much as what you’ve done. The firm is looking for people who are:
• Discreet — trusted with sensitive situations and confidential information
• Emotionally intelligent — able to read people, build relationships and stay calm under pressure
• Responsive and adaptable — quick to act and comfortable with uncertainty and fast-moving situations
• Authentic — straightforward, thoughtful and low ego
• Generous colleagues — kind, professional, and genuinely enjoyable to work with.

Apply for this Account Director Role

If you have the relevant experience and this opportunity sounds interesting to you, please get in touch with our team, including a copy of your CV as soon as possible via the form below.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales and commercial.

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