Associate DirectorSenior Associate Director Corporate Reputation

Burson part of WPP is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the worlds leading brands. We unitecutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions world-class creativity next-generation production transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counselin a single company powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Opento help our clients navigate change capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information visit

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More about the role:
This role sits within Burson Londons Corporate and Public Affairs division a team of over one hundred problem solvers who partner with brands organisations and governments to navigate complex reputational policy and regulatory challenges. This is an integrated role combining proactive corporate reputation building and reactive issues. The work is sector agnostic and we are particularly interested in corporate people with a consumer mindset and experience.

The right candidate has built a career over more than five years in agency or fast paced in-house comms environments. They will be as adept at earned media relations as digital reputational building. They will be AI curious and inspired by an agency that is investing in the latest technology to drive efficiency and impact. They will confidently manage complex client relationships and provide strategic counsel with gravitas and will inspire clients to grow with Burson and nurture juniors to develop under their guidance.

With a growth mindset new business is a core driver of growth and the candidate will have had proven experience of leading and winning pitches. They will also be comfortable networking and happy to leverage their contacts to bring new opportunities in for the agency.

What youll do:

• Be a trusted advisor to clients add value to client relationships and provide high level strategic counsel this is in both a proactive and a reactive (issues) capacity
• Take a leading role in developing the global and UK client work retaining existing client work and growing new business across crisis and issues as well as proactive reputation management
• Build the visibility and reputation of the team with a view to winning new business and attracting talent
• Manage client teams while nurturing current talent and contributing to the creation of a dedicated team culture while building relationships across the agency
• Be responsible for budget monitoring revenue forecasting and planning resourcing overseeing client budgets and fee negotiation to ensure correct level of profitability
• Act as a representative for the team in relevant specialist forums or network groups and participate where appropriate in relevant speaker platforms
• Apply the latest in thinking and innovation including but not exclusively AI

Experience that contributes to success:

• Experience in an agency or in-house role (some agency experience is essential)
• Entrepreneurial with evidence of having independently sought and driven revenue growth including prospect finding nurturing acquisition and relationship management
• Comfortable and experienced working with multiple stakeholder groups including consumers shareholders suppliers employees and media
• Comfortable leading new business pitches as well as inputting to wider corporate and crisis opportunities
• Proven track record of successfully managing relationships clients and programmes for multinational corporates or prominent organisations in the UK and abroad
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills with the ability to anticipate risks develop proactive plans and make critical decisions under pressure
• Comfortable and competent in developing teams and managing operational areas e.g. commercials resourcing etc
• Experience of leading crisis simulation exercises and media training

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