Freelance Consumer PR Senior Account Director
About Us
M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment is a full-service, earned-first agency operating across Consumer PR, Creator & Influencer, Partnership Marketing, Social, Experiential, Sport, and Entertainment.
We bring a deep bench of experience in lifestyle, sport, entertainment, fashion, technology, and CPG — with ambitions to expand into many other categories. Our approach blends always-on brand communications with big creative campaigns, from strategy and ideation through design, production, execution, and social amplification. Our PR, marketing, and influencer specialists work seamlessly with our in-house studio to deliver content across every medium, from film and photography to print, experiential, and beyond.
About the Role
M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment is seeking an experienced Senior Account Director to join our Consumer PR team on a fixed-term maternity leave contract from January 2027 through approximately August 2027.
This role is ideal for a strategic communications leader who can quickly step into a fast-paced client portfolio, provide senior counsel, lead integrated communications programs, and manage teams with confidence and autonomy. The successful candidate will bring deep experience across consumer brands, earned media, influencer marketing, and integrated campaigns, along with a strong understanding of culture and the evolving media landscape.
As a Senior Account Director, you will be responsible for overseeing multiple accounts, driving strategic thinking, maintaining senior client relationships, mentoring teams, and ensuring flawless execution across all workstreams. You will serve as a trusted advisor to clients and a key leader within the agency during this coverage period.
Core requirements include:
Act as a senior strategic leader across multiple client accounts
Confidently lead client relationships and provide day-to-day senior counsel
Mentor, coach, and develop junior and mid-level team members
Collaborate effectively with agency leadership and cross-functional teams
Demonstrate strong commercial acumen and understanding of account profitability
Bring a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and ability to navigate complex challenges
Maintain exceptional organizational skills while managing concurrent priorities
Stay connected to culture, trends, media, creator ecosystems, and emerging platforms
Key Responsibilities:
Client Leadership & Strategy
Lead strategic development and execution of integrated communications campaigns from planning through delivery
Serve as senior day-to-day client lead across assigned accounts
Provide ongoing strategic counsel across communications, culture, earned media, creators, partnerships, and brand storytelling
Identify opportunities that drive client business objectives and proactively recommend solutions
Develop integrated plans and creative communications ideas rooted in cultural relevance
Team Leadership
Manage and mentor account teams, fostering growth, accountability, and collaboration
Delegate responsibilities appropriately while maintaining oversight of all deliverables
Ensure project timelines, budgets, staffing plans, and workflows are managed effectively
Support team development through regular feedback, coaching, and problem-solving
Media & Communications
Maintain strong relationships with top-tier consumer, lifestyle, business, entertainment, and trade media
Lead media strategy and oversee execution of proactive and reactive communications programs
Guide development of press materials including messaging, media strategies, briefing documents, executive thought leadership content, and press releases
Oversee media relations efforts to secure impactful coverage and meaningful storytelling opportunities
Operational Excellence
Oversee account finances, including budgeting, forecasting, fee management, and reconciliation
Ensure teams maintain strong account management fundamentals, including status reporting, budget tracking, timelines, and project documentation
Establish campaign KPIs and ensure measurement frameworks are in place to demonstrate impact
Identify potential account challenges and proactively develop solutions
Experience Required
8-12+ years of agency experience in public relations, integrated communications, or marketing communications
Proven experience leading consumer communications programs for national and global brands
Strong earned media background with demonstrated success securing high-impact coverage
Experience managing multiple client relationships simultaneously
Track record of developing and leading high-performing teams
Strong financial management experience, including budgeting and forecasting
Excellent presentation, communication, and writing skills
The ideal candidate will have experience leading communications programs for spirits and beverage brands. Creator marketing, sport and music experience is a plus.
ABOUT M+C SAATCHI GROUP
M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, NA as part of M+C Saatchi Group has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics.
#LI-CC1 #S&ENA
- Group company
- M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment NA
- Location
- New York
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Contract rate
- $9,000 - $13,000/month
- Employment type
- Contract
New York
About M+C Saatchi Group
M+C Saatchi Group was founded in 1995 and is now the biggest Independent creative agency group in the World. Founded on one core principle, Brutal Simplicity.