Account Director - Fashion

Department: FashionLocation: PURPLE New YorkCompensation: $100,000 - $120,000 / year Description Who We Are: PURPLE is a global lifestyle communications agency with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, London, Hong Kong & Singapore. For more than two decades, PURPLE has been the leader in culturally connected, results driven brand communications. With the original founding team still leading the business, we bring together our cross-generational and diverse personal networks globally to connect people and brands, build strategy and drive commercial success. Our in-house talent pride themselves on their international networks, working collaboratively across luxury and creative industries to deliver game-changing earned media campaigns that are always bespoke, non-traditional and often provocative. Understanding the world of luxury and the ever evolving possibilities to lead in the space, we offer connected services across Communications, Events, Social Media, Partnerships, and VIP & Talent. PURPLE doesn’t follow the cultural zeitgeist, we create it. Who You Are: PURPLE is looking for an experienced Account Director for its Fashion division to join the agency. The Account Director will play an essential role in supporting the assigned senior management in the development and execution of: generating maximum brand exposure through creative product placement, profile features and launches. The Account Director must have a genuine passion for developing brands, using true initiative in order to achieve exceptional results. Impeccable client liaison skills and an established network of key contacts (brands and press) are essential. Account Director’s responsibilities would include increasing awareness for all brands assigned to them. In this role the Account Director will promote the different clients in all activities, campaigns, special projects, shows, presentations and events to the media and to develop and maintain relationships with key journalists and media within your assigned and designated market, acting as an ambassador for Purple. Key Responsibilities Has the ability to provide counsel to clients as opposed to taking direction from clients; Is able to have tough conversations with clients with their best interests in mindIs able to lead client calls / in-person meetings and think on one’s feetIs able to take client business objectives and develop a linear and cohesive communication strategy that reflect those business objectivesAs core account team lead, is able to pull in and collaborate with speciality resources across the agency (both in NYC, London and LA) to ensure the client is getting access to the agency’s network-wide expertiseIs able to lead client programs and campaigns – from planning to execution – in an organised and timely manner, within the specified budgetUnderstands the difference between a communication strategy and a media strategyShows accountability in terms of meeting client benchmarks and delivering strong media coverage; Delivers on this through team leadership and guidanceOwn all media relations and continue to develop and maintain key relationshipsIs able to provide strategic and tactical support to Divisional DirectorWorking with our in-house events team to manage launch events for media and influencersLine managing their team to ensure they meet targets and have a development planExhibits strong new business skills both from a planning and proposal perspective and during in-person pitch opportunities; Brings in new business opportunities through networkingOverseeing the management of all product-related media requests – from email inquiry through prospective media coverage – through sample product distribution and tracking and follow up Taking inventory of and being responsible for client product inventoryGeneral media monitoring across clients and all competitorsConsistently producing high quality internal and external communications contentOversight and compilation of weekly client agendasProactively pitch story ideas to achieve maximum editorial placement across your brandsManage and motivate junior members of the team to ensure day to day operations run smoothly and PR results are delivered; while supporting them in their growth to the next level.Equally support VPs and senior members of the team to ensure maximum support across all levels.Have a clear understanding of paid, owned and earned media strategies, and develop relationships with top editors to support this activityHave strong connections with leading and emerging editorial talents in the USManaging the Account Managers/Account Executive to help reach personal and team targetsWork cross-functionally with the VIP & Influencer teams across accounts, ensuring a cohesive brand strategy is implemented Skills and Experience Proven experience operating in a senior position within the fashion industryProven commercial experience with working in a fast-paced environmentManagement experience is highly desirableProven track record of creating a positive impact on business through implementation of a PR strategyDiscreet, professional and well spoken, with excellent communication skillsExtremely well-organised, methodical and efficient, with a good dose of common sense and initiativePro-active and able to show initiative/ideas to constantly promote the Purple offeringCreative and strategic thinkerStrong established fashion press contactsInternational press contacts are also desirableStrong experience of event management, including local and international Fashion WeeksStrong presentation & superb writing skillsAble to identify communication opportunities across multiple media platformsStrong MS Word skills; including PowerPoint and ExcelWorking knowledge of traditional industry platforms including Launchmetrics, DMR