Senior Account Executive

About the role

ERM is the world’s largest pure play sustainability consultancy, helping shape a sustainable future with the world’s leading organizations. We are expanding our Strategic Communications offering to include Reputation Management, reflecting a growing need to both mitigate risk and build value, especially as AI increasingly shapes public perception.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver earned media strategies aligned with client objectives; create media lists, track coverage; leverage tools and AI platforms; build and maintain trusted relationships with journalists and influencers.
• Engage in broader reputation management strategies including monitoring emerging reputation risks and stakeholder sentiment, supporting rapid response and issues management planning, and tracking evolving media, policy, and AI-driven reputation trends.
• Identify and act on timely news moments, translating complex sustainability topics into relevant, media-ready commentary.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, and competing priorities with attention to detail.
• Experience analyzing earned media performance and communicating insights and recommendations to clients.
• Anticipate client needs, identify opportunities, and proactively recommend solutions.
• Support development of messaging, media strategy, and crisis communications, risk narratives, Q&A documents, and stakeholder communications including preparing responses to industry issues on behalf of clients.
• Present ideas and recommendations effectively, in an engaging, confidence-building manner, both in prepared presentations and extemporaneously in client meetings.

Requirements

• Proven experience in delivering integrated, multi-channel sustainability PR programs for clients across sectors and geographies.
• Hands-on experience with earned media, including demonstrable relationships with journalists.
• Ability to develop and execute proactive media strategies, including story mining, positioning, and tailored pitching approaches for top-tier and trade media.
• Sound strategic judgment and the ability to connect media activity to broader business, reputation, and stakeholder objectives.
• Strong understanding of media monitoring tools (e.g., Signal AI, Meltwater) and how to use insights to inform strategy.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, concise, and compelling content.
• Experience working in a fast-paced sustainability communications agency environment, ideally with a focus on B2B clients across sectors such as finance, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, or technology.
• Collaborative, proactive mindset with the ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team; willingness to work across time zones; sense of humor appreciated.
• Ability to present ideas and recommendations effectively, in an engaging, confidence-building manner – both in prepared presentations and extemporaneously in client meetings.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in corporate communications, preferably in an agency setting.
• Requires a 4-year degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) or equivalent degree within appropriate discipline such as Business, Marketing, or Communications.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Media relations and storytelling expertise.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Pay

The anticipated annual base pay for this role is $85,000–$104,000 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs.

Schedule

Flexible schedule to accommodate global client needs.