Job Description
PR Associate Director | Restaurants Team
Location: London (hybrid working, 2-3 days in office)
Contract Type: 8-month Maternity Cover
Contract Dates: July 2026 - March 2027
About Us
Bacchus is an independent, female-founded, global communications agency. For over 25 years, Bacchus has built brands at the intersection of culture and commerce: igniting conversations, focusing the spotlight and creating legacy. Operating from an international network across 7 global locations (London, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha), Bacchus delivers a new standard of excellence for clients at the forefront of luxury and innovation.
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Associate Director to join the team on a 8-month Maternity Cover contract. This role will lead a portfolio of client accounts, providing strategic direction, senior client counsel and strong team leadership to deliver high-impact PR and influencer campaigns.You will play a key role in shaping client strategy, driving media results, mentoring team members and contributing to new business opportunities across the agency.
About You
* Significant experience in PR and communications, ideally within a communications agency.
* Proven ability to lead client accounts and deliver successful PR campaigns.
* Strong media and influencer network.
* Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills.
* Confident client manager with strong commercial awareness.
* A collaborative leader who enjoys mentoring and developing teams.
Company Management
* To meet regularly with your SVP to plan client and team/division strategy, discuss opportunities, and relay achievements
* To assist Company Directors and SVPs in directing & supporting other teams where required
* To proactively contribute ideas and processes to improve company culture and systems.
Public & Influencer Relations
* To maintain excellent top-tier press and influencer contacts through frequent communication and face-to-face meetings
* To research and place substantial features for all clients by regular proactive contact with the media
* To meet regularly with your team Account Manager to ensure that all clients’ coverage requirements are met. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring your team achieves its target KPIs
* To write excellent quality and grammatically correct press releases, pitches, strategies and new business proposals with excellent attention to detail
* To identify trends, creative feature angles and orchestrate brainstorms
* To maintain a strong personal network of contacts within various industries relevant to Bacchus client sectors.
Client Direction & Relations
* To develop and maintain good client relations at all times, leading the relationship, providing senior client counsel and resolving issues quickly and efficiently
* To oversee management of all client projects successfully, hitting KPIs and objectives set, and show strong campaign management skills
* To develop client strategy with your senior team and oversee implementation resulting in excellent results that hit KPIs and objectives
* To ensure each client receives sufficient time and attention to achieve the required results defined by your team lead
* To support the Account Director with regular client contact/liaison
* To sign off all materials before they are submitted to clients including meeting materials, monthly reports, press releases etc, ensuring they are of high quality, grammatically correct and with excellent attention to detail
* To showcase successful campaign budget management
* Excellent problem-solving skills and issue resolution
* To be the first point of contact during any client crisis (24 hours a day) and to manage the response with SVPs
Team Direction
* To oversee and deliver all team activity and output including KPIs, strategy development and creative ideas
* Consistent and excellent team motivation, leadership and mentoring skills
* To meet regularly with senior team members to benchmark performance and plan client strategy, discuss opportunities, and relay achievements
* To celebrate successes and achievements of junior team members and relay upwards to SVP
* To ensure that your account team discharges its duties in a responsible, timely and professional manner
* To liaise frequently with your Senior Account Director for updates on day-to-day management and activity
* To feedback on team updates, achievements and any potential issues to SVPs
* To demonstrate excellent conflict resolution skills within the team to settle disputes and issues effectively
* To monitor team members’ performance and feedback to your team lead - upskilling the team where appropriate and provide senior mentoring
* To consider the development of each team member and implement development/training plans with HR
* To train and develop the leadership skills of the Account Directors in your team
* To monitor team members’ wellbeing and raising any potential concerns with HR
* To regularly boost team morale and employee engagement
* To manage and sign off holiday requests and monthly expense reports
New Business
* Effective research and contribution to new business presentations, partnership decks and client strategies
* To identify prospective clients through regular networking, third-party introductions, and other effective marketing methods
* To generate the majority of new business leads for your team
* To demonstrate the business benefit of personal network
* To meet prospective clients regularly
* To assess profile and brand match of prospective clients
* To lead the process from taking brief to pitch response for a prospective client (to be approved by an SVP)
* To assess potential additional revenue streams from the client across agency
* To support in the negotiation of fees under the guidance of the Company Directors & SVP
* To supply the CEO with appropriate contractual details
* To effectively and confidently lead a new business pitch presentation
* To achieve the team billing targets as set out by the Directors
General
* To implement company practices and develop and maintain systems
* To attain and maintain the requisite IT skills to efficiently utilise the company’s office hardware and software packages
* To adhere to the company’s code of conduct and systems, as set out in the Company Handbook
* To maintain an awareness of social media and deliver regular content for the company's social media accounts
* Read widely - target, general and social media to widen knowledge of the news agenda, cultural affairs, events and articles of interest to Bacchus client sectors
* Provide support across teams within the agency including attending brainstorms
* To demonstrate ‘best practice’ at all times to other team members
* To conduct yourself in an appropriate professional and mature manner at all times; within the office, in front of the client and at any point when you are representing Bacchus
* Attend client events across the agency & industry events
Client List
* Junk Burgers
* Kiez Kebab
* Hoppers
* Spring
* RH
* Heckfield Place
* Creative Restaurant Group
* Langosteria
* RH England + Mayfair