M+C Saatchi UK
PR Business Director
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Job Title: Business Director
We are seeking an experienced Business Director to lead and grow a portfolio of global communications accounts spanning public sector, international development, and philanthropy clients, including leading foundations, multilateral institutions, and UN agencies. Accounts can span a wide range of tasks from leveraging media relations to promote brand reputation, visibility, and trust to leveraging media relations as part of integrated creative advocacy or resource mobilization campaigns across global and social issues.
The Business Director will provide senior counsel to clients, drive business growth, and lead multidisciplinary teams across media relations, digital communications, thought leadership, content, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.
This role requires exceptional client management, strategic judgment, and a deep understanding of complex global issues, including climate, economic development, health, migration, humanitarian response, and sustainable development.
About The Role
The Business Director will act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders while ensuring the delivery of world-class communications programs that drive reputation, influence policy, and achieve measurable impact.
We are trusted to deliver high quality, high frequency of media hits for our clients in top-tier and regional media. Therefore, it is crucial that candidates demonstrate very strong, active relationships with journalists.
Responsibilities
Strategic Client Leadership
- Serve as the senior day-to-day lead across accounts, empowering the talented existing team to grow in their roles too.
- Advise C-suite and senior leadership teams on reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and communications strategy.
- Develop integrated annual communications strategies aligned to organizational objectives.
- Anticipate emerging risks and opportunities and provide proactive strategic counsel.
- Lead complex global initiatives spanning multiple geographies, audiences, and stakeholder groups.
Media Relations & Reputation Management
- Oversee international media engagement programs across top-tier global, regional, and specialist media.
- Ensure consistent frequency of high-quality media hits for our clients.
- Build and maintain relationships with influential journalists, editors, and opinion formers.
- Lead executive profiling, thought leadership, and media training programs.
- Manage crisis and issues communications where required.
- Ensure all communications activity enhances organizational credibility, trust, and influence.
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Stakeholder & Policy Communications
- Design engagement programs targeting policymakers, donors, governments, multilateral organizations, partners, and civil society.
- Develop advocacy narratives that translate complex policy and technical issues into compelling stories.
- Support high-profile moments including international summits, UN General Assembly, COP, Davos, and major global forums.
- Advise on coalition-building and partnership communications initiatives.
Integrated Communications Delivery
- Lead and/or be part of multidisciplinary teams across PR, social media, digital, content, creative, and paid amplification. Role of BD will depend on whether a paid, owned, or earned centric campaign.
- Maintain excellent standards of project management and quality assurance.
- Oversee budget management, forecasting, and commercial performance.
Team Leadership
- Manage and mentor account directors, account managers, and account executives.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
- Lead resource planning across accounts.
- Oversee team development and objective setting.
Business Growth
- Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and grow account revenue.
- Lead proposals, pitches, and strategic growth conversations.
- Contribute to wider agency thought leadership and marketing activities.
- Support the agency’s growth across the global development, philanthropy, and multilateral sectors.
About You
You’ll bring with you:
- 10+ years of experience in public relations, strategic communications, or corporate affairs.
- Strong experience advising senior leaders and executive stakeholders.
- Proven track record managing large international communications programs.
- Excellent understanding of global development, international affairs, sustainability.
- Strong project management capabilities ensuring slick and seamless delivery across complex communications programs.
- Strong network of relevant media and wider key opinion former contacts.
- Strong media relations experience across international media markets.
- Outstanding writing, presentation, and narrative development skills.
- Experience managing multimarket communications programs.
- Demonstrable financial and commercial management experience.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
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Highly Desirable
- Experience working with governments, foundations, development banks, UN agencies, or international NGOs.
- Knowledge of climate, health, economic development, migration, or humanitarian issues.
- Experience supporting communications around major international events and summits.
You’re Good At
- Strategic thinker with sound judgment.
- Confident advisor to senior leaders.
- Commercially minded and growth-oriented.
- Highly collaborative and diplomatic.
- Calm under pressure and comfortable managing ambiguity.
- Curious about global affairs and societal challenges.
- Passionate about communications that create measurable impact.
What You’ll Get
For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:
- 27 days annual holiday
- Private healthcare
- Employer contributory pension
- Life assurance and income protection
- Subsidized gym membership
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion with learning opportunities around D&I, mentoring programs, and the opportunity to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events.
- All necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.
About M+C Saatchi Group
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.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please make us aware as part of your application.
All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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