Account Director – Hospitality, Food & Drink PR

Location: London – Hybrid (3 days in the office)
Salary: £50,000–£62,000 depending on experience + bonus & new biz commission 
Working pattern: Full-time or part-time considered

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Account Director to join an independent luxury lifestyle PR agency with an established reputation across the hospitality, restaurant, food, drink and travel sectors.

The agency partners with a portfolio of premium and luxury brands, delivering strategic communications, creative storytelling and impactful PR campaigns. With a strong network of media relationships and an understanding of the luxury lifestyle market, the agency has built long-standing client partnerships and a reputation for quality.

As the agency continues to grow, it is looking for a commercially minded and ambitious Account Director to take a senior role within the team.

This is an opportunity for an established PR professional who can provide strategic counsel, lead key client relationships, develop new business opportunities and inspire more junior members of the team.

The successful candidate will be confident operating autonomously, bringing fresh ideas and playing an active role in the continued development of the agency.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and oversee a portfolio of client accounts across hospitality, restaurants, food, drink, wine, spirits and travel.
  • Act as a senior strategic adviser to clients, developing communications strategies that deliver against their commercial and brand objectives.
  • Build and maintain senior-level client relationships, ensuring consistently high standards of service and delivery.
  • Lead the development and execution of creative, integrated PR campaigns.
  • Drive proactive media relations, leveraging established journalist relationships to secure high-profile coverage across national, consumer, lifestyle, food, drink, travel and hospitality media.
  • Identify opportunities for standout storytelling, brand partnerships, influencer activity, events and experiential campaigns.
  • Oversee press office activity, media strategy, campaign planning and reporting.
  • Provide senior counsel around brand positioning, reputation and communications opportunities.
  • Lead, mentor and develop junior team members, supporting their progression and professional development.
  • Play an active role in agency growth, identifying opportunities to develop existing accounts and contribute to new business pitches and proposals.
  • Monitor industry developments and emerging trends, bringing fresh thinking and opportunities to clients.

About You

  • Significant PR agency experience, ideally at Account Director or established Senior Account Manager (ready to step up) level.
  • Strong experience across hospitality, restaurant, food and drink, wine, spirits and/or travel PR.
  • Excellent media relationships and a proven track record of delivering high-quality national and consumer media coverage.
  • Confident providing strategic counsel and managing senior client relationships.
  • A strong understanding of the luxury lifestyle landscape and the ability to develop creative, commercially relevant campaigns.
  • Experience leading and developing account teams, providing direction, support and mentorship.
  • Commercially minded, with the ability to identify account growth and new business opportunities.
  • Highly organised, proactive and comfortable working autonomously.
  • A natural relationship builder who enjoys being part of a close-knit, entrepreneurial agency environment.

What's on Offer?

  • 33 days' annual leave, including bank holidays, plus your birthday off.
  • Additional time off between Christmas and New Year, depending on the calendar.
  • 4pm finishes every Friday throughout the summer.
  • 10% commission on new business brought into the agency.
  • Discretionary bonus linked to agency profits.
  • In-house and individual training, alongside a personal learning budget.
  • Employee of the Month recognition scheme.
  • Summer team away day and Christmas celebrations.
  • Paid volunteering days.
  • Interest-free season ticket loan.