Assistant to the President - Higher Ed. jobs in Passaic, NJ

Role Summary:

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) is responsible for independently leading their team in retainer and project-based client revenue including delivering impactful campaigns that are designed to achieve business goals.

This role will manage 2-3 employees and work with clients who are often well-established and successful business leaders seeking to reinvigorate their personal brand and establish a lasting legacy. As a client-facing position, the AVP will be responsible for developing and executing communications strategies beyond traditional media, in addition to leveraging an existing network of strong media contacts. The ideal candidate for this role should be a passionate storyteller, able to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and partners to bring ideas to life from initial concept to final execution.

At all times must be an honorable steward of the JConnelly brand, consistently representing and reflecting the Company’s core values, approach and high standards of excellence in all client, media and public interactions.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for maintaining strong client relationships, ensuring their satisfaction with the agency's services, and delivering exceptional results
• Participates in new business meetings, when requested
• Sets and manages clients’ campaign strategies; drafts initial strategic communications plans and key messages including editing and synthesizing feedback from other team members
• Executes strategies outlined in the communications plan, including identifying and securing impactful profile and feature opportunities
• Develops unique story angles and timely pitches to generate consistent exposure; proactively identifies new opportunities to involve clients in the news cycle
• Builds and maintains relationships with target media outlets including trades, broadcast and national media
• Attends client media events and tours
• Supports manager in maintaining client budget, balancing appropriate service levels vs. client deliverables and expectations
• Delegates tasks and manages performance of junior team members, mentors across all service areas including client relations, media relations, social media, AI and others
• Reviews and edits agency generated content before sharing with clients

Education: College degree; or equivalent related business experience

Experience & Expertise:

• Minimum 7-10 years successful industry-related experience with an emphasis on managing client relationships
• Strong media background with deep media relationships across national and trade business and financial outlets that can be leveraged on behalf of the firm’s clients
• Demonstrated capability of effectively collaborating with and producing high-quality work for senior-level executives
• Experience in B2B tech and fintech industries is essential

• Fundamental understanding of how to tell compelling stories
• Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability

• Critical thinker with a proven capability in proactively determining client requirements, developing new ideas, and recommending appropriate strategies and initiatives

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem-solving and client service skills
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Proficiency with various software applications including the full Office suite, as well as social media channels
• Proficiency in PR related software including but not limited to Cision, Meltwater, TrendKite, Sprout, Hootsuite etc.