PR Account Manager

PR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Location: Lagos, Nigeria (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports To: CEO / Founder

ABOUT CARPE DIEM SOLUTIONS

Carpe Diem Solutions is a strategic communications and public relations agency based in Lagos, Nigeria. We serve institutional clients across FMCG, financial services, entertainment, and the public sector, delivering work that is sharp in its thinking, beautiful in its execution, and built to earn lasting trust.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

The PR Account Manager is a pivotal role within the Carpe Diem team. You will be the primary client-facing lead across a portfolio of accounts, responsible for ensuring that every piece of work leaving the agency meets our standard of excellence.

You will act as a trusted advisor to clients and a steady hand within the team, bridging strategic direction from leadership with day-to-day delivery.

You will drive and lead a portfolio of clients, ensuring that your team is aligned with and delivering against each client's business objectives, whilst building and maintaining strong relationships with the media.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Leadership & Opportunity Creation

• Own and manage day-to-day relationships across assigned client accounts, serving as the primary point of contact for both clients and internal teams.
• Develop and execute PR strategies tailored to each client's brand, sector, and business objectives.
• Provide a range of PR strategies and client information to the media across print, broadcast, digital, and social channels.
• Build and maintain structured relationships with media contacts through regular calls, updates, and in-person engagement.
• Liaise with clients on press campaigns, creative projects, and wider marketing activities.
• Develop nuanced and creative news angles, stories, and pitches to further clients' profiles, products, and services.
• Advise clients on the merit of stories and opportunities, providing honest counsel rather than simply executing requests.
• Contribute to new business pitches and proposal development.
• Manage a high level of client interaction with professionalism and discretion.

Relationship Management & Engagement

• Support the CEO on strategic campaigns and project plans.
• Liaise with the press and media to secure coverage, manage enquiries, and handle requests for comment.
• Build and maintain a network of media contacts, including journalists, editors, and industry commentators.
• Manage and mentor junior team members, supporting their professional development.
• Brief and report to clients with clarity and consistency.
• Analyse PR coverage and provide written reports with actionable insights.
• Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, from C-suite executives to creative teams.

Strategy & Content

• Create content for digital and traditional media, including:

o Press releases

o Opinion pieces

o White papers

o Articles

o Blog posts

o Briefing documents

• Support social media management, community engagement, and content scheduling across client accounts.
• Draft pitches and press releases to a high standard, ensuring all written content is precise and error-free.
• Contribute to campaign strategy by providing ideas that are both creative and commercially grounded.
• Stay current with industry trends, PR tools, and developments within the Nigerian and African media landscape.
• Support crisis communications planning and response when required.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• Membership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) or the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
• Genuine passion for media, including digital and social media.
• Creative and strategic thinker.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple client portfolios simultaneously.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong teamwork and negotiation skills.
• Ability to think strategically, analyse information, and translate insights into action.
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian current affairs, culture, and the wider African media landscape.
• High levels of creativity, imagination, and execution discipline.
• Ability to work independently and effectively within a hybrid work environment.

Desirable Requirements

• Five (5) or more years of agency or in-house PR/Communications experience.
• Demonstrated copywriting and client relationship management skills.
• Portfolio showcasing excellent communication and presentation work.
• Existing network of media contacts and influencer relationships within Nigeria.
• Experience working across FMCG, Financial Services, Entertainment, or Public Sector accounts.