About Kellen Kellen is a global management and communications company serving more than 125 trade associations, professional societies, and charitable organizations representing over 10,000 companies and 100,000 professionals worldwide. We specialize in management, communications, digital strategy, meetings and events, and consulting across a diverse range of industries.
Founded in 1964 and charter-accredited through the AMC Institute, Kellen has offices in Atlanta, Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC.
Kellen's greatest asset is its employees. In order to reinforce the culture underpinning our approach to service delivery, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. Our professionals hail from more than a dozen countries and speak more than two dozen languages. We are invested in finding, hiring, training, and promoting the very best to be #OneKellen.
Following Kellen Best Practices, the Account Supervisor, Strategic Communications helps to develop the vision and strategy for Kellen’s food and beverage association and corporate client accounts, and manages the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of strategic communications activities designed to promote, enhance, and protect client organizations’ brand reputation, or bring awareness to products, events, help defend and build the category and manage current and emerging issues. Manages a team of communications professionals and subject matter experts to design, execute and track strategic communications programs.
This position can be filled in our New York City, NY or Washington DC office.
Essential Functions
Communications Strategy, Vision, and Leadership
Establish and maintain strong relationships with media contacts and manages the execution of PR/PA programs and campaigns.
Manage proactive and reactive media relations campaigns that achieve quality, high-quality and high-impact placements on a regular basis.
Monitor current issues/events relevant to clients and responds to and pitches national and local media inquiries for information and interviews.
Provide counsel on media inquiries to senior staff and member leadership.
Oversee development of client content, including contributed articles, press releases, media pitches, and digital content.
Develop and implement integrated strategic communications plans, including strategy, tactical plan and key messages to advance clients’ brand identify; broaden awareness of programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of industry and associations priorities and programs across key stakeholders’ audiences.
Create marketing/PR strategies that will allow client organizations to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted external audiences, including the media, partnership organizations and key influencers.
Identify challenges and emerging issues facing client organizations and their industries. Work with clients to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and defines and executes appropriate strategies to support them.
Create and manages crisis communications/issues management plans for clients.
Serve as a senior communications counselor to clients’ leadership.
Work closely with senior management on overall client strategy and annual KPIs.
Manage clients’ profitability according to company guidelines and metrics and works with Finance to produce regular client forecasts, analyses, and staff utilization reports.
Identify opportunities for Kellen business development to grow portfolio.
Understanding of food, beverage and nutrition industry landscape preferred.
Communications Operations
Oversee the development of clients’ communications including strategic communications plans, annual reports, marketing collateral materials, social/digital media plans and electronic communications, website, as well as vendor/partner relationships.
Media train clients, as needed.
Oversee the active engagement, cultivation, and management of press relationships to ensure adequate coverage surrounding client programs, special events, public announcements, etc.
Business Development, Networking, and Thought Leadership
Act as a brand ambassador for the company, may represents Kellen at client networking events, conferences, and or related association groups.
Establish and maintain relationships with relevant organizations. Makes connections that may lead to additional business/new clients.
Identify speaking engagements to position self as a thought leader in the communications space.
Draft op-eds and articles for submission to relevant publications and outlets.
Grow accounts by consulting with existing clients to identify additional services that may be of benefit.
Team Leadership
Administer and manage policies, procedures, standards, and practices of department to ensure effective and consistent operations.
Ensure satisfaction of team’s clients and works with client team to resolve client-level issues and ensure on-going profitability.
Ensure alignment of team to Kellen’s mission, vision, and organizational goals.
Other duties that align with the mission and vision of the company.
Qualifications
Bachelors’ degree in journalism, communication, public relations, marketing or other related discipline.
5-8 years’ experience in a communication role; agency experience highly desired.
Demonstrates experience and leadership in managing comprehensive, strategic communications, media relations, and marketing programs, to advance an organization’s mission and goals.
Strong leadership experience with the ability to positively manage and motivate a team.
Knowledge of food, beverage and/or nutrition industry working in a communications role in-house or at an agency/firm.
Demonstrates skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.
Polished communication skills, both written and verbal, and interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution; ability to diplomatically challenge the status quo with a logical argument in support of the change with an understanding of the risks involved and/or downside.
Ability to establish credibility and build collegial relationships with all levels of staff.
Effective planning and organization skills to effectively manage multiple client relationships/associations at any given time. Reliability to maintain established schedule, manage time and priorities, and meet commitments and deadlines.
Innovative thinker with a track record of translating strategic thinking into tactical action plans and output.
Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to effectively manage through change and transition.
Excellent ‘pitch’ and presentations skills.
Proactive and collaborative working style.
Physical Demands This job operates in a hybrid office environment with one day weekly in-office requirement.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
This position requires frequent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
This position requires basic math skills to calculate formulas, commissions, discounts, etc.
Travel Requirements Travel may be necessary, up to 25% of the time and may be by travel by air, car, or rail.
Kellen EEO Statement Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Consistent with Kellen’s mandatory vaccination policy, your commencement of employment is contingent upon you providing proof that you have been fully vaccinated on your first day of employment with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccination. Any medical information we receive will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable law. Requests for a reasonable accommodation for exemption from this policy due to medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs will be subject to review by our People & Culture Department.
An equal opportunity, professional services firm with a primary concentration in association management and communications. Additional services include meetings and conference management, digital marketing and strategic advice. Kellen Company is made up of 300 employees from a wide variety of professional disciplines. It has seven offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Beijing, Chicago, Kansas City, New York City and Washington DC.
