Senior Consultant strategic Communications

**ABOUT THE ROLE**:
The Strategic Communications practice of FTI Consulting is one of the world's most highly regarded communications consultancies. We offer a broad base of disciplines to clients including strategic consulting, corporate communications and issues management.

The South African team advises both large international and national companies and brands on all aspects of corporate reputation including communications strategy, senior counsel, media relations, stakeholder engagement, thought leaderships and issues management.

We are currently seeking a driven communications professional at Consultant and Senior Consultant level to join this growing team to support corporate reputation mandates for some of our biggest clients.

**What You'll Do**:

- Assist in managing client relationships with senior supervision and help to creatively prepare and deliver the client programme
- Develop professional relationships with clients and respond to their requirements for advice, deliverables and counsel when required
- Attend and participate in client status and other meetings as part of the account team and lead elements of the meeting
- Assist senior team members in managing accounts on a day-to-day basis and develop excellent relationships with clients
- Maintain professional, credible and beneficial relationships and associations with the media
- Maintain media lists, conduct media monitoring and analysis, prepare client media reports
- Proactively track media opportunities for the clients and suggest responses for these
- Distribute approved media releases, opinion pieces and other content
- Produce first drafts of communications plans aligned to the clients' communications strategies
- Demonstrate high quality original thinking around content development, writing and research documents from client briefs
- Have a good understanding of stakeholder mapping and engagement skills
- Understanding of digital communication and the role it plays in stakeholder and communication engagements
- Work alongside colleagues to ensure timescales and quality assurance are adhered to
- Support senior management in ensuring team processes are in place and share ideas on ways to evolve these
- Share industry and media insights across the team, based on journalist and industry contacts as well as thorough reading of the news

**Support Business Development**:

- Research potential clients and opportunities
- Proactively network with media and potential client prospects
- Work alongside senior members of the team on business development activities such as pitch preparation and delivery
- Support new business opportunities and produce fresh ideas

**Team Involvement**:

- Share ideas and client information with the team
- Share knowledge, insights and experience with colleagues
- Participate in learning and development initiatives
- Develop relationships with other teams within Strategic Communications and FTI

**Preferred Skills**:

- Ability to build strong rapport/relationships at all levels within FTI and client organisations
- Displays gravitas, confidence and maturity, able to take the lead in team meetings
- Capable of effective project management day-to-day on key accounts
- Intellectually strong, demonstrating an ability to deal with highly complex issues
- Exceptional written and verbal communications skills
- Stakeholder engagement skills
- Thorough knowledge of digital communication environment
- Demonstrates energy and a commitment to provide exceptional client service and add value
- Excellent team player with a positive and collegial focus

**Personal Requirements**:

- Previous experience in a PR agency or related industry of five years or more
- Excellent attention to detail
- Excellent organisational and planning skills
- Time management and the ability to prioritise a varied workload and plan ahead
- Ability to work effectively within a busy team
- Takes a pragmatic and 'can do' approach
- Ability to work well under time pressure

**Basic Qualifications**:

- Educated to degree level or equivalent in media relations, marketing, journalism, public affairs/politics, law or finance
- Experience in communication, finance or law
- Exceptional writing and research skills
- Strong media relations skills, with the ability to develop excellent contacts with the media
- Good understanding of the digital environment to advise clients on digital communications

LI-SS** Our Benefits**:
FTI Consulting can offer a competitive and attractive rewards package, excellent training and development opportunities, a supportive and friendly environment and the opportunity to achieve your potential.

**About FTI Consulting**:
What makes us unique? With more than 5,000 employees located in offices in every corner of the globe, we are the firm our clients call when their most important issues are at stake. Regardless of what level you are, you will have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from top experts in your field on