Account Executive, Social Justice Communications, SF

Position description

Fenton is the social change agency taking on the world’s toughest challenges in human rights, social, economic justice and racial justice, environment, education, and public health. Primed with deep issue expertise and powered by the creativity and passion of 100 professionals working across the country, we create strategies for clients to help build a more just, equitable and sustainable world. A fast growing and award-winning agency, we lead the industry in diverse representation as 55% of our entire staff and 62% of our leadership team are people of color. We are women-led as 74% of our staff are women. 

We are a culture steeped in social change and activism, with a collaborative work environment, excellent benefits and a strong sense of purpose and community across the agency.  Fenton is a remote-forward agency. Staff work primarily from home but also gather in person as needed in our co-working spaces in the New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and in the Bay Area regions.

Our clients are foundations, advocacy groups and global brands. We develop and execute strategic public awareness campaigns and offer a wide range of communications services including campaign messaging, media relations, digital strategy, and branding.

We have an exciting opportunity in the San Francisco, CA/Bay area for an Account Executive to work on impactful communication campaigns that advance human rights and democratic values.  If you are passionate about raising awareness on critical issues ranging from gun violence prevention, attacks on reproductive rights, the injustices Black communities face within the criminal justice system, addressing hate-filled rhetoric against the AAPI, Jewish and LGBTQ communities, put your communication skills to work to make a difference

The Account Executive plays a foundational role within the agency’s account teams. The role serves as a springboard to a career in the communications industry as they work closely with more senior level team members to grow an understanding of the business by performing a range of assignments across writing, editing, media relations, event coordination, pitch development, and message development.

We recognize that the most fundamental level in building a communications career starts at the Account Executive position. To support that foundation building, Account Executives participate in a two-year program where they will; (1) have the opportunity to support clients across all of our practice areas, (2) focus on professional development by completing a robust learning curriculum and (3) receive annual performance reviews and salary increases on your anniversary date.

Coupled with real-time feedback during the year, at the conclusion of each year of the program, your advancement and continued employment will be evaluated. Assuming you are meeting or exceeding expectations across all review categories, you will advance to the next level of the 2-year program, leading to a Senior Account Executive.

Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Core Duties

• Executing a variety of public relations and campaign tactics, including:
• Pitching mid to high level reporters – including wire services, major regional papers, editors, producers, columnists
• Overseeing production on media lists and media summaries
• Tracking of news coverage
• Organizing and staffing press events and editorial board visits
• Writing press releases and advisories, pitch memos, fact sheets, op-eds and other press materials as assigned
• Conducting research and providing topline analysis
• Participating in regular staff and team meetings – providing input and feedback on business improvement, including client service staff development, and office procedures
• Drafting a range of media materials such as news alerts, news releases, pitch letters, case histories, by-liners, op-eds, etc.
• Developing editorial calendars
• Developing and proposing tactics that further clients’ objectives.
• Supporting new business pitches through a wide range of activities such as contribution of research or program ideas
• Conducting client relations on specific tasks – such as obtaining approval for expenses
• Delegating tasks to Account Coordinators and Fellows when appropriate
• Performing basic budgeting for client accounts
• Drafting work plans
• Participating in new business development as assigned such as research and/or writing support for proposals

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of prior experience in executing communication plans such as researching and building media lists; pitching stories to the media; conducting media monitoring;
• Prior experience in or strong passion for social justice is a plus!
• Is a strong communicator with solid communications skills – written, verbal and interpersonal skills
• Is a multi-tasker and effective organizer who is capable of managing competing tasks and projects simultaneously while ensuring deadlines are met
• Is able to build trust and cultivate strong relationships with teams, clients, vendors and industry professionals
• Has ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional “can do” attitude
• Is able to clearly and promptly communicate problems, needs, opportunities and proposed solutions to your manager and colleagues in order to solve problems
• Performs tasks accurately and thoroughly to ensure high-quality work is delivered on time
• Is able to take the initiative to identify challenges, propose solutions and take the lead when prompted by a supervisor.

Fenton Offers

• Commitment to pay equity practices
• Salary = $65,000 (year 1)
• Year-end discretionary bonus
• New business commission incentive
• Comprehensive healthcare plans with generous employer premium contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401K with employer match (50% up to 6% of your salary, eligible at 90 days of employment)
• Profit sharing plan (2-4% of total W2 earnings, eligible after 2 years of employment)
• Flexible PTO for exempt staff and generous accrual policy for non-exempt staff
• 12 paid company holidays
• Discretionary company closing between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays
• Pre-tax commuter benefits via WageWorks
• Mobile phone reimbursement
• We have adopted a hybrid remote/in-office worksite model. We require all employees to live within a 35-mile radius of the San Francisco/Bay Area. You have the option to work remotely from your home and will travel to Company meetings/events as needed, or you can work from any one of our shared workspaces.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.  

Fenton is an anti-racist and intersectional organization that prioritizes the needs of those who have been historically marginalized or oppressed.  We do the work of creating positive social change as an act of repairing the harm done to those who have been and are currently disenfranchised across racial, gender, sexual orientation and preference, religious and other marginalized backgrounds.  We are committed to doing work that is rooted in justice and equity and continuing to learn how to do this work better. You can read our full DEI statement here:  https://fenton.com/dei-statement/ 

People of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive staff. We believe that our firm’s continued success is driven by hiring and retaining high caliber staff from all backgrounds, experiences, identities, and orientations. We are committed to supporting our staff in growing their careers. 

Application instructions

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