Account Executive, Sports Communication

Chicago, Illinois, United States;
New York, New York, United States;
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

About Ketchum

As a global communications consultancy with 100 years of experience, Ketchum is a trusted partner who is equal parts creative and analytical. Ketchum is a place where all perspectives and points of view are welcome and encouraged. We are a collection of communications specialists, content creators, creatives, researchers, data analysts, media pros, digital strategists, issues and crisis counselors, and tech nerds.

And we love when those worlds collide to create the very best teams and solutions for our clients. We work with the world’s leading brands, emerging start-ups, and everything in between. We are beyond proud to have created some of the most celebrated and award-winning campaigns in our industry. We’re just crazy enough to think we can impact the world – and how it responds to ideas – through communication.

We encourage our employees to be curious, brave, inspiring, and a force for good. Let’s talk. Come belong at Ketchum!

Ketchum is looking for an Account Executive to join their Sports team!

In this role, you will be part of a close-knit group of sports-obsessed professionals who operate within one of the largest and most awarded global communications consultancies!

You will help conceive and execute sports-related PR programming across a range of sports properties and events including the NFL, MLB, NBA, Olympic Games, Esports, Racing, FIFA World Cup, and NCAA. Ultimately, your job is to help sports leagues and brands tell great stories that fans and media will care about!

The ideal candidate is a team player who is curious, self-motivated, and has a passion for the sports business industry. You are resourceful, digitally savvy, and culturally aware. While this role is a “specialist” within Ketchum, on this team you will have the opportunity to wear many hats and be willing to jump in on strategy development, writing materials, brainstorming creative ideas, pitching media, conceiving social content, and counseling clients.

You are excited to learn new skills – with the support of your teammates – that you have not developed from past experiences.

• Maintain regular contact with clients; proactively offer and implement new ways to meet client needs.
• Play a key role in the planning and implementation of account activities including media relations, influencer engagement and event execution
• Demonstrate ability to effectively develop full range of written materials including client correspondence, press releases, media pitches, reports, etc.
• Conduct media outreach surrounding events and spokespeople.
• Initiate implementation and logistical management of media events, press conferences/briefings, media tours, etc.
• Ability to learn, understand, and adapt information for working with different sports leagues -- from Esports to the Olympics -- and apply that knowledge across various client businesses including brand PR, corporate sponsorship, etc.
• Build understanding and knowledge of the clients’ businesses and their competitive environments.
• Monitor media for all relevant sports and sports business trends; report to teams with insights for clients.
• Participate in program presentations to clients or new business presentation
• Have an understanding of client service financial processes and learn the “business of the business” as part of an agency environment
• Candidates should also be comfortable and familiar with working with athlete/celebrity spokespersons.

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skills and knowledge for successful performance would qualify. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:

• Three to five years of experience in public relations
• Experience working on teams to execute sports-related PR programming across a range of sport properties and events or experience working on big brands
• Proficient in both traditional and social media from a strategic and tactical perspective, as well as enthusiasm for client service and account management.
• Sports marketing experience is a plus, but not a must
• Excellent…