Corporate Affairs - Client Manager

Part of the wider Bastion Agency, Bastion Reputation has grown to become a leading corporate communications and business consultancy.

We believe your reputation is one of your greatest assets. It should be a reflection of your values and tell your employees, shareholders, stakeholders, corporate and community partners, the media and the wider community what you stand for. In the constant hum of a connected world and 24-hour news cycle, it is increasingly difficult for governments, brands, businesses, organisations, leaders and individuals to build genuine and trusted relationships with those who matter most. Every day, we help organisations and their leaders connect with the people who matter most in ways that build, maintain, strengthen and protect their reputation.

Our team and our leaders bring decades of diverse global experience in business, government, media, community and not-for-profit, private sector and consulting from Australia, the Pacific, North America, Europe and across Asia. Together, we have the privilege of partnering with our clients to solve their most complex business challenges using communications and business expertise to develop strategic, smart and creative solutions.

Put simply, we help you be your best on your best day and the best you can be on your worst day.(TM)

Role overview:

As a Client Manager - Corporate Affairs, your role works closely with senior team members and project leads to support the delivery of client work and other Bastion Reputation related projects, while also on occasion leading client projects, project teams, or streams of work.

You will successfully manage competing deadlines and client priorities, perform well under pressure and support client and project teams to deliver against the brief, while also finding ways to add additional value.

You will contribute positively to Bastion Reputation’s culture, play an active role in its continual development, embrace the benefits and opportunities of our small team and play a key role as part of our high performing project teams.

We have a strong values-led approach and believe our philosophy drives our work, our relationships with clients, and our respect for each other.

Key deliverables

• Understand and implement the client strategy approach across the entire client portfolio
• Provide support to Principal Consultants and project leads
• Contribute compelling, strategic, and creative ideas and advice
• Ensure project management in line with established client strategy process
• Lead internal and client-facing project meetings as required
• Work with Director Client Operations to ensure operational efficiency
• Help manage budgets and deadlines across a range of accounts
• Support Principal Consultants to identify and drive business development opportunities

The Client Manager will be responsible for:

• Client strategy: Understand and contribute to the development of a strategic approach to a client project. Contribute to and lead client discussions and be able to work across the team to implement the strategy. Demonstrate corporate affairs instincts and transform thinking and ideas into direction and support for clients. Need to be able to think laterally, demonstrate confident counsel, and not be afraid to seek guidance and support as you develop.
• Client service: Work closely with project and practice leads to proactively support client needs, strategy development, and project management, and on occasion lead client projects, project teams, and streams of work. Consistently producing work to a high standard and ensuring the highest levels of customer support and service.
• Quality output: Consistently produce strategic materials, insights and written documents of the highest quality, maintain systems and processes to ensure the quality, timeliness and responsiveness of project implementation, and contribute to the development of new ways to improve output quality.
• Business strategy and innovation: Understand and support Bastion Reputation’s philosophy, values and business strategy. Proactively seek to adapt to changing client needs by looking to adapt existing processes or contribute to the development of new products and services.
• Team player: Work effectively with senior management and assist the development of all team members. Support peers, help to mentor junior staff, embrace the small team culture and work as part of a high performing team.

Skills & Experience:

Qualifications

A communications, business, public relations, journalism, policy or equivalent degree or equivalent qualification is highly regarded but not a prerequisite.

Experience

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in corporate affairs, communications, or a media relations setting in either agency or in-house roles.
• Experience working on complex operational issues or crises that have had reputational impacts and an understanding of the methodology to deal with such events.
• Experience developing strategies, communications materials, messaging and content for diverse audiences and channels.
• Experience supporting senior team members or project teams working with client senior staff and executive teams to deliver positive outcomes for the organisation and stakeholders. Demonstrated experience leading client projects or streams of work.

Skills/Attributes

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Analytical capability, strong organisational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Strong sense of curiosity and a good sense for news
• Flexible working style and ability to problem solve and manage multiple projects and issues
• A self-starter with the ability to work with minimal guidance and supervision
• Ability to work and remain calm under pressure
• Organised and able to meet deadlines
• Works well in a team
• Ability to contribute to and clearly articulate strategic ideas
• Strong project and team management
• Ability to confidently facilitate client discussions
• Initiative and accountability

What we offer

We offer a robust Growth & Development program training throughout the year, additional 'Happy Days' off once a month, Culture Club: a calendar of events that connects our team in creative and fun way, The Bastion Evolve mentoring program, Community & Social Responsibility leave 2 days a year.