Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.
WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com
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Culture doesn't wait for a briefing. If you can feel where the conversation is heading before it gets there and turn that instinct into work brands wish they'd thought of, we should talk.
Burson is the world's largest communications network. In Sydney, we work like a tight, ambitious creative team with the firepower of WPP behind us — helping some of the most recognised brands on the planet earn their way into culture.
We're looking for an Account Director to join our Consumer & Brand team: a sharp operator with real cultural instinct, who can turn what's happening in culture into earned ideas that land - while leading clients and inspiring a team along the way.
Someone genuinely plugged into culture and able to spot the signals before they become obvious. You enjoy digesting the news, delving into Reddit, following social media, trends, creators and communities, and bringing your own personal interests and points of view into the creative process. You get a buzz from identifying the pulses that are about to break into popular culture - and using them to spark ideas brands will want to own.
You know what's cutting through this week, who's driving the conversation and where the next thing is coming from. You've got the taste, curiosity and confidence to turn those observations into sharp, relevant creative thinking that drive impact for clients. What matters is that you're culturally switched-on, always looking beyond the obvious and rarely the last to know.
Client leadership
- Build trusted relationships and become a genuine strategic partner to your clients.
- Lead the development and delivery of integrated, earned-first communications campaigns.
- Provide sharp, proactive counsel on brand, reputation and business challenges.
- Spot emerging opportunities, risks and cultural moments - and guide clients through them.
- Lead media, social and influencer programs, with strong relationships across every channel.
- Turn insight, audience understanding and cultural trends into ideas that earn attention.
Business & commercial
- Own planning, budgets, forecasting and financial management across your accounts.
- Keep a close eye on profitability, resourcing and opportunities to grow.
- Contribute to new business — pitches, proposals and the ideas that win.
- Collaborate across the agency to deliver joined-up, integrated solutions.
Leadership & team development
- Lead, coach and inspire your team to do the best work of their careers.
- Give regular, honest feedback and back your people's development.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture.
- Champion Burson's values and add to the energy of the place.
- Around 8–10 years' experience in PR, communications or integrated marketing, ideally agency-side.
- A strong track record across consumer, lifestyle, FMCG, retail or brand programs.
- A genuine cultural point of view - you're tapped into what Australia is talking about, from the mainstream to the niche, and you bring that instinct into the work.
- Instinct for earned creative and real fluency in social & influence - you understand how ideas travel through media and creators.
- Exceptional client and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading and mentoring teams.
- Solid commercial understanding, including budgets and resourcing.
- Excellent communication, presentation and storytelling ability.
- A deep, instinctive understanding of the Australian media, cultural and creator landscape - the references, the nuances and the relationships.
- Flexible and hybrid working.
- Global learning and development through Burson and WPP.
- Career pathways across a global network.
- Industry-leading clients and award-winning work.
- A collaborative, inclusive culture, plus wellbeing initiatives and support programs.
Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.
At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
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