Account Manager

Local Manchester - Manchester, Greater Manchester (Hybrid)

We are SEC Newgate UK

An insights and research-driven global strategic communications and advocacy group, we have over 1,400 people worldwide, working across 60 offices in 29 different countries. We work at the nexus of business, politics, communities, markets and media to deliver positive outcomes.  

There are many things we feel passionately about but one that links them all together is respect. Respect for each other, ourselves, our clients, our suppliers, the environment we work in, the communities we operate in, and respect for everyone that are impacted by our actions.  

Our opportunity:  

SEC Newgate is seeking an Account Manager to join its Manchester team, offering a unique opportunity to work across both local advocacy and corporate affairs. In this role, you will play a pivotal role in driving planning communications — such as community consultation and stakeholder engagement — while also contributing to the consultancy’s broader corporate affairs work.

You’ll be supporting organisations at the forefront of transformational change, including developers of new homes, renewable energy projects and major infrastructure, ensuring their messages resonate at both local and national levels.

This position is ideal for professionals enthusiastic about local advocacy and experienced in planning communications, and keen for an opportunity to experience corporate affairs.

Whether your background is in an agency or another relevant role within the development sector, you’ll have the chance to engage with the challenges of securing planning consent and to deepen your understanding of government policy affecting the property, energy, transport and infrastructure sectors.

The role offers excellent prospects for career progression in both local advocacy and corporate affairs.

What you’ll be doing:

As an Account Manager, you will use your skills and experience of the corporate communications, built environment and infrastructure sectors to manage, on a day-to-day basis, a variety of accounts, owning responsibility for activity, working across sectors within SEC Newgate and working closely with junior colleagues and the senior team.

You will be expected to:

• Take day to day responsibility for building client relationships and managing smaller accounts.
• Work with your Account Director to develop and deliver industry leading programmes of stakeholder and community engagement, public consultation and local and national public affairs.
• Attend community events, with occasional evening and weekend working.
• Support the growth of SEC Newgate in the North and the Local Advocacy team by actively identifying and pursuing new business leads, delivering research for proposals and pitches and supporting the company’s marketing initiatives.
• Embed your knowledge of best practice in consultation and engagement and your sector knowledge into the team, contributing articles to our regular client newsletters.
• Line manage Executives and play a role in their professional development.

Ideal for you if you have:  

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a professional eye for detail.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• The ability to think clearly, rise to challenge and work as part of a team as well as under your own initiative.
• A good track record of delivering programmes of stakeholder and community engagement, public consultation and local and national public affairs, either at an agency or in-house.
• Demonstrable confidence in managing relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to think strategically, to manage projects and workstreams and to deliver client-ready documents and events.
• Some experience of actively nurturing and developing members of a team.
• A genuine desire to network, take part in marketing activity and win new business.
• Experience in crafting clear and compelling messaging for both internal and external audiences, ensuring alignment with wider corporate objectives.

More reasons to apply:

Our people are at the heart of everything we do and their experience at SEC Newgate is so important to us. Our ambition is to create a working environment where everyone can thrive. We meet the ambition and drive of our people with the opportunities and support to build a successful career. 

We are incredibly proud of the culture we have built and have recently been listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 for the third year in a row. 

And if that’s not enough, here is a taster of what else is included:   

• Hybrid working (60% in the office) with mandatory Mondays
• New business commission
• Flexible working hours, with core hours from 10am -4pm.
• 30 days annual leave excluding bank holidays, with the option to buy more; additional day off for your birthday and an additional charity day off.
• Access to Oliva, our mental health support platform and up to ten therapy or coaching session as years.
• Private medical insurance and employee assistance programme from day one. 
• The ability to work remotely for up to four weeks in one year.
• Training and internal mentorship programme.

To apply, please follow this link. Applications close Saturday 31st January but we may appoint before then.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability.

Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK.