Associate Director - Food and Drink

Citypress; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading PR consultancy in Manchester seeks a Senior PR Consultant to lead client programmes primarily in the food and drink sector. The ideal candidate should have significant experience in advising organizations at a senior level and demonstrate strong leadership within the team. Responsibilities include strategy development, client relationship management, and mentoring colleagues. The company offers competitive benefits, fostering an innovative and inclusive culture, and is committed to employee development. This role is a great opportunity to enhance your career while working with notable brands.

Benefits

Annual performance bonus

Enhanced family leave policies

Healthcare plan

Company phone and laptop

Interest-free loans

Qualifications

• Experience in senior roles within PR or equivalent agencies.
• Strong record of providing counsel to senior stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of food, drink, and FMCG regulatory landscape.

Responsibilities

• Shape and oversee client programme strategies.
• Lead strategic client relationships and ensure quality.
• Drive team performance and organic growth opportunities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Influencing skills

Critical thinking

Team leadership

Communication

Job description

We are PR Week’s mid-size agency of the year; a leading PR, social and creative communications consultancy that works with clients to promote and protect their brands and reputations

Our team of over 100 people across the UK have diverse backgrounds and work together to deliver award-winning communications advice and campaigns.

Citypress is independently run, employee-owned and one of the top employers in the PR sector.

We are the only communications agency to feature in the top 50 of the Social Mobility Index and are the most-awarded agency in the PRWeek Best Places to Work awards over the last six years.

We are an entrepreneurial agency with a great culture that backs people to develop their careers and deliver their best work.

Our culture is inclusive, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome people with different life experiences to bring valuable insight and perspectives to our agency and clients.

About this role

We are growing our senior team and would love to hear from experienced PR consultants interested in a new challenge. This role is perfect for someone with experience advising organisations at a senior level, who enjoys leading client programmes and developing teams and we are particularly keen to hear from consultants with a passion for the food, drink and grocery sector.

Our food, drink and grocery practice is unrivalled. We are retained by four of the ten largest food and drink companies in the UK, and our existing client relationships include Aldi, Coca-Cola, Arla, Molson Coors, Kellogg’s and Nestlé. Our remit stretches from global strategic positioning to delivering brand-defining work for some of the nation’s most-loved brands, and from managing crisis and issues to building advocacy among the critically important stakeholders.

Candidates will have experience in corporate communications with a particular focus on clients in the food and drink and FMCG sectors and a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape in which they operate.

As a leader in our agency you will have decision making authority, commercial responsibility and work with a wide range of specialists at Citypress, from research and analytics to talent development and our creative teams.

Role responsibilities

• Shaping and overseeing the strategy, direction and delivery of client programmes
• Directly leading strategic client relationships, ensuring exceptional quality of counsel and execution, providing informed advice on often complex issues and developing clearly articulated strategies that support award-winning, brand-defining work.
• Developing expert knowledge of our services and sectors to provide the best counsel to clients and anticipating client needs using research, analytics and insights to identify trends that present risks or opportunities to reputation & brand.
• Helping to lead a sector-focused team, driving lead generation and responding to new business briefs
• Leading, developing, and inspiring teams to deliver exceptional client work
• Commercial responsibility for key clients
• Working collaboratively with others to generate financial growth across the agency.
• Originating and converting new business and organic growth opportunities
• Building personal network of communications buyers to support new business and agency capabilities.

Role requirements

• Previous experience in senior roles either in-house or at equivalent agencies
• Strong critical thinking and exceptional track record of leading clients and/or teams
• Proven ability to advise senior stakeholders and consistently deliver exceptional results
• Up-to-date knowledge of the risks, opportunities, trends and context for food and drink and/or FMCG companies
• A positive and flexible attitude to work, with the ability to build relationships collaboratively across the business at all levels
• Ability to mentor and nurture the careers of colleagues by contributing to our learning and development programme.

Skills & Behaviours:

Quality, Innovation & Strategic Thinking

Defines and upholds quality benchmarks across multiple accounts, ensuring strategic alignment with business objectives while driving programme innovation and creative excellence.

Communication & Influencer

Influences client and industry discussions, driving thought

leadership while supporting agency leadership in shaping internal and external communications strategy.

Acts as a senior leader within the agency, supporting practice-wide talent development and ensuring teams are structured and resourced effectively for long-term success.

Commercial & Business Growth

Plays a critical role in business expansion by securing new business opportunities, maximising client profitability, and driving financial success across multiple accounts.

Acts as a strategic advisor to senior clients, supporting complex decision-making while ensuring the agency delivers high-impact, results-driven work.

What we offer

• Annual performance bonus
• Annual tax-free share of profit payment via employee-ownership trust
• Generous holiday allowance with additional days accrued with length of service
• Enhanced family leave policies, with supported return to work programme
• Menopause and fertility policies and leave
• Support leave
• Extensive learning and development programme
• Dedicated mentoring and coaching
• Healthcare plan, wellbeing and employee assistance programme
• Company-funded independent financial advice
• Company phone and laptop
• Interest‑free loans
• Regular team days and company social events

If you need help with our application process, please contact [e-mail]