Account Director, Technology - Burson

Burson•New York, NY

4d•$60,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Burson is seeking an Account Director to provide leadership on its growing US Technology team, developing and delivering integrated communications strategies for leading technology and consumer brands. The role serves as a trusted client counselor, leads significant account workstreams, translates complex technologies into compelling stories, and guides multidisciplinary teams from strategy through execution. An initial focus is supporting a major audio streaming subscription service across its product and technology portfolio. The Account Director will shape communications for new products, features and innovations, including AI and personalization, and develop integrated launches across earned media, social, influencer, owned and internal channels. The role partners with product, marketing, trust and safety, legal and communications stakeholders to anticipate opportunities and reputational considerations and explain complex technology to consumers. This role is suited to an experienced communications professional with consumer technology expertise, strategic and creative judgment, strong media instincts and confident client-counsel skills. Burson describes its work as helping technology companies introduce products, navigate complex issues and build lasting reputations. The position is hybrid, with teams in the office around four days a week. Burson offers a competitive benefits package and describes professional development opportunities, mentorship programs and an inclusive, collaborative culture. The base salary range at the time of posting is $60,000–$140,000 USD; compensation varies based on job-related factors.

Requirements

6–8 years of experience in public relations or strategic communications, with significant experience supporting technology and/or consumer technology clients; agency experience is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience leading major account workstreams and serving as a trusted client counselor, including independently guiding client conversations and strategic recommendations.
Strong experience developing and leading integrated communications programs for consumer-facing technology products, services, features or launches.
Experience in relevant technology sectors such as consumer technology, AI and emerging technologies, digital platforms and services, consumer electronics, gaming, automotive technology or semiconductors.
Ability to translate complex technology and product information into clear, compelling, consumer-friendly narratives.
Strong product communications and launch experience, including positioning, messaging, earned media strategy and integrated campaign planning.
Deep media relations experience and established relationships with relevant technology, business and consumer journalists, along with sound news judgment and storytelling instincts.
Experience developing integrated 360-degree communications strategies spanning earned media, social, influencer, owned, internal and paid channels.
Strong understanding of AI, personalization and emerging technology trends, including related communications opportunities and reputational considerations.
Experience partnering with cross-functional stakeholders, including product, marketing, legal, trust and safety, social, influencer and communications teams.
Experience with issues and reputation management, including recognizing emerging risks, counseling clients and determining when concerns should be escalated.
Strong strategic and creative problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to move between big-picture strategy and execution details.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing compelling narratives and delivering persuasive presentations to senior audiences.
Excellent organizational and project leadership skills, including overseeing multiple complex workstreams, teams and deadlines simultaneously.
Proven ability to manage, mentor and develop junior and mid-level team members, delegate effectively and maintain accountability for account work quality.
Experience contributing to account growth or new business, including identifying opportunities, developing scopes or proposals and participating in pitches.
Proactive, solutions-oriented approach, with the confidence to form a point of view, make recommendations and challenge thinking constructively.
Genuine passion for technology and curiosity about the platforms, products, innovations and cultural trends shaping how people live and communicate.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic counselor to clients and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across product, corporate reputation and integrated communications priorities.
Lead significant client relationships and account workstreams, set priorities, anticipate needs and ensure high-quality strategic and creative delivery.
Develop and lead integrated communications strategies for technology products, features and innovations, including product launches, media relations, reputation programs and executive thought leadership.
Translate complex technologies, including AI-powered and personalized experiences, into compelling narratives for consumers, media and other stakeholders.
Lead product and feature launch communications from early planning and positioning through launch and post-launch storytelling.
Develop 360-degree communications strategies across earned media, social, influencer, owned, internal and paid channels, coordinating relevant specialists.
Provide strategic media counsel, develop storylines, oversee proactive media strategies and maintain relationships with influential technology, business and consumer journalists.
Counsel clients on emerging technology and reputational considerations, identify potential risks and stakeholder concerns, and advise when issues should be addressed or escalated.
Lead cross-functional planning with product, marketing, social and influencer, trust and safety, legal, analytics, creative and communications stakeholders.
Use technology, media, cultural and consumer-behavior trends and insights to identify strategic opportunities and anticipate conversations.
Set strategic direction and quality standards for messaging, media materials, executive content, briefing documents and presentations.
Lead client presentations and strategic discussions, articulate recommendations, challenge thinking constructively and adapt strategies to feedback.
Oversee multiple complex workstreams, timelines, priorities, budgets and deliverables across fast-moving accounts.
Manage, coach and develop junior and mid-level team members, delegate effectively and maintain accountability for work quality.
Partner with senior account leaders on account health and growth, identify opportunities to expand relationships and introduce capabilities.
Contribute to new business and practice growth through proposal development, strategic planning, pitch participation and broader initiatives for Burson’s Technology offering.