Senior Account Executive, Food, Beverage + Agriculture

Padilla•Minneapolis, MN

3d•$65,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Padilla is seeking a Senior Account Executive to support integrated communications programs in its food, beverage and agriculture practice. The role owns day-to-day client work and program execution, bringing structure and clarity to complex programs and helping teams deliver organized, proactive work. Clients span the food system, with work focused on sustainability, innovation and demand generation across agriculture, food and beverage brands, and commodity and trade organizations. The Senior Account Executive translates strategic direction into execution across earned, owned, shared and paid channels. The role combines client and project management, content and storytelling, media relations, digital and AI tools, analytics, team coaching, cross-disciplinary collaboration and contributions to business development. The position also involves tracking industry trends and sharing relevant developments with the team.

Requirements

4–5 years of experience in public relations, integrated marketing communications or digital media.
Proven success managing client accounts and leading project teams.
Genuine interest and working experience in food, beverage and/or agriculture, and curiosity about sustainability, innovation and the business realities shaping the food system.
Knowledge of food and beverage trends, including relevant channels such as grocery and restaurants.
Exceptional writing and storytelling skills across formats and channels.
Experience with digital analytics, media monitoring and social publishing platforms, such as Muck Rack, Meltwater, Sprout Social or Google Analytics.
Interest in and familiarity with AI-powered communications tools, such as ChatGPT, Jasper, Brandwatch or equivalent.
Understanding of how to balance creativity, data and strategy to deliver measurable results.
Sound judgment, initiative, assertiveness, and the ability to manage up, down and across teams with confidence and respect.
Proactive mindset, strong judgment, collaborative approach and commitment to learning and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Own day-to-day execution for assigned accounts, translate strategy into clear plans, manage workflows, anticipate and resolve issues, communicate proactively, and bring structure to complex work.
Develop and implement integrated communications campaigns across earned, owned, shared and paid channels, including digital content, social media, influencer collaborations, media outreach, partnerships and activations.
Develop and manage client budgets, scopes of work and timelines; manage vendor relationships and staffing plans; monitor work-in-progress, flag risks and course-correct to support fiscal responsibility and delivery commitments.
Write and edit digital and social media content, press materials, bylined articles and thought leadership that reflect brand voice and strategy.
Use AI-assisted writing, monitoring and analytics platforms to uncover insights, streamline workflows and optimize content for engagement and reach.
Build and maintain relationships with journalists, influencers and creators; identify trends and opportunities, develop strategic pitches, and secure earned coverage across print, broadcast and digital outlets.
Track program performance, manage metrics dashboards, and translate analytics into clear, actionable client recommendations.
Coach assistant and account executives through direction and real-time feedback to support their confidence and day-to-day execution.
Collaborate with creative, digital, strategy and other teams to deliver integrated, insight-driven campaigns.
Contribute to new business efforts by developing proposals, presenting ideas and identifying opportunities to expand client partnerships.
Explore food media, food trends, technologies, platforms and communications best practices, and keep the team informed about developments.