WE’RE HIRING: SENIOR CLIENT MANAGER / CLIENT MANAGER
Position:
SENIOR CLIENT MANAGER / CLIENT MANAGER (STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
Experience: Min 5+ years
Area: Public Affairs / Stakeholder Relations / Corporate / Strategic Communications
Salary: Highly Competitive
Based: Position is located in Belfast City Centre, with occasional travel to our Dublin office (circa 25%).
About Brown O’Connor | Ireland
Brown O’Connor is one of Ireland’s most trusted and respected public affairs, stakeholder relations and strategic communications advisory firms. We operate from a vibrant central Belfast office and have recently expanded with a new Dublin base, reflecting our continued growth across the island.
Specialist in Public Affairs, Corporate Media Relations, Issues Management & Crisis Communications, the agency has been awarded the Belfast Chamber Communications Excellence Award, CIPR Best Public Affairs Campaign, CIPR Best Healthcare Campaign, CIPR Best Event and has been named the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland Consultancy of the Year.
We have a track record for managing and delivering complex corporate media relations, stakeholder relations and public affairs programmes for some of Ireland’s leading businesses, professional services, charities, trade bodies, interest groups and public-sector organisations.
We help our clients gain impact and outcomes through specialist insight and influence with editors, government ministers, stakeholders, investors and corporate decision makers.
We are trusted advisors based on our:
Extensive experience working for high-profile, public facing organisations and delivering our services on a range of sensitive issues.
Credibility through the people who make up our team and the approach they take.
Clients who provide endorsement on the reliability and professionalism of our work.
Our Locations
Our central office is based in Belfast City Centre with an office in Dublin City Centre, managing clients based in Northern Ireland, London, Dublin and the US.
Our Specialist Areas
We are highly regarded for our specialist Public Affairs and Corporate and Strategic Communications services which includes Crisis Communications, Property and Planning Communications, Litigation Communications, Event Management, Political Monitoring and Communication Strategy Development.
Our Clients
Our consultants work across a range of areas including legal, commercial, financial, healthcare, industrial, financial technology, manufacturing, public inquiries, regulators, commissions, non-departmental public bodies and the third sector.
Our Approach and Company Culture
The success of Brown O’Connor | Ireland is based on the performance of its people.
Our rigorous approach delivers positive outcomes for our clients, and we go out of our way to ensure success.
We deliver excellence in all that we do and our team is accountable and responsible for all activity they undertake.
What we offer
22 days annual leave and 11 public holidays
Flexible working 1 day per week (Friday)
Extra day annual leave for Birthday
Paid annual CIPR Membership
A dynamic working environment working with significant clients
Training opportunities
Mobile phone allowance
Business development bonus scheme
The Person
Brown O’Connor is seeking a talented and ambitious Senior Client Manager / Client Manager to join the team. As we continue to grow across the island of Ireland, this is a chance to play a central role in an ambitious and dynamic advisory firm.
This is an exciting and demanding role within a leading consultancy and requires a resilient individual with demonstrable client management and leadership ability.
You will be responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of clients, contributing to strategic planning, and delivering high‑quality advice in fast‑moving environments.
The ideal candidate will bring strong writing skills, sound judgement and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders, journalists and elected representatives.
You will thrive under pressure, enjoy problem‑solving and be motivated by the opportunity to shape impactful campaigns.
You may be already working in corporate communications / public relations / public affairs in an agency; as an in-house communications manager; in politics; law; professional services or as a journalist.
You will have a deep professional interest in business, the media and politics and have a detailed understanding of the role that media relations, public affairs, and stakeholder relations plays.
This role will suit a person who is well-organised, proactive, curious, accurate and collaborative.
Role Specification
Strategic Counsel
Proven client handling skills with experience in managing large accounts, providing proactive strategic advice.
Ability to manage a high level of client interaction and be able to design client activity and implement strategic advice.
Expert knowledge of the local business and political environment in Ireland.
Proven relationships with ministers, departmental officials, journalists, editors, civic and business leaders.
Day to Day Delivery
Proven ability to work in a fast paced, often pressurised, outcome orientated environment.
Create and manage lobbying campaigns securing policy change, legislative change and the smooth running of political engagement programmes.
Oversee the delivery of the Brown O’Connor political monitoring services.
Manage and lead the forward work programmes of All-Party Groups at the NI Assembly.
Devise and manage pre-application community consultations for important planning applications.
Write strong editorial content on behalf of clients including press releases, opinion/platform pieces and blogs and ensure coverage across a range of media outlets.
Experience in the drafting of media materials that relate to matters such as financial results, senior appointments, mergers and acquisitions, redundancy notifications, investment announcements and general business issues.
Ability to synthesize complex business issues and communicate to a wider range of audiences, often under deadline.
Manage an entire range of suppliers such as photographers, graphic designers, videographers, economists and sectoral experts integral to the successful delivery of client activity campaigns.
Manage corporate communications and public awareness campaigns integrating various methods to create significant public interest.
Proven ability to curate engaging social media content across multiple platforms.
Forward plan to ensure smooth running of client campaigns on time, and within budget.
New Business Development
Take a leading role in new business development and organic growth opportunities alongside company directors and be comfortable in pitching and proposal development.
Supporting successful tender writing from start to submission.
Experience in identifying and converting new business opportunities.
People Management
Line management duties with wider members of team.
Understanding the requirement to work with efficiency and profitably.
Manage team members on client accounts to ensure work is carried out successfully and within allocated budgets.
Work as a team player with Brown O’Connor colleagues to ensure success across client accounts.
Deliver outcomes for clients and work to raise their profile in the media and with key stakeholders in a positive way.
Republic of Ireland
Due to the growth in our client base in the Republic of Ireland, and the opening of our new office in Dublin, around 25% of the role will focus on clients in RoI.
Criteria
5+ years working in the areas of Corporate / Strategic Communications / Public Relations / Public Affairs or within a communications environment.
Third Level Degree or equivalent in the preferred areas of Communications, Law, Politics, Business, Social Science or Humanities.
Possess strong writing and editing skills with ability to write attention-grabbing media material, client correspondence and reports.
An excellent communicator both written and oral.
Commercially and politically aware.
Outstanding organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at the same time.
Strong initiative, leadership skills and work ethic.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by client and other activity.
Clean driving licence and access to a car is a must, due to client requirements.
Desirable Criteria
Experience in working in a similar role in the Republic of Ireland.
Consultancy background or experience in a client facing role.
How to Apply
To apply in strict confidence, please send your detailed CV, covering email and the completed response to the set question below, by email, to Brown O’Connor | Ireland at hello@brownoconnor.com by 5pm Friday 24th April 2026.
QUESTION: Please outline, with examples, how you meet the Criteria as outlined in the Job Specification (Word Limit 300).
Please state your name and ‘CM BOC 26’ in the subject line.
Application Process
Initial shortlisting
Two stage interview