About the role

We’re a lean, agile and highly valued team within the business that is dedicated in supporting our clients’ corporate communications and public affairs requirements – effectively communicating with a variety of external stakeholders and audiences to raise profiles and mitigate against issues and crises.

Our eyes and ears:  The primary role of the Account Executive (AE) in the Strat Comms & Political Insights team is to support the team, preparing draft client collateral, conducting research and first tranche analysis, monitoring the political and media environment, producing first drafts of comms and media material, and flagging emerging external issues effectively and quickly to the wider Kanda team. We provide training and mentoring at this entry-level AE role.

We work with a range of clients, from public sector local authorities who need help communicating their housing ambitions through to large, listed companies acquiring assets and progressing development proposals.   

In addition to our client focused requirements, we also support delivery of the Kanda brand and marketing which is a vital facet to our company new business strategy, so this role will also include a focus on supporting these important deliverables.

Your duties will include, but will not be limited to:

• Undertake media and stakeholder audits, research and mapping
• Drafting communications materials including news releases, blogs, media pitches, messaging collateral, Q&As and more
• Prepare first drafts of client research and outputs (e.g. political biogs. Etc.)
• Drafting templates to prepare political analysis, this may be an audit or client facing note
• Content creation to support Kanda and client social media strategies  
• Assisting in the organisation of events including visiting and booking venues, distribution maps, Q&As and rolling out the agreed stakeholder contact programme
• Industry research to support our new business targets and plans
• Supporting the Kanda marketing strategy including working with various teams to progress outputs which include our company newsletters, website updates, social media channels, credentials and more
• Compile and update stakeholder and media lists
• Act as a Kanda ambassador, reflecting the values of the business internally and externally (Inclusivity, Openness, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity

Key Attributes and Skills:

• Enthusiastic and approachable with a ‘can do’ attitude
• Works collaboratively; good team player
• Organised and delivers a high quality of work with strong attention to detail
• Robust copywriting skills
• Demonstrates agility and responsiveness
• Strong ability to assimilate, analyse and summarise written material quickly
• Excellent communication (written and oral) skills
• Excellent time management – managing the Urgent vs Important
• Desire to grow knowledge of planning policy and relevant communication skills including policy, political, stakeholder, media and public consultation engagement

About Kanda

Kanda is one of the largest independent agencies working in the UK property industry. We are a multi-disciplinary agency that is passionate about and dedicated to property and place-making – helping built environment creators, agents and operators to navigate

change, tell their story and connect with customers, communities and influencers.

We use our breadth and depth of experience to help our clients navigate external factors and internal business challenges, crafting robust multi-channel communications and branding programmes that align with strategic business objectives and which speak to multiple stakeholders. Our strength in planning consultation means that we understand the nuances of the sector and are intimately acquainted with the challenges and opportunities facing our clients and their businesses.

With more than 50 built environment experts, we work with our clients to understand, navigate and respond to the commercial drivers impacting the real estate sector, including Government

legislature, local issues, consumer trends and confidence as well as macro-economic factors.

Since launching in 2017, we have secured nearly 300 planning consents and developed a unique and bespoke consultation toolkit for the property sector underpinned by political knowledge and networks at all levels of local government. Our current client list includes developers, international investors, local authorities, housing associations, Great Estates, housebuilders, supermarkets, high street retailers and NHS trusts.

We have developed five company values that govern how we work with each other and with our clients, these are Integrity, Openness, Inclusive, Creative and Collaborative.

What we offer

We believe our people are our biggest asset and have developed an industry leading benefits package based around financial rewards, wellbeing and social rewards and physical rewards to ensure that our employees feel fully supported in all areas of their professional lives. In addition to the usual perks like fruit bowls, company drinks etc, we offer the following to all employees:

Financial:

• Life assurance (3x salary) and income protection scheme (75% of salary)
• Discretionary 10% bonus paid in two sums per financial year
• 5% company pension contributions
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay for those becoming parents

Wellbeing and social:

• Formal time off in lieu policy
• Length of service rewards at 5, 7 and 10 years
• 2x company social days per year including our Kandie Staykation overnighter
• 25 days holiday plus 3 days over Christmas, as well as a birthday day
• ‘Thrifty Thursday’ Kanda sponsored lunch on the last Thursday of the month before payday
• 3:2 hybrid working policy (minimum 3 days in the office including Monday’s)

Physical:

• BUPA private medical cover
• Access to Health Assured, our Employee Assistance Programme which offers free access to counselling, legal advice, health support and more

Equal opportunities

Kanda is an equal opportunities employer; we encourage applications from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to attract a diverse and inclusive workforce.

We welcome applications from candidates regardless of their ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, disability, religious beliefs or age.

Please email your Cover letter and CV to recruitment@kandaconsulting.co.uk