Associate Director, Corporate Reputation

We are looking for an Associate Director to join our Milan or Rome Office. The Associate Director is a strategic account leader responsible for managing and growing client relationships. This role focuses on leading integrated corporate communications activities and multistakeholder and advocacy campaigns, including media relations, press office, stakeholder engagement, executive media positioning, crisis communication management, and the creation and execution of communication plans for clients and prospects. The Associate Director supervises project teams, ensures project excellence, and drives both organic and new business growth. The role provides exposure to a wide range of high‑profile Italian projects and international clients, with the chance to collaborate across global teams and the opportunity to be part of a high‑performing, inclusive, and collaborative team environment. APCO is a dynamic and forward‑thinking organization that values innovation, continuous learning, and professional development and offers structured training programs, mentorship opportunities, and clear pathways for career progression. Responsibilities

• Independently lead client relationships effectively.
• Actively network to identify new business prospects, manage the proposal process ensuring quality of thinking, APCO’s work standards, and accurate scoping of work.
• Establish a strong network across APCO and engage in productive exchanges with colleagues to promote knowledge sharing and business opportunities.
• Confidently lead internal and client meetings, offering knowledgeable observations and strategic vision; establishing credibility through insights shared and encouraging and motivating others to communicate ideas.
• Serve as the principal client contact for clients, knowing when to leverage senior‑level relationships within APCO to further build the relationship within the client organization.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective.