Digital PR Manager
Portfolio scale. Campaigns are delivered through a team; your hands-on work is exception-based. This role brings direct commercial accountability. You oversee portfolio utilisation, margins and client retention, and you manage Leads rather than individual contributors. You are accountable for the portfolio of client accounts your team manages; the team runs the accounts day to day. You keep enough expertise in digital PR to judge quality, and build capability across the team.
How this role differs
You move from leading a pod to owning a portfolio commercially, and you take on formal line management, probation and progression decisions for the team.
The Manager delivers campaigns through a team and owns resourcing, the supplier mix and commercial health. The Digital PR Consultant owns the method and the relationships that make the hardest sells possible, without owning headcount.
Roles and responsibilities
- Set the creative and strategic standard across the portfolio, making sure campaigns reflect client goals, journalist needs and relevant SEO priorities.
- Review and challenge campaign concepts before resources are committed, coaching the team to strengthen weaker ideas.
- Allocate team time and budgets according to client priorities, campaign potential and agreed deliverables.
- Own the commercial health of delivery, balancing scope, hours, budgets and profitability with quality and client outcomes.
- Oversee client satisfaction and retention, supporting the team with escalated concerns and making sure clients understand progress, challenges and next steps.
- Be accountable for the client relationships across the portfolio your team manages, stepping in on scope negotiations, difficult conversations and renewal discussions.
- Develop the team's ability to present strategies, handle feedback and pushback, and maintain client confidence while results develop.
- Work with SEO Managers to make sure PR and SEO activity supports shared client objectives.
- Lead a team of four to six, including Leads, and be accountable for the quality of everything it produces.
- Line-manage the team through the full cycle: objectives, probation reviews, calibration, ratings, progression cases and formal performance management.
- Make hiring decisions for Executive and Lead roles, from writing the brief through to the offer recommendation.
- Retain the team: spot flight risk early and act on it before it becomes a resignation.
Entry requirements
Gateway skills needed at 8+ in the previous role to step into this one.
How this role is weighted
Immediate growth path
Accountable for outcomes beyond own portfolio or discipline.
Portfolio scale. The Consultant is the recognised expert voice. Same level, no drop in title or reward.