The Account Director is responsible for overall agency service and activities on one or more account(s). Responsible for the long-term strategic direction, answering the “Why” and “What” for each account. Has bottom-line accountability for assigned accounts, including for the agency’s recommendations and performance, as well as the strength of client partnership and account profitability.

Essential Functions

• Delivers high-value, strategically driven work for our clients.
• Provides strong leadership and strategic direction to the client/agency team utilizing sound judgment, demonstrating market/industry expertise, a thorough understanding of client’s objectives, KPI’s and long-term vision.
• Ensures the health of the client (client satisfaction and profitability to the agency) in conjunction with the Group Account Director.
• Manages formal client mapping process to broaden the agency’s purview/stature within the client organization.
• Oversees all new go-to-market plans, programs and creative to provide strategic direction; reviews and collaborates on all communication briefs and project charters collaborating with strategist and creative director.
• Gains a thorough understanding of clients’ business and industry, becomes the “subject matter expert”, keeps abreast of changes, trends and issues and shares knowledge/information with client and internal team as appropriate.
• Presents clients with business building ideas, including potential new agency products/services; ensures client perception that agency consistently provides value-added services.
• Leads the Strategic Council to set the strategic vision for the account, communicates it to cross-functional account team and ensures all agency deliverables are on strategy.
• Guides and assists development of proposals and delivery of client presentations; ensures they are dynamic, persuasive, and grounded in strategic relevance.
• Keeps senior management continually advised on major projects or changes in strategic direction.
• Prepares client case studies and provides newsworthy information .
• Seeks business opportunities with new and existing clients; works with assigned project manager to create proposals for new work.
• Anticipates problems, surfaces them and effectively resolves issues (with specific regard to strategic direction, budget allocation, and staff issues)
• Ensures assigned staff has a clear understanding of expectations for their performance, receive frequent ongoing constructive feedback, have opportunities for learning and building new relationships, and are mentored for professional development; swiftly addresses performance issues.

Other Responsibilities

• Gathers, analyzes and shares with the entire team all relevant information and insights regarding our clients’ business.
• Fosters collaboration and positive conflict resolution among team members.
• Understands and abides by the agency’s business practices and philosophies as well as understands policies and procedures.

Expectations

• Behaves as a selfless leader throughout the office/agency, inspiring and motivating the team.
• Reinforces and leads by example through core values - vigilance, integrity, loyalty, drive, ingenuity, candor, accountability, tenacity, open-minded, respect
• Be a champion and student of client’s business and goals.
• Defend teams against unrealistic expectations.
• Partner with all departments to ensure all work is done on time, on strategy and on budget.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, or related field is preferred.
• This position requires demonstrated ability effectively lead multiple staff and the activity of at least one account.
• Eleven (11) years of experience in marketing in a client organization or account management in a full service agency environment preferred, including at least 5 years’ experience leading cross-functional teams and supervising direct reports.
• Demonstrated leadership ability with strong verbal, written, presentation and communication skills.

Posted On: Monday, October 22, 2018