Group Account Director

Job Overview

Assumes responsibility for an account portfolio, senior/executive client relationships, and contribution as an agency leader within an agency.

Competency

Client Relationship & Influence:

• Comprehensive expertise of industry trends/best practices with application to multiple clients' businesses

• Trusted business advisor to C-Suite / Executives

• Internal client expert (objectives, needs, business health, SWOT, internal politics)

• Respected by clients as an industry expert and a business-level point of escalation for swift resolution of conflicts

• Persuades clients towards the right business decision

Financial & SOW Management:

• Builds, recommends, and negotiates SOWs and retainer models

• Oversees portfolio profitability

• Oversees large, complex accounts with minimal oversight

Industry Knowledge & Business Growth:

• Applies industry expertise across multiple clients

• Accountable for organic growth within the portfolio

• Expected to identify and deploy key team members to act as Trusted Advisors who can uncover opportunities and cultivate additional business

• Manages critical business issues

Leadership & Team Management:

• Produces real-time perspective and proactively preserves clients' satisfaction at all times

• Is forward-thinking: anticipates the impact of internal decisions (i.e. resourcing) and navigates accordingly; and anticipates both internal and external issues/roadblocks and implements solutions

• Sets team expectations that everyone is accountable for

• Establishes high-performing teams

• Knows when to lean in vs pull back

• Inspires cross-functional team

Execution & Problem-Solving:

• Leads by setting an example of professionalism, work ethic, and honesty

• Sets the tone for the account and for team collaboration

• Decides when/who to integrate into the cross-agency team

• Sets expectations for the team on key deliverables, client needs, scope requirements, and overall team behavior

• Strong sense of urgency, coupled with grace

• Manages up with informed, choiceful communications that share high-level knowledge of the accounts, business performance, clients, team morale, resourcing, and work

Communication Skills:

• Shares knowledge with agency, client, and industry

• Able to drive broader agency decisions

• Demonstrates sound judgement in all facets of communication across all levels

• Observes, interprets, and anticipates others’ concerns and feelings, and communicates this awareness empathetically to others

• Exercises discretion in what is discussed and how manages interpersonal relationships

• Ability to resolve conflict in a calm and neutral manner

• Ability to hear what isn't being said, and then guide the team accordingly

Industry Background:

• Agency background: Advertising, In-house agency, Marketing Agency