Account Director
3 days ago
Houston
Account Director • The Account Director leads a particular piece of business within a constructive and creative operating environment., • Should lead with innovative thinking, embedding an ethos and desire to push boundaries., • As the leader of the Strategy Consulting/Account Management team and as the primary manager of the account. As such, he/she must recognize his/her prime responsibility for ensuring the quality of the agency’s product, particularly the strategic and creative product, and for inspiring the highest standards in other team members. In so doing, he/she will contribute to the successful and profitable stewardship of clients' brands., • Be an active and enthusiastic advocate of the Brand, in theory, and in practice. This means both completing the procedural sides of Brand Stewardship and living and breathing the philosophy of stewarding each Brand worked on. Live the Brand., • Build excellent relationships with clients, extending into social situations and with all members of the agency team for whom he/she is responsible., • The Account Director’s leadership role on his/her business should also contribute to the department in a positive manner: by setting an example of best-practice account management & strategy skills. Key Tasks and Responsibilities: Client • Has a deep understanding of the client’s business and of the key broader factors and trends shaping their markets and categories. Looks for opportunities to engage in broader business dialogue with clients., • Continually champions BrandExtract and the work produced by the agency., • Is a role model for the BrandExtract values and behaviors., • Promotes BrandExtract strategy both internally and externally., • Builds strong and enduring relationships with clients, professionally and socially, particularly at the Marketing Manager or equivalent level., • Is the VP/Snr Brand Strategist /CEO’s first port of call on all questions relating to the business., • Regularly seeks out ways to add value to the client/agency relationship (joint speaking appearances at conferences, effecting introductions to other members of agency management, agency presentations on broader industry issues)., • Able to open clients' minds on links between communication ideas and desired business or brand results. Creative • Is responsible for setting the creative context of the business: knowing what type of creative solution the Brand needs and understanding what the client thinks he/she wants, if these differ., • Is an excellent judge of creative work and is willing and able to argue a case in any client/agency forum that is grounded in strategic reasoning., • Understands how best to present the agency's work in a client forum in an innovative, fresh and inspiring way., • Ensures team briefing sessions are creative and inspirational., • Monitors creative output to ensure communication is on agreed brand strategy., • Able to recognize when an idea has the potential to work across multiple touchpoints and to encourage the creative to go further than the brief. Finance • Has the ability to write Business plans/project fee proposals, and present and sell to clients., • Is responsible for maximizing the accounts billings and revenue and for seeking out additional revenue opportunities., • Contributes to the good financial management of the business, improving profitability wherever possible, • Ensures that timesheets are always up to date and given to Finance timeously Traffic / Production • Is responsible for ensuring appropriate timescales on all major productions., • Is responsible for ensuring the right resource is allocated to the business in this area., • Is responsible for ensuring that the client understands the importance of having enough time for creative development., • Ensures team building and relationship management is present. Planning/Strategy • Forms a strong and enduring relationship with his/her PM on the business., • In tandem with the PM, develops the most insightful brand/marketing strategies and sharpest creative briefs possible., • Challenges the brand strategy within the context of the broader business, financial, cultural, and social environments., • Understands global and local competitor environments to best inform the strategy and the team on opportunities and threats. Media • Oversees the team’s media output and carries out quality control and effective resource management., • Keeps abreast of all developments in areas of media and fosters the use of best practice in media research, planning/buying tools, and methodologies etc., • Keeps the Media Partner apprised of relevant client/account issues. Management • Is ultimately responsible for the smooth running of the account at a macro level operationally, creatively and financially and is answerable on these points to the client and to the VP/Snr Snr Brand Strategist /CEO, • Creates the best possible environment in which to produce the best possible work. Is responsible for ensuring that his/her teams have the right time and resources to deliver this, within the client’s time frame., • Builds the respect and loyal commitment of team members, of the department and of the agency as a whole., • Inspires and energizes individuals and teams to achieve their own and company objectives., • Delegates effectively and appropriately upwards to the VP/Snr Snr Brand Strategist /CEO, as well as downwards, and to other departments., • Involves the VP/Snr Snr Brand Strategist /CEO appropriately on all relevant issues: status of business, brand health, creative projects, timings, etc BrandExtract • Builds knowledge across the BrandExtract divisions through the sharing of knowledge, experience and marketplace insights., • Positively seeks or constructs learning and feedback opportunities for peers, self, team and clients., • Demonstrates continuous personal and organizational improvements., • Creates a culture and environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn., • Ability to seek, identify and follow through on additional revenue streams. Bring these to the Team Lead and Management's attention. Requirements for the Position: Education & Experience • At least 8+ years’ experience working in an Advertising Agency in Client Service, with 2 years being in an Account Executive /Account Director role or similar., • Relevant tertiary qualification in Business Management/Marketing /Communication / Advertising., • Proficient in MS Office (Word / Excel / PowerPoint) and G-Suite, • Thorough knowledge and experience in disciplines relevant to the business., • Strong leadership and managerial skills, • Able to take strategic control of all accounts, • Self-reliant and take total ownership of the portfolio, • Have a strong overall business acumen, • Self-motivated with a high energy level, • Good presentation skills Skills and Attributes/key competencies • Leadership, • Able to manage a team, • Team player, • Active listening skills, • Tactful and diplomatic in conflict resolution, • Uses group input to make decisions when appropriate, • Projects a level of experience and maturity that commands trust and confidence, • Enthusiastic/confident/professional, • Proactive, • Attention to detail, • Excellent time management skills, • Exceptional interpersonal skills, • Excellent presentation skills, • Excellent organizational skills, • Strong overall business acumen, • Passion for client service delivery and hunger to achieve, • Excellent time management skills