Account Director

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. The agency is recognized for its innovative, human-first, award-winning work for blue-chip clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s. VML is a Leader in Forrester Wave™ Reports for Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services, and Marketing Measurement & Optimization. VML Health, the agency’s specialist health network, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. The global network spans 26,000 people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About the role

The Account Director serves as an agency leader for achieving the client’s strategic brand objectives by collaborating with the client and focusing on all facets of strategic growth. This role establishes and drives internal working teams to deliver on clients’ goals, mines new organic business opportunities, and builds relationships across the client’s organization and with key industry partners. The Account Director fosters a culture of growth and development within their team, demonstrates initiative in improving partnerships, and drives marketing excellence, innovation, and client intelligence. Financial responsibilities include review and sign-off of monthly billing and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term account success and growth.
• Partner with Strategy and Planning to transform client business objectives, competitive opportunities, and customer insights into actionable marketing communications strategies and tactics.
• Partner with Creative to ensure creative platform ideas and development are on-strategy and break through category norms.
• Lead and manage a team on a given book of business; build and maintain senior-level client relationships.
• Provide team direction to ensure business and project goals are met (80% of role).
• Mine new business opportunities (20% of role).
• Develop direct reports and foster a culture of growth.
• Maintain leading-edge knowledge of clients’ business and industry; seize opportunities to contribute to agency new business.
• Regularly inform Manager on business status, including escalation as needed.
• Review and manage production budgets and estimates on a job-by-job basis to prevent overages.

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field; graduate degree is a plus.
• Six to 10-plus years of experience, including large-agency interactive or senior client-side marketing experience.
• Experience managing and growing employees and teams.

Skills

• Strong account management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Proactive problem solver with a positive attitude; models teamwork for junior staff.
• Ability to lead and grow multiple clients concurrently.
• Comfortable working in an integrated agency environment (creative, production, comms planning, media, delivery).
• Deep knowledge and experience with multichannel marketing.
• Familiarity with online and social media advertising.
• Production experience, including traditional video and nimble content development.
• Ability to support Strategy in crafting creative briefs and provide clear, persuasive briefings to Creative teams.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $75,000—$180,000 USD.

Schedule

Hybrid approach with teams in the office an average of four days a week.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package. Learn more about WPP Benefits.