Account Director, Publicity

About the role

Allied Global Marketing is hiring an experienced Account Director to join our Publicity team. The Account Director will serve as a senior client and team leader, overseeing a portfolio of accounts from strategic development through execution and analysis.

Duties

• Serve as senior-level client counsel and maintain strong, transparent relationships with assigned clients
• Develop a deep understanding of each client's business, industry, communications goals, audiences, and competitive landscape
• Oversee the health, performance, retention, and growth of assigned accounts
• Lead the development and execution of long-term publicity strategies that support client goals and elevate brand awareness
• Lead priority client meetings, planning sessions, and senior-level presentations
• Anticipate client needs, challenges, and reputational risks, and provide clear, solutions-oriented recommendations
• Manage expectations and ensure commitments are delivered accurately, on time, within scope, and on budget
• Review and approve major client and media-facing materials, including plans, messaging, pitches, press materials, and presentations
• Guide account teams in developing timely, creative, and newsworthy campaigns
• Provide senior direction on media strategy, story positioning, target development, and outreach
• Stay current on journalist workflows, editorial priorities, cultural moments, and the evolving media landscape
• Establish campaign goals and ensure reporting includes accurate results, meaningful insights, and strategic recommendations
• Maintain oversight of account scopes, budgets, staffing plans, billable hours, timelines, and profitability
• Identify scope changes, staffing needs, or account risks and work with senior leadership to address them
• Support crisis communications and issues management through timely escalation, strategy, and implementation
• Ensure account teams maintain accurate timelines, project tracking, time reporting, and documentation
• Use AI tools to strengthen research, strategy, campaign development, reporting, and workflow efficiency while maintaining sound professional judgment

Staff Development

• Lead, manage, and develop staff across assigned account teams
• Coach Account Supervisors, Senior Account Executives, Account Executives, and other team members on client service, strategy, writing, delegation, media relations, and account management
• Establish clear responsibilities, delegate effectively, and maintain quality control
• Provide timely, constructive feedback related to performance, productivity, client service, and professional development
• Address performance concerns directly and partner with senior leadership on evaluations, goals, workload, and staffing needs
• Support professional growth by identifying opportunities for employees to take on additional responsibility
• Develop a spirit of teamwork, maintain positive morale, and hold teams accountable for agency standards and client expectations
• Coach team members on the effective and responsible use of AI tools to improve productivity, strategic thinking, and account performance

Agency Development

• Develop a thorough understanding of services offered across Allied Global Marketing
• Collaborate with teams across Partnerships, Paid Media, Brand Experience, Strategy and Innovation, Field Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Social Media, Multicultural Marketing, and other agency divisions
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and bring additional agency capabilities into client programs
• Work with senior leadership to develop account growth plans and pursue additional revenue opportunities
• Support new business through professional networking, relationship building, and participation in industry and community organizations
• Represent Allied professionally at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities
• Contribute Publicity expertise to integrated agency campaigns and new business efforts
• Champion the responsible use of AI tools across account teams and identify processes that can be improved or streamlined

Personal Development

• Build trust with clients, Allied’s leadership team, and colleagues through sound business judgment, leadership, strong writing, and professional communication
• Maintain professional conduct in all business and social situations
• Continue developing communication, leadership, financial management, creative thinking, and independent problem-solving skills
• Stay informed about media, culture, technology, client industries, business trends, and the broader marketing landscape
• Practice honesty, integrity, and transparency with colleagues, media, influencers, clients, and business associates
• Recommend strategies that support client goals while protecting the reputation of both the client and the agency
• Collaborate with Allied’s leadership team on workload planning, account priorities, evaluations, and professional development
• Foster team collaboration and positive workplace morale through mentorship and support