Account Director, Client Services

Group SJR•New York, NY

1d•$90,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are currently seeking an Account Director to support the Client Services team in meeting their objectives and delivering the highest quality client experience. Our Account Directors are solution-oriented strategists, equal parts client counselor, team leader, content director, problem solver and growth driver. From building strategic plans to balancing the expectations of clients with the execution of our work, they know what it takes to mobilize an efficient internal team to deliver work with business impact, all while maintaining an exceptional relationship with a range of clients. The Account Director role sets the tone for our success, both inside the agency and with our clients. They know how to leverage their experience to earn the trust of a client team and use that trust to introduce forward-thinking solutions that achieve clients’ objectives and create new opportunities for the business. As a leader within the agency, they identify innovative ways of working to improve our services, mentor team members and ensure the successful delivery of our work on time and on budget, every step of the way. Account Directors have a deep understanding of how to uncover market insights, how to integrate data and analytics, how to transform data into actionable and creative content and how to navigate the client(s) and make the right strategic moves to deliver compelling work. Their strong commercial acumen positions SJR as a reliable consultant and trusted partner. As a leader on our Client Services team, the Account Director is a strong strategic thinker and communicator, responsible for upholding the overall experience and ongoing value of working at Group SJR. The ideal candidate will have proven experience leading an efficient team to deliver work with clear business impact, all while maintaining an exceptional relationship with a range of clients and stakeholders. This is a Hybrid Position with a required 3 Days in Office

Requirements

Minimum five years’ account management experience; agency setting preferred
Strong understanding of content strategy and experience implementing it across a variety of platforms and channels
Proven track record of developing strong client relationships and ability to approach business with confidence and awareness
Demonstrated ability to mine insights that form the basis of creative strategies and content programs
Strong growth mindset with a capacity for delivering above and beyond the client’s initial ask
Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills to sell concepts and strategy to current and prospective clients
Effective communication and leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and nurture your team
Commitment to continuous improvement with a demonstrated drive to respond to feedback through an iterative review process
Exceptionally personable and positive
Proven ability to approach business with confidence and awareness

Nice To Haves

Experience in a journalistic or publishing environment, bringing a strong understanding of storytelling and content creation.
A passion for staying up-to-date on the latest trends in content marketing, digital strategy, and technology

Responsibilities

Acting as main point of contact for client on matters ranging from approach to strategy, issues, budget, and new opportunities
Proactively planning long term for clients while leading day-to-day operations
Nurturing current client(s) and build a strong, trustworthy relationship that upholds the standards of Client Services at SJR
Leads and executes all strategic planning activities associated with client programs
Actively contributing to ideation and brainstorming
Developing strategic plans in order to execute client objectives
Drawing out best thinking of clients by working with the team
Effective problem solver — guides the team toward the achievement of client objectives
Builds cooperation and collaboration between individuals, eliminates the need for rework and fosters continuous improvement
Thinks through facts, diagnoses a situation, and finds an accurate and workable solution to help client’s business and team prosper
Acts as point of escalation for client requests and issues with support from a Senior Account Director or Managing Director of Client Services
Proactively provides client with strategic insight by:
Keeping abreast of industry trends, audience needs and project outputs
Working with analytics team to evaluate programs and campaigns, determining the extent to which the client’s objectives were met
Spotting holes in plans and knowing how to rearrange resources in order to maximize ROI
Adheres to finance requirements, including submitting invoices and drafting MSAs, establishing compliance with SOWs, maintaining revenue forecasts, budgeting, setting up vendor budget management and reconciliation, invoicing and collecting payment
Establishes and grows strong relationships with internal and external agency partners
Is an active part of the business development function; identifies and maximizes opportunities for organic growth within existing clients
Works closely with team to optimize any revenue opportunities within clients
Establishes and maintains relationships with internal and external partners to keep SJR front of mind for content- and creative-related briefs
Participate in pitch development and presentations as required
Leads end-to-end quality control and flawless execution of creative and editorial production through best practices
Presents creative concepts to client with a view to converting concepts into sales
Provides strategic feedback on creative concepts and content topics to team
Pre-production, on location and post-production: ensures management of production is run efficiently and budget restraints and client expectations are being met
Acts as a positive role model and mentors the team to maximize individuals’ growth by harnessing the strengths and opportunities of each team member
Works closely with a Managing Director of Client Services to ensure all team members are delegated work appropriate for their level and experience
Contributes to performance reviews
Hears and shares critical feedback to/from other teams on how process could be improved and implement the changes that are best for the team