Account Director is responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of a project to the client’s satisfaction and within agreed scope and timelines. Also, manages client relationships at the peer level and one level up, may oversee multiple projects simultaneously and look for opportunities to expand existing relationships.
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Intake, Ideation and Planning
Involved in determining strategic direction and can steer team to answer client's strategic needs within the framework of a brief.
Should be writing briefs, working under the aegis of the account leaders.
Manage overall brief process, and adding to strategic direction.
Develop case studies on clients’ business
Responsible for liaising with the other agencies working with the clients to ensure that a holistic creative solution is developed that makes best use of the creative/technical assets
Issue and Risk Management
Support Project Management in analyzing the key issues and risks in the program and assess business impact
Drive effective communication of issues and risks to the senior account leadership
Understanding of contracting basics and controls relative to quarter close. Ability to navigate conversations with business client and procurement to detect when negotiation is underway and involve senior account leadership to consider position/leverage and preparation
Revenue Growth, Client Acquisition, Account Management
Manages and ensures that the account plan includes all important elements. Ensures a regular cadence is put in place to review account plan and update details as they change.
Accountable for keeping the account plan "live" and relevant
Highly conversant with the account plan and able to steer the Sapient Nitro team to answer its goals, as well as the client's project or brand goals
Contribute to business development opportunities as needed
A good understanding of contracting and controls relative to quarter close. Ability to navigate preliminary conversations with senior business client and senior procurement to detect when negotiation is underway and involve senior account leadership to consider position/leverage and preparation
Assists account leads with maintaining a clean and up to date forecast for their account / portfolio of projects
Has a good understanding of and assists the account leads with appropriate information on expenses, LOE, etc in order to the maintain an accurate and up to date P&L for their account / portfolio of projects
Client Stewardship
In client interactions, consistently demonstrates an understanding and commitment to the client's business and objectives.
Bring value and proactive contributions with thorough knowledge of the client’s business, the consumer, the marketplace.
Uses knowledge of Sapient's service offerings and understands when to pull in the account leads and the appropriate SME(s) to help clients meet their business objectives.
Able to clearly and convincingly articulate Sapient’s recommendations to the client
Act as one of the key agency interfaces with clients for strategic discussions, dealing with escalated issues; responsible for building and maintaining key client relationships. Helping to manage day to day situations when more senior account leads are not available.
Team Stewardship / Capability Development
Management of a 4 -6 person team.
Work collaboratively with all domains.
Know how to work with people within the Sapient team so that they give the client their best effort without spending more time than the budget from the client’s business justifies.
Coaches, guides and mentors more junior team members.
Actively get involved in company events such as hiring, training and internal initiatives.
Experience Guidelines:
7 to 10 years of experience of account management in an agency environment
Strong interactive background a must
Accountability for budget or client revenue of $2mm+
3+ years of client executive experience with primary accountability for peer-level client relationships at the Manager and Senior Manager levels
Experienced with multiple campaign lifecycles from business development to final delivery
Experience leading teams with multiple discipline representation (especially technology, creative, media and strategy)
Frequent travel may be required
Education:
Degree or equivalent military experience
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