Account Director (12m FTC)

Account Director

London, hybrid

This role is part of our Personalised Content team. We create emotive yet conversion-focused ideas, products and campaigns at scale and speed. Our specialty is hyper-personalised, digital communications that change perceptions, shape new behaviours, and shift market share for our clients including eBay, Walmart, and more! 

JOB PURPOSE

As Account Director, you will own senior client relationships within your workstreams and be accountable for the successful delivery of a wide variety of substantial, integrated campaigns, involving multiple stakeholders

You will be required to manage teams to deliver creative briefs across B2C and B2B creative campaigns, from start to finish. As well as planning and managing the overall team workload in partnership with account managers and creative teams, you will build trusted partnerships with clients. This position will be working on one of our biggest ecommerce clients and will have a focus on UK & German markets and so German language skills will be a big bonus! 

Strong interpersonal skills are crucial as you will be working closely with multiple, client-side stakeholders, senior leadership teams and cross-functional internal teams including designers, copywriters, account managers to deliver campaigns; which are profitable without compromising the creative integrity. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery 

• Oversee the successful delivery of B2B and B2C CRM creative campaigns across your account
• Manage larger client briefs from start to finish, ensuring successful delivery to client deadlines across multiple campaigns. 
• Resource planning, factoring best fit, commercial impact and client needs 
• Build and improve project management tools and documentation 
• Accountability of workstream deadlines and quality assurance SLAs being met  

Account Direction 

• Communicate account-wide priorities and strategic direction to ensure alignment with overarching business objectives.

• Act as a senior-level strategic consultant, providing expert counsel to clients across all workstreams.
• Leverage the full DEPT® service proposition to design and deliver innovative solutions for complex client needs.
• Architect and implement operational processes to enhance account efficiency and streamline day-to-day delivery.
• In collaboration with Group Account Director, drive Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) by demonstrating deep expertise in client strategy, brand positioning, and audience challenges.

Communication: 

• Build excellent working relationships with key clients – regular meetings, planning, briefing, evaluation. 

• Manage expectations within a complex stakeholder framework and drive consensus 
• Ensure internal teams are bought into the direction for the team. 
• Manage conversations and resolve issues confidently and diplomatically
• Translate complex briefs into clear, actionable ones for internal teams 

Commerciality 

• Own the financial reporting against the account you work on - weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting of burn to support internal and client conversations. 
• Oversee the commercial health of your workstream, managing resource planning, scope, and profitability.
• Accountable for accurate account burn and capacity reporting providing clear performance narratives and recommendations to senior stakeholders. 
• Monitor team time and burn reports weekly, ensuring accurate tracking and effective servicing levels.
• Drive business development by identifying opportunities and flagging upsell opportunities within existing accounts.
• Responsible for project costing, producing Statements of Work (SOWs) and project plans to ensure scope creep is managed. 

Management and leadership


• Line Manage 4-5 client services, directly & indirectly and remain accountable for their performance and development. 
• Organise  and manage onboarding new team members in collaboration with People Team. 
• Delegate and allocate responsibilities efficiently to manage projects end to end. 
• Manage change and effectively cascade information to teams to ensure smooth execution.
• Match project tasks with opportunities for development so that employee potential is utilised to the maximum. 

• Ensures the team understands what success looks like and holds them accountable for delivery against objectives.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Experience delivering a broad range of multi-channel marketing communications including digital and direct. 

• Someone who’s able to lead by example, mentor teams and instil critical thinking and nuanced client services skills, as well as delegate effectively. 
• You have the ability understand the client's needs and challenges, to propose a strategic direction and to prioritise accordingly
• Someone who is proactive in identifying process optimisations and solutions into fruition, and briefing teams to new ways of working.
• A strategic thinker who can make decisions autonomously, as well as achieve buy-in to ways of working with both internal teams and clients.
• Extremely organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

• Ability to work under pressure and meet and manage deadlines with ease and efficiency.
• Excellent negotiator with good networking ability. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with a team giving guidance and feedback. 
• Resource management skills and ability to handle complex issues. 
• Understanding of the production & interactive processes.
• Ability to manage and develop client and supplier relationships. 
• Proven business development experience and success.

• Advanced working knowledge of Google Suite.

• German language skills are a big plus, but not necessary

WE OFFER

• A flexible, hybrid working policy (2 days from the office, depending on location).
• Pension, free private healthcare, mental health support, and company sick pay scheme.
• 26 days paid holiday (plus UK Bank Holidays).
• Help getting you to work with a season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme.
• Enhanced family friendly policies to support new parents.
• Social and Cultural Events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations.
• Inspirational Talks, bringing the outside in with regular guest speakers and events.
• Learning and Development, supporting your growth with continuous opportunities to learn and advance.
• Buddy Programme: You will be paired with a ‘Buddy’ to help you through your first weeks’ at DEPT®.
• A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards.
• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
• The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications.
• Global annual DEPT® Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities.

WHO ARE WE? 

We are pioneers at heart. What does that mean? We are always looking forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating. 

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 30+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients problems, no matter where you are in the world.

DEPT® is committed to making a positive impact on the planet and since 2021 has been Climate Neutral and B Corporation certified.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION 

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.