This established Agency based in central Brighton is looking to bring on board a talented and passionate Account Director to head up one of the agencies teams. They do fundraising from acquisition to legacy – and everything in-between.
You will have several years experience of advertising, in particular Direct Marketing, and be natural nurturing manager who wants to be a key part of the companies growth.
JOB PURPOSE
To maintain good client relationships (organic growth of existing clients), manage the internal teams, key responsibility for the agency’s bottom-line (client profitability) and ensure that the agency’s service to the client is being delivered efficiently and to the client’s satisfaction.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
§ To deliver regular planning and strategy sessions to ensure there is a pipeline of existing and new work discussed and agreed.
§ Ensuring that the overall strategic direction for each charity partner is agreed with them, understood within the agency, maintained in all projects and regularly reviewed.
§ Identifying opportunities to add value to the agency-charity partner relationships, with incremental profit growth to the agency.
§ Helping on new business pitches and looking for opportunities for new business for the agency.
§ Ensuring monthly sales forecasts and profitability targets are being met for each client.
§ To ensure client jobs are accurate on Harvest and to monitor and recover time (where appropriate) to deliver client profitability.
§ Ensuring that the account team has the necessary resources and skills to service client requirements – the Account Director has a key role in managing and developing (including training) the individuals within the account team to ensure they understand and deliver to a satisfactory standard.
§ Approving creative briefs drafted by Planners, Account Managers or Executives, contributing where necessary.
§ Ensuring that all project work meets the brief and is accurate.
§ Ensuring that all work is presented to clients in an appropriate and professional manner.
§ Managing SAMs/AMs to ensure that schedules are updated as required and clients are kept fully informed of progress on all projects.
§ Approving all cost estimates to go to clients, ensuring accuracy and appropriate margins. This particularly relates to understanding VAT regulations.
§ Representing the agency in the marketplace. Maintaining the agency’s standards and reputation in all external dealings.
§ Maintaining detailed knowledge of charity marketing, direct marketing and client marketplaces and sharing this knowledge with the account team and clients.
COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
§ Maintaining regular contact with clients through business means and client hospitality
§ Motivating, managing, supervising and mentoring/training the account team
§ Developing formal training plan for account team to ensure internal knowledge is regularly transferred as well as external training taking place
§ Briefing internal departments and designated external suppliers on project requirements, following agency procedures
§ Ensuring that good working relationships are being maintained between the account team, other departments and external suppliers
§ Ensuring that good communication between clients and the rest of the agency is being maintained – e.g. Senior Management Team, Creative, Production, Studio involvement where appropriate
SPECIALIST SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS
§ The ability to motivate the account team
§ Numerate and financially/business savvy
§ The ability to mentor colleagues throughout the agency
§ Business development skills: spotting and exploiting opportunities
§ Project management skills: ability to juggle more than one task
§ Degree level education in any subject desirable
§ Detailed knowledge of direct marketing and other forms of communication
§ The ability to handle stressful situations and help others cope with stress
§ Tact and diplomacy, respect for other people’s opinions
§ PC skills – word processing, spreadsheet, email and presentation packages
§ Thorough knowledge of agency processes and DM techniques
§ Critical evaluation of strategic and creative proposals
§ Appreciation of business principles and working with senior management/at board level to deliver on agency’s objectives
§ A creative approach to problem-solving
8. DEVELOPMENTAL AREAS
§ Management skills
§ Team motivation and training to ensure they develop and deliver an excellent, consistent service to clients
§ Continued development of knowledge of all aspects of Direct Marketing
§ Knowledge of clients’ business and marketplace
§ Finance/VAT/GDPR
Please forward your CV to zoe@escapehatchmedia.co.uk