Account Director - New York, United States - Align Social Impact

Description

Overview
Align Social Impact is seeking a creative and experienced social impact account director to join the New York team's growing social impact practice. Align is a full-service impact agency at the nexus of storytelling, research, culture and systems change, and we specialize in serving brand, nonprofit, talent and foundation clients worldwide to accelerate their impact in ways that can be felt and measured. The social impact account director lead will play an integral role in leading teams, researching, developing, designing and implementing impact strategies for critical projects and initiatives and leading account management for Align's Social Impact clients.

Our Ideal Candidate is:

• A proven, proactive and collaborative client service leader who is dynamic, creative, boundary-breaking and able to bring together diverse teams, leaders and ideas
• Committed to building a more just, equitable and vibrant world with a keen understanding of the social impact landscape and the role of philanthropy, policy, advocacy and partnerships can play in driving measurable change
• Specialized in developing relationships with clients and partners, expert at communicating with clarity and precision, and astute at measuring and achieving outcomes for clients
• A dedicated client-facing professional with expertise in managing cross-sector clients, understanding and developing ESG, CSR or campaign goals and objectives
• An agile generalist, builder and program designer with a knack for developing communications, campaign, messaging and program strategies that meet client or company needs
• An experienced, knowledgeable and professional team leader and mentor the ability to play a leadership role within a growing team and organization
• Calm under pressure with high situational awareness, intuition and the ability to develop ideas and iterate with clients and colleagues in real time

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead core accounts, contract deliverables and workplans for Align and its clients, together with account teams and firm leadership.
• Drive the development of account-specific and organization-wide systems and processes to enhance client experience and internal performance.
• Manage, oversee and participate in the completion of all client deliverables, including related communications, strategies, program designs, academic research, reporting, workflows and processes to achieve outcomes, on deadline.
• Develop talking points and issue area briefs on relevant topics and events for the firm and its clients.
• Oversee management of account staff, vendors and related partners on behalf of the firm and its clients.
• Participate in and help to lead business development efforts, including but not limited to proposals, client renewals and award submissions for Align-led work.
• Manage all creative projects related to client accounts (website builds, photoshoots, influencer campaigns, days of action, etc.).
• Ensure firm and client websites, social media, and other digital channels are aligned to PR strategy.
• Design and manage content and communications calendars —execute and report results.
• Proactively evaluate and identify opportunities that Align and its clients should be considering to reach our target audiences and goals
• Ensure all contacts are captured, uploaded to client CRM systems and followed up on in a timely manner; evaluate the quality of the opportunity and report on next steps.
• Build on Align's mission to build a more just, vibrant and equitable world together with our clients who aspire to be a force for good
• Be a champion of Align's internal social impact policies, commitments and programs and support internal special projects where needed

Responsibilities:

• Manage core accounts, deliverables, and client needs on a day-to-day basis
• Support the development of organizational systems, processes and tools to ensure effective client management
• Support the strategy, design, and development of social impact client projects, partnerships and campaigns
• Lead client account management, teams, workflows and processes for Impact Division clients
• Complete strategic deliverables like strategic plans, communications plans, program designs and thought leadership programs for Align clients
• Lead and manage client social impact research, analysis and reporting efforts
• Design and provide internal and external issue-focused briefings for teams, clients or partners
• Support management of vendors, external consultants or relevant stakeholders
• Provide robust data and policy analyses and strategic planning support
• Support the development of long-term client partnerships and collaborations
• Build on Align's commitment to supporting clients who aspire to be a force for good
• Support Align Social Impact's internal CSR and social impact work

Required Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in the social impact sector and holding progressively more responsibility in philanthropy, policy, advocacy, campaign, CSR or ESG-related roles.
• 5+ years of past experience or leadership role and experience managing staff and vendors in a field related to global CSR or ESG efforts or complex social impact initiatives on issues related to sustainability, the SDGs, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion or philanthropy.
• 10+ years of experience designing and leading partnerships with diverse, cross-sector stakeholders (business, government, civil society, talent) with a range of stakeholders, internationally or nationally.
• Deep knowledge of the social impact landscape, including but not limited to social justice issues, international development, philanthropy, advocacy, policy or cause campaigns.
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency of social impact domains, along with a broad understanding of ESG, CSR and social impact consulting.
• Understands the principles of strategy writing, framework development and program or campaign design
• Familiarity with social media platforms and social media marketing.
• Impeccable communications abilities, both verbal and written.
• Proven ability to identify and secure new business or partnerships and a track record and network of sector peers, partners and past collaborators.
• 5+ years of project management or leadership expertise with experience developing, planning and successfully implementing new communications campaigns, processes, projects or initiatives from scratch.
• 4+ years of experience building and supporting partnerships, programs or campaigns with diverse stakeholders or partners (ex: talent, government champions, private sector partners, philanthropists and/or NGOs).
• Proven research skills and translational writing capacity for highly technical partners, clients or programs that ensure messaging is real, relatable and impactful.
• Willingness to learn Align's standards for client relations and client service, research and project management, and partnership building.
• Expertise in using project management tools and systems to support Align operations (communications, social media, database management etc.).
• Bachelor's degree in relevant or related social impact field
• Willingness and ability to travel, within the US and internationally
• Willingness to work EST hours (8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET)

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Fluency and deep expertise in a social impact issue area, such as education, public health, gender equity, racial justice, and/or civic engagement
• Strong relationships and experience working with NGOs, civil society and/or policy- or advocacy-related organizations in the US and internationally
• Master's degree preferred
• Bilingual

More Details:

• Reports to the Chief Executive Officer
• Full-Time, Remote
• Estimated 25% travel required
• Must be authorized for employment in the United States

Align Social Impact is an Align Communications & Creative LLC Company and an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We do not discriminate, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs. Align will not tolerate discrimination in employment, employment-related decisions, or business dealings on the basis of race, color, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status. Learn more at

Our team looks forward to reviewing your application. Please note that due to a high volume of applications, we do not provide status updates to all who submit. To that end, we kindly ask that you keep an eye out from a member of our team regarding next steps should your application be chosen for the first round of interviews. Thank you for your interest in Align Social Impact

About Align Social Impact:

With more than two decades of experience in the social impact sector, our expert team of diverse leaders works at the intersection of research, communications, culture, philanthropy and social change. On a mission to drive community, business and social outcomes through communications and storytelling, advocacy campaigns, systems improvement and transformational partnerships, Align Social Impact is a women-owned business with offices in New York City and Amsterdam. Tailored to support brands, nonprofits, foundations and talent, our firm's core service offerings fall into five distinct but interconnected pillars: Philanthropy & Partnerships; Impact Strategy & Organizational Development; Policy, Advocacy & Campaigns; and Communications, Thought Leadership & Events. We're honored to work with some of the world's most inspiring and influential organizations and individuals to accelerate impact in ways that can be felt and measured in support of our shared vision of a just, inclusive and vibrant world where people, planet and culture thrive.