Account Director - Cincinnati, United States - SGS & Co

Description

Who are we?

Marks is a brand design and experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Marks is uniquely built for the boldest brands to gain access to premier multi-discipline and multi-channel talent, teams and capabilities so brands can deliver dynamic and disruptive content at the speed of culture.

A super-charged experienced global powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the worlds biggest brands connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of todays consumer landscape.

About the Team

A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, youll work alongside strategists, designers and subject matter experts to uncover the truth behind client asks and needs, developing innovative and creative solutions that engage audiences, build brands and ultimately drive sales.

Role

The Account Director partners with creative and strategy teams to provide brand consultation, perspective, and recommendations to clients. The Account Director is responsible for leading projects or clients (based on complexity) within the Senior Account Director portfolio of work.

Core Expectations

As an ambassador for MARKS externally and internally, you are expected to:

• Always conduct yourself with professionalism
• Represent and project the values of MARKS
• Be able to articulate what MARKS does and our competitive points of difference
• Seek opportunities to position the organization for competitive advantage

As a senior leader of MARKS, you are expected to:

• Fully and independently own your responsibilities and deliverables
• Inform decisions to protect and serve the best interest of the organization
• Help manage the balance; do great work; make a profit, clients love us, have a happy team
• Have a strong understanding of MARKS services, products, processes, and protocol and continue to learn
• Be able to articulate MARKS services, products, processes, and protocol as related to your department
• Lead by example; be a role model
• Regularly communicate with your team(s) and management

As a people manager of MARKS, you are expected to:

• Motivate and challenge your team to achieve beyond what they think they are capable of doing
• Accept responsibility for the actions of those for which you are managing
• Instill trust and confidence in your direct reports, peers, and management

Your Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Client Consultation

• Provides client with distinct point-of-view on marketing, creative strategies, target audience, competitive set, trends, and opportunities for building brand awareness, competitive point of difference, and relevance with target audience.
• Develops category analyses and market audits to provide a clear perspective to support creative direction.
• Recommends process/techniques for creative development, research, equity analysis, brand segmentation, asset management and other branding processes as appropriate.

Relationship Building/Maintaining

• Develops relationships with clients (manager and director level) to support the procurement of repeat business. Seeks to penetrate and drive new areas of business opportunity with client.
• Seeks out opportunities to provide additional information on brand that is outside of project scope. Obsessively client focused, always looking for ways to surprise and delight clients.
• Provides added value through the strength of the relationship and personal association viewed as trusted advisor.

Staff and Team Management

• Provides guidance and mentoring to Client Managers and/or Project Coordinators/Managers on branding disciplines, client service methods, protocol, tactics, industry terminology, and process.
• Manages and inspires cross functional teams from initial briefing through implementation to deliver highest standards of excellence in service, strategic consultation, creativity and professionalism that address client issues/objectives
• Determines readiness of work for client presentations with the senior creative and strategy teams.

Project Management

• Serves as the direct contact liaison between the client and creative, strategic and production teams.
• Receives and provides all client direction, questions, and relevant information to teams.
• Ensures alignment with creative brief, account strategy, and understanding of client issues.
• Coordinates internal review meetings and client meetings and conference calls as appropriate.
• Ensures smooth transition of the creative/strategic process to the production process. Organizes content, flow and materials with Design Director to create a compelling, thought-provoking presentation and representation of MARKS.

Financial

• Develops proposals, budgets, and reconciliations for all project activity on assigned accounts.
• Reviews financial performance against approved fee and expense budget.
• Manages project deliverables and requests addendums for out-of-scope work.
• Submits invoice requests, review/approves invoices, and tracks receivables.
• Manages individual financial targets, as specified by the /VP Client Services/General Manager/Managing Partners.

Biz Dev Support

• Heads up finding new business opportunities with existing/lapse clients.
• Supports Biz Dev in developing case studies and writing proposals.
• Seeks organic growth of all clients in the portfolio through expansion of MARKS offerings and/or wider and deeper infiltration of clients business

Competencies we like:

• Strategic business and brand consultation skills
• Self starter that demonstrates initiative and proactivity
• Strong team management and mentoring skills
• Creative and analytical thinker who is detail oriented
• Ability to apply discretion and judgment to actions internally and externally
• Ability to develop client-ready thinking and presentations
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage priorities and timelines

A few Qualifications that will help:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college
• 8+ years of related experience
• Strong background in client relationship building and team leadership (agency experience a plus)
• Experience in brand and packaging development from creative through to production
• Demonstrated ability to present effectively to Senior clients and internal teams
• Proven ability to manage, drive and develop multiple accounts and projects simultaneously
• Capability to engage in departmental responsibilities that facilitate growth and efficiencies within MARKS
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Has confidence and is a strong team leader
• Demonstrated leadership and growth capabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR c)