Account Director

Description

General Accountability

Assumes a leadership role, internally and externally, for a group of accounts or a large/complex single account. Strategic client account, brand and relationship management, developing and recommending strategies and tactics, executing and evaluating account activities, and identifying and developing new business opportunities. Accountable for all decision making on specific account and brand issues.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Client Management: Viewed as a partner by clients, understands the role of cross-functional team members, and is able to add value in extended brand team meetings. Applies senior-level experience and knowledge to grow and secure the clients' business. Takes a leadership role in the development of strategic plans, marketing plans and brand/business reviews, including challenging the client strategically. Champions the agency's digital capabilities and promotes digital opportunities. Serves as the external and internal brand ambassador, earns client trust and confidence. Advises on category and industry trends and the regulatory environment. Directs the execution of account plans and activities, within designated timelines and established budgets.
• Business Management Leadership: Manages the budgeting, planning and tracking of business activities to ensure profitability on clients. Takes a leadership role in the development of company policies and processes required to support business growth. Seeks out opportunities to champion appropriate initiatives, which provides both an opportunity for personal development and growth, but also demonstrates a commitment to the long-term viability of the organization.
• Account Team Leadership: Provides leadership by setting a professional example and work ethic. Manages direct reports for high performance, moving quickly to address mediocre/poor performance. Establishes an expectation for digital learning and growth from every team member. Recognizes and enables employee potential. Manages recruitment, defining roles/responsibilities/priorities, and termination of staff when applicable. Challenges the status quo to find new and better ways to work; solicits and expects new ideas. Motivates the team by celebrating brand/team successes, sharing credit, providing rewards and recognition and development opportunities. Shares key learning and successes with colleagues. Honours own commitments/promises, and inspires commitment and loyalty in others.
• Internal Agency Leadership: Monitors the performance of key projects and programs, serving as the ultimate "go to" person on account matters. Manages processes through internal teams, clients and suppliers. Works proactively to anticipate and manage events that impact the agency's business. Ensures that forecasts are achieved and that client mandates are successfully carried out. Directs appropriate internal and external resources to address specific issues and opportunities.
• Personal Leadership and Accountability: Committed to excellence, personal and professional growth, and continually expanding knowledge. Looks for ways to do things better, based on a passion for the business and the agency. Works with integrity every day on every project and holds him/herself accountable for delivering on expectations. Seeks feedback, listens, and acts on it. Stays current with industry news and the competitive environment. Assists in creating and building an agency culture that reinforces high levels of client service, operational excellence, commitment, respect and team spirit. Works collaboratively to ensure that work produced is consistently of the highest quality.

Professional/Personal Skills and Competencies

• Team Management: Experienced in onboarding/managing/leading/developing people, teams, projects and change. Drives strong employee engagement; fosters open dialog and address team issues; defines success in terms of the whole team; focuses on what is important; works in a well-organized manner; identifies and solve problems.
• Client Management: Manages client expectations, represents the agency's position, appropriately challenges/negotiates client as/when required. Leads digital strategy. Knows the right questions to ask and the information required to understand client's challenges, implements new initiatives. Actively listens to client input and able to identify appropriate questions and information gaps and opportunities.
• Financial Management: Shows business savvy and financial acumen necessary to manage the budgeting, planning and tracking of business activities.
• Self-management: Exhibits strong communication and persuasion skills, ambition with clear goals and a commitment to success, exceptional service orientation. Works as a self-starter, with a positive attitude and a sense of humour. Accepts responsibility and accountability, offers actionable business ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. Displays curiosity and a thirst for knowledge/learning. Able to work under pressure.

At GSW, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

GSW is a full-service healthcare communications agency that goes beyond advertising to create personalized brand experiences that involve, inspire, educate and activate people through ongoing brand journeys. As one of the world's ten most-awarded healthcare advertising agencies, GSW is hell-bent not to replace the same old with the same old. This is achieved through a provocative premise — if other brands communicated the way healthcare brands do, how many customers would they have? GSW turns against this premise through discovery of beneath-the-surface customer insights that we impact with stories, simplicity and authenticity.

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Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)