THE ROLE
The On The Tools client services team ensures the smooth day-to-day management of a group of key accounts. This ranges from taking client briefs, managing internal resource allocation and monitoring account commercials. The team acts as the face of On The Tools, building long-lasting relationships and helping our clients hit their business objectives.
The role of an Account Director is to take ownership of a number of key accounts, and give clear and effective strategic guidance to the Account Managers. You’ll be responsible for the commercial success of the accounts, ensuring the work we deliver is profitable whilst being of the highest possible standard.
You’ll also be responsible for the professional development of more junior members of the team, working with them to develop their skills and make sure your team realises the potential of the client brief.
CLIENT MANAGEMENT
* Attend and occasionally Lead creative sessions, using your knowledge of the client, their competitors and their sector to ensure ideas will resonate with key stakeholders and customers
* Have expert knowledge of the client and their category, competitors, and customers
* Support the Senior Account Director / Brand Partnerships Director / Head of Client Services as and when required
* Lead strategy calls with senior client stakeholders, ensuring that notes are reviewed and accurately shared with all stakeholders
* Work closely with Senior Account Managers, Account Managers and Account Executives to ensure you have a sound understanding of the status of all your accounts
* Strive to expand the client relationship, widening the agency offering and ensuring the team are developing a long-lasting partnership with senior stakeholders
* Ensure the team is always up to date with their knowledge and regularly sourcing and sharing relevant insights
* Ensure the team is producing work in line with the client's brand guidelines
* Have expert knowledge of our online communities, liaise with the team to input on strategies and challenge where necessary
* Top level assessment of reports, challenge any inaccuracies that affect targets before liaising with the client
* Be aware of any potential problems before they become an issue, and ensure processes are in place to future-proof projects and campaigns
* Having challenging conversations with the client around any issues.
* Ensure the team is staying on top of client billing and asking for POs in a timely manner
* Work with the client at a strategic level, leading planning sessions with key stakeholders
* Capable of confidently and professionally managing high-risk, challenging client conversations and de-escalating situations where On The Tools is at fault / perceived to be at fault.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
* Oversee high value (40k+) and / or prestigious brand shoots when required, especially if senior stakeholders are present, to ensure On The Tools is well represented in front of the client and that the final product meets the client's expectations while staying true to the original brief
* Have a top-level view of the spend across all of your accounts, ensuring they are as profitable as they can be, and advising the team on opportunities to make things more efficient and save money where possible without compromising on quality of work
* Have an understanding of the long term client scope and ensure adequate resource is available, stepping in on any issues when required
* Have a top-level view of the details of a shoot, stepping in to resolve issues where required
* Sign off on quotes for all projects, ensuring the specified budget not only represents the best commercial deal for the business, but also will allow the team to deliver high quality work in line with the agreed scope
* Act as the point of escalation for any issues that cannot be resolved by individuals within the team, ensuring the interests of the Client Services team are well represented and that the department maintains a positive reputation within the business
* Final sign off of content, unless deferred to SAM, focusing on the bigger picture including any unforeseen issues and how the content supports the client's strategic objectives
* Develop and maintain strong internal relationships to ensure projects are running smoothly and have difficult conversations, where necessary
* Make proactive recommendations to the Senior Account Director / Brand Partnerships Director / Head of Client Services on where we can create more efficient processes throughout the business and spot areas of opportunity to support clients outside of the agreed scope of work
* Work with the AM/SAM to identify any new opportunities within your own client portfolio, introducing new service offerings to your key contacts. Offer support where required
* Work with AM/SAM and ensure the brief has been understood by the team and what objectives need to be met. Push back and challenge where required
* Identify the team members required to deliver on a client pitch, ensuring they're aware of the brief and what's expected from them
* Be aware of the creative proposal whilst offering input where required. Sense check any collateral produced
* Confidently deliver pitches to new and existing clients, working with the Head of Client Services and Client Partners to ensure the pitch process is as impactful as possible
* Make initial contact with the prospective client to begin building a rapport before the pitch presentation
COMMERCIAL AWARENESS
* Work to agreed revenue targets, informing the Senior Account Director / Brand Partnerships Director / Head of Client Services if these need to be adjusted
* Sign off all quotes going out to your clients, ensuring that they'll provide sufficient cover for the work being undertaken by the team
* Take full responsibility for the commercial success of your key accounts
* Monitor the profitability of individual jobs, reviewing resource allocation to ensure the correct people are spending the right amount of time on projects
* Make proactive recommendations to the Brand Partnerships Director / Head of Client Services to help create more efficient processes throughout the business and to maximise revenue
TEAM MANAGEMENT
* Responsible for managing, supporting and developing (Senior) Account Managers and (Senior) Account Executives
* Monitor your team's capacity, ensuring they always have a reasonable, manageable workload and there is adequate resource to cover periods of absence or campaign spikes
* Work with your team to solve any issues they may be experiencing
* Carry out monthly catch-ups and six-monthly reviews with your direct reportees
* Liaise with (Senior) Account Managers to ensure teams have access to relevant training to help further their career development
* Identify strengths and weaknesses of team members, providing day-to-day guidance on job performance and career development as appropriate
* Have expert knowledge of the latest social media / digital marketing techniques and apply this knowledge to client projects
* Have an understanding and ensure content planning for social media campaigns and retained clients aligns to wider strategy
* Participate in internal creative sessions, contributing with ideas for concepts and effective social media content.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL
* Over six years agency or in-house experience, a bonus if in Social Media Experience and ability to manage a team firmly and fairly to encourage team morale and project quality
* An entrepreneurial mindset and a strategic thinker, always looking to grow your accounts
* Experience of overseeing projects from concept through to delivery
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to develop strong, long-lasting relationships
* Confident meeting and communicating with new people, including presenting ideas to clients and colleagues
* Meticulous eye for detail to ensure brand and client projects are executed efficiently
* Have a valid UK driving license and access to a car
* Have the Right to Work in the UK
* Be able to work from On The Tools HQ in Birmingham
THE DETAIL
Salary: From £42,000 pro rata per annum
Holidays: 30 days per year, plus 3 days over Christmas and 2 days wellbeing days
Job Type: Full-time
Start Date: Immediate
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