Account Director
SHIFT Active Media | Bath
SHIFT Active Media is looking for an experienced Account Director to lead and grow key client relationships across our cycling and active lifestyle portfolio.
This is a senior, client-facing role for someone who enjoys shaping strategy, building trusted partnerships and leading teams to deliver outstanding work. You’ll be responsible for the quality, consistency and commercial success of the accounts you oversee, while helping clients solve meaningful business challenges.
The role
As Account Director, you’ll act as a senior strategic partner to clients and a leader within the agency. You’ll balance day-to-day delivery with longer-term planning, ensuring work is strategically sound, commercially effective and delivered to a consistently high standard.
You’ll play an important role in inspiring and guiding internal teams, creating clarity, momentum and confidence across complex, multi-channel projects.
What you’ll be doing
Client leadership & partnership
* Build strong, long-term relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor.
* Develop a deep understanding of each client’s business, objectives, challenges and performance, and share this understanding clearly with internal teams.
* Identify opportunities to grow and strengthen accounts in a way that delivers value for both clients and the agency.
Strategy & delivery
* Lead responses to client briefs across SHIFT’s full service offering, including strategy, research, creative, media, social and PR.
* Shape and present integrated strategies and plans that address client challenges and opportunities.
* Own client presentations and ensure campaigns are delivered seamlessly across channels.
* Confidently challenge and refine briefs to ensure clarity, focus and purpose from the outset.
Commercial & operational oversight
* Ensure accounts are delivered on time, on budget and to agreed standards, managing priorities and expectations effectively.
* Take responsibility for account financial performance, ensuring revenue targets are met or exceeded.
* Identify and address commercial risks early, escalating issues where appropriate.
Leadership & collaboration
* Provide leadership and direction within the account management team.
* Support and develop team members, helping them perform at their best.
* Work collaboratively with colleagues across the agency to deliver joined-up, high-quality work.
About you
We’re looking for someone with the confidence and experience to lead complex client relationships, but who remains curious, collaborative and calm under pressure. You’re likely to be a strong fit if you have:
* Significant experience in account management within an agency environment.
* A strong track record of delivering integrated, digitally led campaigns across paid media, social, PR and other channels.
* Strategic and commercial thinking, with the ability to spot opportunities and develop new ideas.
* Confidence presenting and influencing at senior client level.
* Sound financial awareness, with experience managing account budgets and revenues.
* Excellent organisational skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities.
* An interest in cycling or active lifestyles is a bonus, but not essential.
About SHIFT
Launched in 2010, SHIFT Active Media is an award-winning marketing agency specialising in cycling and active lifestyles. We work with some of the world’s most recognised cycling and outdoor brands.
As a full-service creative and communications agency, our work spans brand strategy, global media planning and buying, advertising, film and video, websites, social media and beyond, reaching cyclists around the world.
We’re an established agency with a diverse mix of specialists working collaboratively under one roof, based in one of Bath’s best offices. Our culture is friendly, collaborative and ambitious, and we take pride in doing great work.
Come as you are
At SHIFT, we believe diverse perspectives create better work and stronger partnerships. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and abilities. If this role excites you but you don’t feel you meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.