Senior Account Director (Digital & Social) Company: VML Location: Hybrid working from home/ London office: Sea Containers, SE1 Reporting to: Chief Digital Officer Account: Diageo plus other brands within the teams portfolio At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150 offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, building connected brands that drive growth for our clients. We do this by leveraging our three core practices: Brand Experience, Customer Experience and Commerce. Within these practices we offer expertise across communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. The Role: VML is the Global Digital Agency for Baileys and Tanqueray. Since winning the business six years ago, we have been an integral partner to the brand, helping establish them as the most digitally progressive Diageo brand and the best in the business ROI with three years of double-digit growth, and some brilliant work to show for it. But with all that weve achieved together, were hungry for more effective work and for new opportunities to help transform Diageo into a leader in culture. To do this were looking for a Senior Account Director who can lead a high-performance Agency / Client relationship that will continue to deliver while opening up new paths for improvement. We need someone who knows digital and social media, with a passion for delivering excellent campaign work within these channels. Your focus will be on Diageo, but you will also get the opportunity to work with other brands within our agencys portfolio. Key Responsibilities: Account Directors drive their accounts. Without them, all work would come to a grinding halt. You are the accounts Sat Nav, and you are responsible for actioning and delivering the Business Directors vision in the day-to-day direction. You understand the commercial realities of the business, and you will spot opportunities to develop the agencys role. Through strong client relationships, create an environment where the best work can flourish, ensuring clear and timely briefings from the client and the right resources from inside the agency. They are ambassadors for the agency both internally and externally. Leading by example, you demonstrate a passion for the best work, actively and entrepreneurially creating opportunities for it, championing and protecting it. Orchestration: • Demonstrates ability to lead different types of teams to get the best output. Leads the creation of the right casting and process for different projects, always starting with What do we need to do to get to the best possible work? • Actively manages conflict and solves problems to resolve issues quickly. • Understands different specialist skills and how to build teams around them. • Creates a supportive environment for their direct reports, troubleshooting, coaching and mentoring them, empowering and guiding them at the same time. Leadership: • Demonstrates a clear understanding of client business strategy and marketing model, as well as the communications necessary to deliver against them. • Understands the Business Directors strategic agenda for the account and helps them deliver this across all the projects they orchestrate. Relationships: • Builds client relationships to ensure the best outcomes for both agency and client. • Creates mutual respect and trust so when necessary, they can have tough conversations about timings, budgets etc. • Actively manages conflict and solves problems to resolve issues quickly. • Demonstrates a clear understanding of client business strategy and marketing model and the communications necessary to deliver against them. • Identifies and creates opportunities for client and agency growth Commercial. • Maintains a significant commercial understanding of the brand and category. • Leads resource planning at project level - allocating resources, giving the entire team visibility, and leading by example. • Has a tight grip on resource planning and the numbers on the account. • Ensures client is actively managed on the billing requirements of the account. Operational. • Leads team to get the best results - creatively and commercially. • Actively looks for different ways to approach a task to get results quicker. • Builds mutually beneficial relationships with partners and specialisms. • Demonstrates a good mix of new and established skills. About You: • Solid background in advertising agency account handling, with particular experience across Digital and Social channels. • Works collaboratively - recognizes the value and responsibility of working in a team and seeks to maintain and build effective relationships both internally and externally. • Thinks innovatively - looks beyond the obvious to develop highly engaging ideas and campaigns. • Works effectively through job and organizational changes. • Strives to achieve excellence in everything that they do. • Demonstrates passion - approaches all tasks in a wholehearted and enthusiastic manner. • Shows initiative and a can-do attitude. • Highly motivated and a self-starter. • Recognises the need for management support when necessary. • Constantly looks for and learns from new information or experiences. • Deals constructively with frustration and stress, maintaining a professional and positive manner. • Is direct and honest in dealing with others. • Treats all people with respect and fairness. Whats in it for you? Aside from a generous annual leave allowance and pension allowances, you will have access to a whole host of other benefits and activities, such as: • Life Assurance • Permanent Health Insurance • BUPA • Flexible hybrid-working schedule • Enhanced family-friendly policies • Well-being Programme • Employee Assistance Support • Cycle to Work Scheme • Eye Care and Glasses Vouchers • Season Ticket Loans • WPP Discounts You will also have a clear long-term career development plan and access to our learning and development activities and online learning platforms. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion VMLY&R is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal. If you are unable or limited in your ability to access our career site as a result of a disability, we will be happy to assist you. Please contact our People Team at [email protected] to request an alternate accommodation. Please note that only requests for an employment application accommodation will be returned.