Account Director

Account Management is a team of strategic business leaders charged with driving growth and retention of our client’s and LC’s business. We represent the main day-to-day strategic business partners and advisors to our clients and the catalyst for innovative work across all of the departments and capabilities inside LC. At LC, the Account Management team sits at the heart of all the work we do for our clients. Our clients look to us to lead our integrated agency team as an extension of their client teams. We are not just “account people”. Our people are expected to behave, think and function like CMOs, regardless of their title or level. That requires becoming intimate with all aspects of the client’s business, beyond just the work they hire us to do for them day-to-day. We treat our client’s business like it’s our own. We represent the client’s voice inside the agency while keeping an objective perspective on what’s right for the client’s business and what will exceed their goals. We’re equal parts business partner, strategic marketer, connector, entrepreneur and trusted advisor. The Role In a Nutshell Account Directors at LC are known as the Masters of getting things done and leading the team on how to find active and viable solutions. You build and maintain strong relationships as a trusted business partner with your clients. You inspire, motivate and direct the extended team, and work seamlessly and collaboratively with all departments. You represent the Agency’s leadership on a day to day basis with the Client and within the Agency, and you “Figure it out.” Critical Skills Business and Category Acumen: Leads their team in creative innovative marketing solutions in a clear and smart way by having a sixth sense about key business information. Has deep category knowledge and can lead development of strategy to address the problem we are solving. Developing People: Establishes the work ethic expectations. Challenges and inspires the team. Understands and manages for their strengths and weaknesses. Develops growth plans, monitors progress and provides timely feedback. Actively coaches individuals with clarity and momentum. Inspiration and Direction: Acts as the energizer—the day-to-day catalyst that sparks team motivation toward success. Recognizes the dynamics of a highly charged and driven agency team. Knows how to smooth out frayed edges while respecting emotions. Fosters a positive work environment with maturity and good judgment. Idea Catalyst: Guides the team on areas to be explored. Knows when we are on to something and can galvanize the group around it. Provides feedback that makes ideas better. Helps pre sell and pave the way by refining ideas into a more formalized POV to be shared internally or externally. Creative Advocacy: Creates an environment and atmosphere that encourages the pursuit of big ideas. Takes a leadership role in actively nurturing and contributing to the development of creative ideas; and pushes the creative envelope while keeping a knowing eye on where the boundaries lay. Guides the development of a “bullet-proof” sell-in strategy in partnership with Strategy, Creative, Media, and CX teams, pre- conditions the client, and protects the big idea once sold. Committed to Superior Outcomes: Identifies strategic, creative and media implications. Sets specific program objectives and KPIs born out of brand truths and business realities. Relentlessly drives the team to continuous improvement/new heights. Critical Thinking, Both Intuitive and Analytical: Is comfortable with data—can dig and tell a story in a number of ways. Is able to partner solid analysis with good gut instinct. Asks the right probing questions. Communication and Persuasion Skills: Has the ability to author a high-level POV weaving in data, analysis and insight; and incorporating team content, thinking and perspective. Can author a deck with limited oversight. Can confidently present “CMO” level deck—able to think on his/her feet, redirect when necessary and answer questions confidently. Has the ability to command a room. Can comfortably go off script. Can persuade through a combination of thoughtful logic and emotion Operational Excellence: Looks ahead. Plans ahead. Stays ahead. Must be able to pull together the right people to solve the problem. Brings smart thinking to the client while operating for agency growth and profitability. Responsibilities Plays key role in sustaining account growth, diversification and profitability. Ensures appropriate cross-selling is managed within accounts to leverage the wider agency expertise and skillset Plays influential role in managing client relationship health, client satisfaction, and sustained year-over-year client retention for his/her designated clients. Key strategic business partner, advisor and relationship lead for VP, director and/or manager level clients on her/his designated account. Supports the efforts to qualify, assess and focus new business and new project opportunities. Participates in new business pitches as necessary (for both existing and prospective clients). Has experience in several categories and an acknowledged reputation for delivering with excellence. Champions the agency perspective convincingly with Clients. Is persuasive and articulate when communicating work and ideas. Maintains big picture view and thinks creatively to solve problems and when dealing with change. Is able to break away from traditional thought. Works collaboratively and develops strong partnerships with clients, agency resources and account team. Challenges and inspires the team while understanding and managing the team's strengths and weaknesses Uses data to provide a sharp marketing perspective and adds strategic value at every step of the ‘creative’ development process. Serves as a key catalyst for his/her accounts. Inspires and challenges our integrated teams to deliver best-in-class ideas for our clients. Demonstrates passion for the agency, the work and the client’s business. Is accountable for own actions, agency team performance and client results. Actively develops and mentors team members. Develops growth and development plans, monitor progress and provide timely feedback. Creates an environment and atmosphere that actively nurtures and contributes to the development of creative ideas. Participates in new business development for the agency Financial Management: Supports the team to develop, approve, reconcile and negotiate project budgets and guide colleagues in doing the same. Builds appropriate scopes of works to staff plans to drive and meet financial goals. Ensures input into revenue forecasts with submissions based on sound financial trends and experience. Develops annual SOWs / staffing plans, monitors resource utilization for profitability and develops and supports actionable account growth plans. Qualifications: Requires 7-10 years of account management and/or marketing experience in an integrated marketing or communications capacity; Bachelor’s degree or higher Proven track record working within and leading integrated teams in fast-paced, creative environment. Demonstrated longevity managing client engagements at a creatively-driven agency, a client side. marketer, a start-up, and/or a technology or media platform company Demonstrates a developing knowledge, a curiosity and passion for the principles of marketing, advertising, product / service innovation and media. Demonstrates confidence and the ability to lead teams and represent the agency Experience supporting data-driven and performance-driven marketing programs. A knowledge and appreciation for how to apply data and analytics to the business. Demonstrates the skills to foster effective teamwork and strong relationships Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and consistently adds value. Proven to be a strong contributor to creating and delivering an effective presentation Great creative instincts and passion for helping develop and sell award winning work. Commands and fosters an environment of respect and trust Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility Proficient in the fundamental MS Office software. Demonstrates the values of the LC culture Chicago-based. Willing to travel as required. Laughlin Constable is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Laughlin Constable