Account Director

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency with teams in New York, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Singapore and Hong Kong. Some of the world’s most recognized companies trust us to develop strategies, and design, plan and produce engaging events. FIRST clients span many industries including financial services, aerospace, technology, consumer electronics, medical and healthcare, automotive, media and the nonprofit sector. We are on Event Marketer’s “Top 100 Event Agencies” and “Best Places to Work in Events” lists. We’ve also been recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the Top 100 “Best Places to Work in NYC”.

For more information please visit: www.firstagency.com.

JOB DESCRIPTION

In this capacity, the ideal candidate would represent the FIRST brand as Account Director for a well-known Fortune 500 technology company and is responsible for overall account management and development of a digital marketing service offering. The Account Director will be the primary point of contact for external clients and internal FIRST teams, while ensuring the health of the account and instilling consistency across the regions. The ideal candidate will lead on client service, motivate colleagues in a way that enhances working relationships, develop a team-based approach to situations and encapsulate the FIRST brand. This role will report to the Global Account Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Management & Strategy

• Be a fearless leader to partner with the client on developing ways that drive both their and FIRST success
• Understand client’s service model, strategy and identify where FIRST can add value 
• Act as a team strategist and point of contact for the account including management of relationships with key senior level clients for highly creative, digital-content focused organization
• Provide global oversight of account development 
• Create an account plan and develop a pipeline of growth opportunities across the client’s business
• Qualify all new business opportunities and pull in the needed expertise and capability from across FIRST as well as externally to deliver on commitments to clients
• Maintaining a detailed awareness of relevant market trends affecting the account, and developments in the industry
• Identify new and alternative ways of approaching FIRST’s service offering to clients by collecting feedback, identifying trends and implementing changes
• Develop a strategy for growth and ensure FIRST is seen to be ahead of the client, always providing guidance and direction rather than being re-active
• Meet with key stakeholders to build and maintain effective working relationships with client stakeholders
• Conduct well-informed and consultative meetings with senior level executives to demonstrate the business value
• Grow and maintain new relationships internally with strategic vision and focus on enhancing FIRST’s account structure within the client organisation
• Provide pertinent information to the Global Account Director, Group CEO and Operations Manager to ensure operations are consistent and are aiding account growth
• Identify ad-hoc projects, such as programmatic digital events and content development, outside of the managed studio space services and lead oversight with FIRST agency resources
• Monitor client contracts, Service Level Agreements and KPI’s with Global Account Director
• Conduct monthly and quarterly account reviews
• Manage and execute client requests for Compliance and Account related matters
• Proactively look for ways to streamline processes, identify best practices and new solutions
• Create Request For Proposals to ensure the success in obtaining new business with clients

Team Oversight

• Oversee all lanes of the account
• Manage and drive the direction of the team in service standards, productivity, security compliance, training, development and retention
• Ensure the team is providing value for money to clients and seeking value adds where possible
• Liaise between client and FIRST on issues affecting teams, as needed
• Engage as a member of the leadership team by providing input/feedback on big picture opportunities, issues, and challenges within the organization
• Manage process requests and projects to/from FIRST Agency

  Leadership & Operations

• Builder and innovator with a desire to bring team together as well as mentor, develop and manage direct reports
• Strategic thinker with ability to make decisions and recommend actionable strategy
• Field questions and offer advice to team members from a developmental and mentorship perspective
• Work directly with the People & Culture team and Operations Lead to identify client and employee growth opportunities, recruiting needs, and the addressing of any team issues
• Ensure the Global Account Director and Executive Sponsors are aware of problems or issues which negatively affect productivity or create risk

Commercial & Analytical

• Ensure project and account profitability
• Responsible for account budget management with Global Account Director and Commercials team
• Drive and ensure the team is providing value-adds to deepen service to our clients

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years’ experience in operations, account management, or similar capacity 
• Prior experience in a creative, digital/integrated marketing, event planning, branding, or related industry is required
• 3 - 4 years’ experience managing or supervising a team
  • Strong people management skills with the ability to lead by example
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Excellent project and task management skills including experience in conference planning, experiential events and/or production
• Experience managing direct reports and processes in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Experience implementing and maintaining SOPs
• Proficient with Microsoft Office including Outlook and Excel and experience with G Suite a plus
• Team player with demonstrated skills collaborating with employees and clients; diplomatic approach to situations
• Highly organized with the ability to handle multiple tasks to meet strict deadlines with a positive, inspiring attitude
• Excellent written and oral communication skills at all levels
• Excellent time management and multitasking skills
• Ambitious, proactive and resourceful; solutions-oriented
• Self-directed with ability to work independently
• Experience working in a global organization