Account Director

Location: New York, NY
Field: PR/Communications
Min. Experience: 5-6 year(s)
Basis: Full-time

Description:

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE 

The Account Director is responsible for successfully and independently leading client campaigns and for the overall management of an account team, including Account Managers and Account Executives. An Account Director plays an important role in the Company by maintaining strong relationships with senior media contacts, providing excellent high-level strategic advice to existing clients including crisis communications, and helping to cultivate and secure new business leads for the team. An Account Director must be able to work independently at the highest level while as acting a resource for members of the team, helping to recruit and train new hires and ensuring consistency and excellence across the team.  

ACCOUNTABILITIES  

• Client Campaign Management Devises and oversees the implementation of strategic media campaigns, ensuring the client’s objectives and budgets are met on each campaign.
• Spearheads complex advertising and marketing; partnership and sponsorship; and digital initiatives, ensuring maximum impact on behalf of the clients.
• Secures significant and intelligent press coverage in high-level local, national and international media outlets, including long-lead magazines and broadsheets.
• Drafts and approves press releases and other written materials on behalf of the agency and its clients.
• Regularly cultivates and maintains strong relationships with senior journalists and editors, ensuring connectivity across teams and with the global offices and that any industry intel is shared in a timely and appropriate fashion.
• Leads on the planning and preparation for client events and oversees the management of these events in coordination with the team from start to finish. Proactively informs Directors of significant client and/or campaign developments in real time, offering solutions and insights as needed.
• Oversees implementation of clients’ social media campaigns for New York office; communicating with the global teams to ensure consistency of messaging.
• Manages all senior level client communication including high level strategic advice and reporting on an ongoing basis with minimal input from Director or Managing Director.
• Advises on overall campaign progress and corporate strategy on a regular basis.
• Retains an overview of all client campaigns and ensures projects are driven forward in a timely manner.
• Liaises with clients on key messaging and crucial Q&A documents Briefs senior clients as required before media and social events; drafts speeches/speaking notes as needed.
• Prepares for and attends regular client meetings, and ensures agendas and notes are circulated in a timely manner.
• Serves a great example on cross-team and cross-agency ways of working, ensuring there are clear lines of communication, sharing of pertinent client and/or industry intel and working for the greater good of the company as a whole.  

New & Existing Business

• Ensures clients’ needs are met and that accounts are retained and continually developed.
• Identifies and cultivates appropriate new business leads, working in consultation with their.
• Director to convert new business leads into active clients Writes new business proposals and regularly attends new business pitches.
• Networks to identify potential new business leads and attends non-client events.
• Builds and maintains a list of 5-10 key introducers to stay close to, which is reviewed and updated annually.   

Team Management

• Supports the CEO, Managing Director, Global Leadership Team and other members of the Senior Management Team and works collaboratively to help the company achieve its mission and ambitions on a day-to-day basis.
• Leads and motivates their team while creating a positive working environment that prioritizes open and transparent lines of communication, constructive feedback and professional development.
• Proactively identifies and deals with team issues in real time, including microaggressions if/when they happen, ineffective line management, miscommunications, and bullying or alienating behaviors, escalating issues up to the Managing Director or CEO in good time.
• Identifies opportunities for their teams to develop and be motivated in their work, ensuring that their career progression is constantly in mind and clearly communicated to them.
• Meets weekly with the Senior Management Team to discuss any team- or client-related issues, and at the beginning of each week with their team to update on clients, staffing and new business.
• Works with the Senior Management Team on the recruitment, development and training of staff including preparing for and attending interviews, staff reviews, and setting clear and realistic objectives to help with the team’s career progression, in consultation with the Managing Director and/or CEO.
• Ensures they and their team attend large project meetings and proactively contribute to the planning of those projects such as Frieze and Venice within the deadlines set. Is an inspirational and collegiate leader of the agency who is an effective role model and ambassador for the company.  

Additional Responsibilities

• Acts as an ambassador for the Company and a role model for the entire team.
• Deputizes for other members of the Senior Management Team as required.
• Contributes to the database by sharing new contacts and updated contact information on a regular basis.
• Attends and contributes to the New York Senior Management Team meetings, and company-wide meetings including Townhalls and Knowledge Committees.
• Regularly attends industry events to cultivate their network, attending with colleagues as appropriate making introductions and as a way of getting to know colleagues better.
• Ensures company standards and professionalism are met by team.
• Communicates with other teams including globally to ensure strategic cross-company pitching and communication.
• Attends regular Senior Team meetings Collaborates at times with the Operations Team to refine global systems and office structures.
• Sends media and VIP contacts to database coordinator Performs any other task as required by Chief Executive and/or Managing Director 

Requirements:

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree with a minimum of 5+ years of experience in communications and public relations, specifically in the field of fine arts, design, architecture and/or fashion.
• Meticulous attention to detail and proven track record for successfully delivering on client campaigns.      
• Passion for the important role arts and culture play in enriching our lives.
• Knowledge of the media and digital communications landscape.
• Excellent organizational and communications skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in teams; and to think creatively and strategically.
• Skilled at managing a team of diverse individuals, meeting multiple deadlines, and working in fast paced environments.
• Foreign language skills a plus.   

Application deadline is February 14.

We will only be able to reply to those candidates who are shortlisted.

Sutton is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity in the workplace. We aim to provide equity and fairness for all job applicants throughout the interview process and do not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or disablement.

Apply Here