Account Director

Publicis Groupe; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wholeself program

Publicis Liberté flexibility

Global AI Marcel platform

Marcel Classes

Career Conversations program

Diversity council committees

Leave benefits: Birthday leave & more

Work Your World program

Parental leave policy

Job summary

Herd MSL, part of Publicis Groupe ANZ, seeks a Senior Account Director to lead integrated communications programs for recognisable consumer brands in Australia. You will shape strategies, drive awareness and brand affinity, and bring campaigns to life through media, creators and social-first thinking.

This senior, hands-on role requires leading client relationships, guiding campaigns from idea to execution, and mentoring account teams while collaborating across our flexible, fast-paced agency

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering at Account Director level within PR or communications.
• Strong background in consumer communications, earned media and brand-led campaigns.
• Experience leading influencer strategy and talent management.
• Confident in providing senior stakeholder counsel.
• Deep knowledge of the Australian media landscape, especially lifestyle and national outlets.
• Comfort with using AI tools to support strategy, insights and content development.

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior strategic lead across key consumer accounts, owning client relationships and outcomes.
• Translate brand objectives into clear, compelling communications ideas for consumer audiences.
• Shape earned-led consumer communications strategies designed to cut through culture and deliver results.
• Lead influencer strategy and execution, including talent briefing and measurement.
• Coach and develop account teams, mentoring members and supporting career development.

Skills

Account Director experience

PR/communications

Consumer brand experience

Influencer strategy

Senior stakeholder counsel

Australian media landscape

AI tools usage

Job description

Company description

Herd MSL represents one of Australia’s largest and most awarded group of agencies. Part of Publicis Groupe ANZ and global PR network MSL, Herd MSL has more than 21 years in the market and has achieved multiple agency and campaign wins and Cannes Awards for creativity – including PRIA’s 2022 Agency Team of the Year.

We work with an impressive portfolio of clients ranging from established multinational technology companies and leading consumer and corporate brands to innovative industry leaders and state and federal government departments.

At Herd MSL, we encourage our people to work in a way that provides balance, and we pride ourselves in fostering a behavior-led approach to flexibility. We are fun and fast-paced and thrive in a learning-based culture.

Overview

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for an Account Director to join the Herd team, leading integrated communications programs for some of Australia’s most recognisable consumer brands.

This is a senior, hands‑on role for someone who thrives across earned media, influencer strategy, brand storytelling and cultural relevance. You’ll act as a trusted adviser to clients, shaping strategies that drive awareness, talkability and brand affinity, and bringing them to life through media, creators and social‑first thinking.

CLIENT LEADERSHIP & COUNSEL

• Act as the senior strategic lead across key consumer accounts, owning client relationships, outcomes and quality of work.
• Provide confident, proactive counsel to senior marketing and communications stakeholders.
• Lead clients through key moments including brand launches, seasonal campaigns, issues and reactive opportunities.
• Translate brand objectives into clear, compelling communications ideas that resonate with consumer audiences.

STRATEGY & DELIVERY

• Shape earned‑led consumer communications strategies designed to cut through culture.
• Lead the development of media, influencer and integrated campaigns from idea through to execution.
• Oversee media relations across lifestyle, entertainment, consumer, news and trade media.
• Develop messaging, narratives and positioning that bring brands to life in an authentic and consumer‑relevant way.
• Ensure campaigns are delivered on time, on budget and to Herd MSL’s quality standards.

INFLUENCER & SOCIAL

• Lead influencer strategy and execution, including talent selection, briefing, content alignment, amplification and measurement.
• Ensure influencer activity is strategically integrated with earned media and wider campaigns.
• Help shape and deliver social‑first ideas, platform‑native content and creator‑led storytelling.

TEAM & AGENCY LEADERSHIP

• Lead, coach and develop account teams, building confidence, capability and accountability.
• Mentor team members and support their career development.
• Contribute to new business, credentials and agency thought leadership where appropriate.

WHAT THE ROLE OFFERS

• Industry‑leading learning and development opportunities and a dedicated Career Manager.
• Great career growth and progression within a strengths‑based environment.
• Freedom to own your work and relationships while bringing creativity to your everyday.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

First and foremost, we want someone who lives our values: Show Up Fearless, Stay Curious, Be Kind and Go Home Proud. Team culture is everything to us.

We’re looking for someone bright, curious and not afraid to take on a new challenge. Someone who thinks freely, is passionate about the industry and brands we work with, and is excited by the opportunity to grow and learn within a supportive team.

In terms of experience, you’ll ideally have:

• Proven experience delivering at Account Director level within PR or communications.
• A strong background in consumer communications, earned media and brand‑led campaigns.
• Strong influencer experience, including talent management, briefing, content alignment and performance evaluation.
• Confidence providing senior stakeholder counsel.
• Deep knowledge of the Australian media landscape, particularly lifestyle, entertainment, consumer and national outlets.
• Confidence using AI tools to support strategy, insights, content development, media planning and workflow efficiency, with an understanding of quality control, ethics and best practice.
• Strong commercial and financial management skills.
• A calm, solutions‑focused approach under pressure.
• A curious, proactive mindset and comfort working with ambiguity.
• A collaborative approach and ability to bring others along.

Additional information

Publicis Groupe benefits: Be a part of the Publicis Groupe family, recent winner of the Employer of Choice Awards and one of the world's most progressive and dynamic modern communications businesses. You can learn more about us at www.publicisgroupeanz.com.

Enjoy all the perks that come with our network offering:

• A comprehensive Wholeself program supporting physical, mindful, and financial wellbeing.
• A creative, lively, and rewarding office environment where people love working with each other, supported by our Publicis Liberté flexibility approach — \"working your way with us.\"
• Access to our Global AI Platform Marcel, connecting Publicis Groupe employees with opportunities for career mobility and collaboration across our global network.
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities including more than 15,000 learning programs via our online learning platform, Marcel Classes.
• A culture of open feedback and support to reach your goals through our Career Conversations program.
• A committed Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion strategy driven through our Viva Women, Égalité, enABLE, EmbRACE, and Écologique committees.
• Leave benefits including Birthday Leave, Flexible Public Holidays, and an additional 5 days of leave after 2 years of service.
• Work Your World program enabling employees the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world for up to 6 weeks per year.
• Parental leave policy with up to 18 weeks based on tenure, paid primary carer leave, secondary carer swap, and Cub Care leave.
• Access to counsellors, psychologists, and professionals through Sonder, an all‑in‑one digital wellbeing technology platform designed to support psychological, medical & safety needs.
• A workplace that stands together to provide a more open, supportive, and recovery‑forward culture for all employees with life‑threatening illnesses. Read more about our Working With Cancer Pledge: https://workingwithcancerpledge.com/
• Proud partners of Diversity Council Australia, Pride in Diversity, Family Friendly Workplaces, Supply Nation, and the Australian Disability Network.

Diversity. Inclusion. Equity. More than just words; these are part of our DNA. At Publicis Groupe, we are committed to the inclusion and recognition of all people regardless of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, and religious affiliation. We believe that to deliver the best solutions to our clients, our people need to reflect the diverse communities in which our clients operate. We value diversity and the skills, knowledge, and experience that difference brings to our culture and solutions.

Uniqueness is powerful; without it, we wouldn't be where we are today. So be you — we like it that way.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for people with disability or those that require additional support throughout the application process. If you need any assistance or adjustments, please contact us via [e-mail]; your personal information will be kept confidential.