Account Director

Berlin Communications; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Berlin is seeking an Account Director to join our Edmonton team. You will lead senior client relationships, rally internal teams around one vision, and uphold the standard of excellent client service.

You will counsel clients on big decisions, develop integrated strategies, and provide thoughtful recommendations. The role requires strategic leadership across disciplines and a focus on growth and profitability.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years in communications, marketing, or advertising.
• Proven ability to lead client relationships and major accounts.
• Ability to translate strategy into effective programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong presentation, facilitation and client counsel skills.
• Excellent writing and communications.
• Solid budget and scope management experience.
• Able to provide senior-level advice to clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior client relationships and act as a trusted strategic advisor.
• Develop integrated communications, marketing and campaign strategies.
• Turn complex client challenges into clear strategic direction and briefs.
• Lead major client presentations and senior-level meetings.
• Provide clear counsel and recommendations, even when challenging assumptions.
• Oversee multiple accounts, budgets, scopes and timelines.

Skills

Client relationships

Strategic thinker

Team leadership

Presentation skills

Excellent writing

Financial & project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, communications or related field

Job description

ABOUT US:

Berlin is an independent, owner-operated creative agency based in Edmonton, Alberta. We are a collective of mavericks, rebels, and disruptors using outlier thinking to help brands swerve big from routine. For the third year in a row, we're also Strategy Magazine Small Agency of the Year finalists- the only ones in Alberta. It's a recognition we're honoured to hold as one of the best independent full-service advertising agencies in Canada.

We're seeking an Account Director to join our crew in our downtown Edmonton office. Check us out at berlin.ca

WHO WE'R LOOKING FOR:

A leader who is calm in the chaos, a strategic operator, and a trusted advisor. The best Account Directors don’t just manage accounts; they see around corners, spotting challenges and opportunities before senior leads or clients can ask. They turn client relationships into lasting partnerships and good campaigns into great, unignorable work.

You’ll counsel clients on the big decisions. You'll rally strategy, creative, media, and public affairs behind one vision. You'll uphold the standard of excellent client service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead senior client relationships and serve as a trusted strategic advisor.
• Develop integrated communications, marketing and campaign strategies that align with client objectives.
• Turn complex client challenges into clear strategic direction and actionable briefs.
• Lead major client presentations, strategic discussions and senior-level meetings.
• Provide clear, thoughtful counsel and recommendations to clients, including when that means challenging their assumptions.
• Oversee multiple accounts and projects, ensuring the quality and strategic integrity of the work.
• Lead integrated agency teams across account service, strategy, creative, media and communications.
• Identify emerging audience, market, reputational or organizational issues and recommend solutions.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and grow accounts where Berlin can provide additional value.
• Maintain senior oversight of account budgets, scopes, timelines and profitability.
• Anticipate resourcing needs and work with agency leadership to ensure accounts are appropriately staffed.
• Provide direction, mentorship and feedback to Account Supervisors, Account Managers and Coordinators.
• Contribute to new business opportunities, including strategy development, proposals and presentations.
• Maintain a strong understanding of advertising, media, communications and the broader cultural and political environment in which our clients operate.
• Work with Berlin’s leadership team to continually improve the quality of our client service and our work.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

• At least 8 years of progressive communications, marketing or advertising experience.
• Significant experience leading client relationships, major accounts or complex projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop a strategy and translate it into effective communications or marketing programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong presentation, facilitation and client counsel skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong financial and project management skills, including experience managing budgets and scopes of work.
• The judgment and confidence to provide senior-level advice to clients.

HELPFUL:

• Experience working at an advertising, marketing, communications or public relations agency.
• Experience managing integrated campaigns across paid, earned, owned and digital channels.
• Experience working with government, public-sector, not-for-profit and/or member-based organizations.
• Experience contributing to business development, proposals and pitches.
• Experience managing and developing account service professionals.
• Bachelor's Degree in business, arts, communications or a related discipline.

Berlin is an equal opportunity employer. We believe diversity in lived experience brings tremendous value to our team, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
This position will remain open until filled.