Account Director, XM

The Kitchen North America; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A North American marketing agency is seeking an experienced Account Director to lead integrated client campaigns from strategy to execution. This role involves overseeing cross-functional teams, managing budgets, and fostering strong client relationships. The ideal candidate has 7-10 years of experience in account management and exceptional leadership skills. The position offers a hybrid working model with substantial perks that promote work-life balance and professional growth.

Benefits

Hybrid setup

28 paid days off

Health, dental, and vision plans

Leadership development opportunities

Referral and business bonuses

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of experience in experiential account management or integrated project leadership.
• Proven track record in overseeing large portfolios.
• Strong leadership skills with experience mentoring account teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated client campaigns, overseeing strategy and execution.
• Manage budgets, resources, and timelines effectively.
• Build and maintain long-term client partnerships.

Skills

Experiential account management

Client service

Integrated project leadership

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Job description

ROLE: ACCOUNT DIRECTOR , EXPERIENTIAL
TEAM: ACCOUNTS
LOCATION: TORONTO (HYBRID)

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Salt is a North American marketing agency that creates connected experiences through creative, digital & media innovation.

Our mission is to “Earn the World’s Attention” and Salt is built to find, develop, execute, and amplify the ideas that are worthy of our clients’ audiences. We’ve structured our agency to do what’s right for our clients – to connect different perspectives, to work across mediums, and to focus on delivering meaningful, effective results.

We’re committed to living up to the values in our name. “Salt of The Earth” means we value collaborative, humble, hard-working people here. We’re looking for people who are as smart as they are kind because we believe the right talent and the right culture help us do what’s right for our clients.

Salt was named Adweek’s 2025 Experiential Agency of the Year, reflecting our passion for bold ideas, craft, and meaningful brand experiences.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As an Account Director, you’ll lead a portfolio of integrated client campaigns, overseeing strategy, execution, and growth across multiple accounts or brands. Acting as both a business owner and client advisor, you’ll be responsible for delivery of excellence, trusted relationships, and team alignment at every stage.

You’ll oversee and inspire cross-functional teams, ensuring programs are insight-driven, creatively sharp, and built for measurable performance. From shaping campaign vision and briefing creative to managing budgets, resources, and timelines, you’ll bring structure and clarity to complex, multi-channel work.

This role is built for a strategic thinker and decisive leader who thrives in fast-paced, client-facing environments. You’ll anticipate client needs, identify risks and opportunities, and drive solutions that create value. A clear communicator and collaborative partner, you’ll coach and mentor your team, foster morale, and ensure both clients and colleagues feel confident, supported, and inspired.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Project & Operational Management

• Oversee the delivery of integrated marketing campaigns across multiple accounts or brands, ensuring alignment with client objectives and agency standards.
• Provide clarity and structure to complex, multi-channel programs from strategy and briefing through execution, wrap-up, and post-program reporting.
• Anticipate risks, challenges, or shifting priorities, and proactively adjust plans while maintaining client confidence.
• Guide operational resource planning across accounts, balancing workloads and ensuring team efficiency.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, adaptability, and operational excellence across cross-functional teams.
• Lead vendor selection and negotiation for key projects, ensuring contracts, scopes, and expectations align with client and agency goals.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term partnerships with suppliers, contractors, and agency collaborators that drive quality and value.
• Oversee vendor performance and alignment to client expectations, escalating issues and resolving challenges as needed.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify and develop new external partnerships that expand capabilities and enhance client offerings.
• Own portfolio-level financial performance, including P&L accountability, profitability targets, and margin growth.
• Build, oversee, and reconcile budgets across multiple programs with transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
• Monitor costs and revenue against forecasts, identify risks or underperformance early, and implement corrective actions.
• Train and empower account teams in financial stewardship, ensuring scalable budget discipline and scenario planning.
• Collaborate with Finance and agency leadership on forecasting, reporting, and growth planning.

Client Growth

• Act as a strategic advisor, developing and deepening trusted client partnerships rooted in insight, foresight, and proactive communication.
• Maintain a strong understanding of client businesses, industries, and growth drivers, using this knowledge to anticipate needs and identify opportunities.
• Lead client conversations with confidence, providing strategic brand and business guidance that connects marketing performance to long-term objectives.
• Drive organic growth within accounts by recommending incremental programs, integrated campaigns, or value-added services.
• Contribute to and lead pitches, RFPs, and strategic proposals that expand client partnerships and strengthen Salt’s market position.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• 7-10 years of experience in experiential account management, client service, or integrated project leadership within an agency environment, with proven experience overseeing large portfolios or multi-brand accounts.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of coaching, mentoring, and inspiring high-performing account teams; able to build team morale while holding teams accountable to clear goals.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the end-to-end delivery of integrated or experiential campaigns, providing clarity and structure to complex, multi-channel programs.
• Skilled in vendor and partner management, including contract negotiation, long-term relationship building, and ensuring alignment of external partners to client and agency goals.
• Advanced financial acumen with experience building and managing budgets, overseeing portfolio P&L performance, and driving profitability through disciplined forecasting and margin growth.
• Excellent communicator and confident presenter, able to influence senior stakeholders, simplify complexity, and adapt tone and delivery to a variety of audiences.
• Strategic thinker with proven ability to identify risks and opportunities, solve problems proactively, and translate client needs into actionable growth strategies.
• Demonstrated success in driving organic account growth and leading new business development efforts, including pitches, proposals, and RFPs.
• Highly adaptable and composed in fast-paced, client-facing environments, balancing multiple priorities with integrity and professionalism.

PERKS & BENEFITS THAT SET US APART

We don’t just talk about balance, growth, and culture, we build for it:

• Work-Life Flexibility: Hybrid setup, up to 28 paid days off, winter holiday shutdowns, and dog-friendly office vibes.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Health, dental, and vision plans, plus Salt Bucks to spend on what matters to you—wellness, RRSPs, or extra time off.
• Growth-Driven Culture: Dedicated Salt Days, top-tier learning access, and formal leadership development.
• Celebration-First Mentality: Legendary team trips, seasonal socials, and Salt Swag that reps your squad.
• Real Rewards: Referral and new business bonuses, exclusive lifestyle perks, and personalized wellness options.
• Culture of Belonging: DEI programs, active ERGs, and a workplace where every voice counts.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

• Salt of the Earth: We lead with humility, honesty, and heart—always.
• Do What’s Right: No shortcuts. We choose integrity over ease, every time.
• Earn Your Salt: We roll up our sleeves, chase results, and celebrate the journey.
• Make Things Better: We resolution-seekers, always pushing for smarter ways forward.
• Seek Different Perspectives: Diversity fuels our thinking. Inclusion drives our impact.

Salt XC is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.