Paid Media Account Director

Zealous Agency; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealous Agency in Manchester is seeking a senior paid media specialist to lead across high-profile accounts, combining strategic leadership with commercial growth.

You'll own paid social and programmatic campaigns, turn data into strategy, and develop a team while supporting new business pitches.

Qualifications

• Proven senior experience directing high-value client accounts.
• Strong analytical ability to turn data into commercial strategies.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Experience leading client pitches and business growth.
• Hybrid work adaptability in Manchester.

Responsibilities

• Act as a senior strategic partner to high-profile clients.
• Lead client meetings and presentations with confidence.
• Own strategic planning and delivery of paid social and programmatic campaigns.
• Translate data and market trends into impactful paid media strategies.
• Collaborate with specialist teams to deliver client results.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts.
• Lead and inspire a team of paid media specialists.
• Play a key role in new business pitches and partnerships.

Skills

Paid Social

Programmatic

Account Director

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Data-driven

Team leadership

New business

Job description

Account Directors who'd describe themselves as paid media pros... this one's for you!

I'm working with a fantastic agency that partners with some seriously well-known brands, and they're looking for a senior paid media specialist to take the lead across a select portfolio of high-profile accounts.

This is a genuinely high-level role, combining senior client leadership, strategic thinking and commercial growth with the opportunity to lead an expert paid media team.

You'll be the person clients trust for big-picture thinking, smart strategy and exceptional delivery - bringing together paid social and programmatic expertise to create campaigns that deliver against ambitious objectives.

A snapshot of the role:

• Act as a senior strategic partner to high-profile clients, becoming a trusted extension of their teams
• Lead senior-level client relationships, meetings and presentations with confidence
• Own the strategic planning and delivery of paid social and programmatic campaigns
• Turn data, audience insight and market trends into impactful paid media strategies
• Work collaboratively with specialist teams across the agency to deliver outstanding client results
• Identify and unlock opportunities to grow existing accounts and expand paid media activity
• Lead, develop and inspire a team of paid media specialists, ensuring the right expertise and resource is in place
• Play a key role in new business, leading pitches and helping secure exciting new client partnerships

What you’ll bring to the table:

• Strong agency experience across Paid Social and Programmatic - this is essential!
• Proven experience operating at Account Director or equivalent senior level
• A track record of leading high-value client accounts and delivering against ambitious objectives
• Highly analytical, with the ability to turn complex data into clear, commercially focused strategies
• A natural relationship builder who can operate confidently with senior clients and internal stakeholders
• Commercially minded, with a genuine eye for account development and growth
• Exceptional communication, presentation and influencing skills
• Experience leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams
• A collaborative approach and the confidence to operate across a wider agency environment

Manchester / Hybrid working (3 days in office) / Flexible working hours