Senior Account Director - Auto

Strata; Coventry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Private Health Insurance

Workplace pension scheme

Death in service scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Hybrid working arrangement

Regular social events

Job summary

Strata in London/Coventry is seeking a Senior Account Director to own, grow, and lead strategic client relationships across live, hybrid, and experiential events. You will shape strategy, oversee multi‑disciplinary teams, and drive measurable value for high‑profile brands.

You will partner with Creative, Production, Logistics, and technical teams, mentor Account Managers and Executives, and manage budgets, forecasts, and contracts while upholding Strata’s standards of excellence and innovation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior client‑facing role within an events, experiential, or creative agency.
• Proven ability to lead and grow major client accounts.
• Strong commercial acumen with budgeting, forecasting, and contract negotiation experience.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinker capable of shaping client vision and long‑term partnerships.
• Solid understanding of event delivery processes across production, logistics, and technical workstreams.
• Leadership experience with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Experience working with global brands or international event delivery.
• Familiarity with hybrid event platforms and digital engagement strategies.
• Experience in pitch leadership and agency new business development.
• Sector‑specific expertise (auto).

Responsibilities

• Lead client relationship strategy and ensure outstanding service delivery across projects.
• Develop and deliver account growth plans aligned to client objectives.
• Oversee multi‑disciplinary delivery teams from strategy to execution.
• Ensure projects meet client SLAs and KPIs.
• Champion innovative creative solutions with feasible production and logistics.
• Mentor Account Managers and wider project teams.
• Oversee budgets, scopes, and commercial agreements and ensure PO coverage.
• Provide strategic insights from data and industry trends.

Skills

Senior leadership

Client management

Account growth

Budgeting & forecasting

Contract negotiation

Communication

Strategic thinking

Event delivery knowledge

Team leadership

Global brands experience

Hybrid event platforms

Pitch leadership

Agency new business

Auto sector experience

Job description

Job Title: Senior Account Director - Auto

Location: London and Coventry - Hybrid (plus travel as required)

We are Strata!

Imagine being part of a fast and exciting brand experience agency whose clients include specialists in new technology, creators of some of the most stunning electric vehicles on the planet, financial institutions, and global leaders in pharmaceutical solutions. As an agency, we elevate these brands and make them heard through immersive and memorable virtual and face 2 face experiences.

As a people-first business, we encourage ambition, support and reward. We’re always listening and open to your ideas, just as we do with our clients.

Our name? It’s Strata, an agency on a mission to be the very best. This means we always want to hear from the very best creative and intelligent souls who genuinely believe that every moment matters.

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Account Director to join our Client Services team. You will be responsible for owning, growing, and leading some of the agency’s most valuable client relationships, ensuring exceptional service delivery across a portfolio of live, hybrid, and experiential events.

In this senior role, you will act as the trusted partner to clients, shaping strategy, identifying opportunities, overseeing multi‑disciplinary teams, and ensuring every project delivers measurable value. You’ll combine commercial acumen, exceptional communication skills, and a deep understanding of event delivery to drive both client and agency success.

This is a leadership position within the agency, requiring confidence, gravitas, and the ability to influence at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

Client Relationship Leadership

• Serve as the senior point of contact for a key client account.
• Build deep, trusted partnerships by understanding client business needs, brand priorities, and long‑term ambitions.
• Lead strategic conversations that challenge and inspire clients.
• Ensure consistent, outstanding service delivery across all projects.

Account Strategy & Growth

• Develop and deliver account growth plans aligned to client objectives and agency capability.
• Identify and convert new opportunities across existing accounts.
• Support new business efforts as required, including proposals, pitches, and RFP responses.
• Monitor account profitability, forecasting, and commercial performance.

Project Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Oversee the successful delivery of multiple events, from strategy and concept to execution and evaluation.
• Working alongside the delivery team and operational lead to ensure teams are resourced effectively
• Ensure client SLA agreement is adhered to across all aspects of project and KPIs are met.
• Champion creative, innovative solutions while ensuring feasibility across production, logistics, and technical workstreams.
• Maintain high-quality standards across all outputs, documentation, and client communications.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor Account Managers, Executives, and wider project teams.
• Foster a collaborative and positive working environment within the client team.
• Partner with Creative, Production, Logistics, and technical teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the Client Services function.

Commercial Management

• Oversee account budgets, statements of work, fee structures, and commercial negotiations acting as the internal sign off to ensure budget are in line with client expectations
• Management of account finance ensuring all projects have appropriate PO cover from stakeholders, final budgets are issued to client in line with SLA and internal reconciliations are completed in a timely manner
• Ensure accurate forecasting, margin management, and financial rigour across accounts for internal reporting
• Manage client scopes, change requests, and contractual agreements.

Insight, Evaluation & Innovation

• Provide strategic insight to clients using audience data, event analytics, and industry trends.
• Stay ahead of evolving event technologies, experiential techniques, and sector shifts.
• Drive innovation, helping clients elevate their programmes year on year.

Qualifications / Experience

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the below experience:

• Significant experience in a senior client‑facing role within an events, experiential, or creative agency.
• Proven ability to lead and grow major client accounts.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and contract negotiation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinker capable of shaping client vision and driving long‑term partnerships.
• A solid understanding of event delivery processes, creative, production, logistics, and technical.
• Ability to oversee multiple projects of varying size and stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment.
• Leadership experience with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.

• Experience working with global brands or international event delivery.
• Familiarity with hybrid event platforms and digital engagement strategies.
• Experience in pitch leadership and agency new business development.
• Sector‑specific expertise (e automotive).

• Confident and articulate—comfortable at C‑suite level.
• Strategic, visionary, and commercially minded.
• Collaborative and empathetic, with strong emotional intelligence.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
• Client‑centric mindset with a passion for excellence.
• Positive, solutions‑focused, and adaptable under pressure.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus usual Bank Holidays
• Birthday day off
• Private Health Insurance*
• Workplace pension scheme
• Death in service scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Regular social events

*Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period

OurPrinciples

A win for the client

Client success is at the forefront of everything we do. We measure our success by the impact we make for our clients. We strive to exceed your expectations, delivering moments that matter with results that matter.

A win for the company

We believe in long‑term partnerships and sustainable growth. When your business prospers, so does ours. Our commitment to excellence and innovation means we’re always ahead of the curve, offering you the best brand experiences.

A win for the team

Our team is the lifeblood of our agency. We celebrate diversity, promote collaboration, and foster an inclusive culture where every team member feels valued and empowered. When our team thrives, their passion and dedication is reflected in everything we deliver.

A win for you

Whether you’re engaging us for your events, already fostering a career at Strata, or considering one, our goal is to create a win for you. We’re dedicated to providing our employees with an enriching workplace that supports their growth and well-being. For our clients, a win means achieving your objectives and making your brand shine.

A win for the planet

We are committed to making environmentally responsible choices in our work. We recognise our responsibility to minimise our impact on the planet and contribute to a sustainable future. From eco-friendly event practices to conscious resource management, we aim to create events that are a win for the environment.

Diversity at Strata

At Strata, people are at the heart of who we are.

We recognise and value the diverse and unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each individual brings.

We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and empowered. We strive to create an innovative, creative, and inclusive environment where all employees and applicants can thrive.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

Embracing diversity isn't just our goal, it's our strength, driving us towards a more inclusive future.

At Strata, we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone can thrive. We actively promote equal opportunities and support individuals with disabilities throughout their careers. As part of our recruitment process, we encourage candidates to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments - our team is committed to ensuring a fair, supportive, and inclusive experience from application through to employment.

https://stratacreate.com/