Business Director will have a minimum of ten years’ experience in the communication industry with strategic client servicing, people management and new business experience. Functions as the primary strategic business leader of the property with responsibility for all aspects of the operation, including client and employee satisfaction, talent acquisition, financial performance, revenue generation and delivering a return on investment to the firm.
This position must learn how to manage client expectations and ensure an achievable work/life balance for themselves and their team members. They are also expected to strengthen their industry sector knowledge and expertise to act as a Trusted Advisors to both clients and team members.
Client Leadership
- Oversees all relationships with clients, ensuring that their needs are being met and that they are receiving appropriate levels of service;
- Accountable for client relationships and satisfaction; builds strong rapport and trust; raises client expectations;
- Attends important client events, meetings and account reviews to provide strategic input and ensure quality execution of client programs;
- Consistently demonstrates a high level of marketing knowledge and applies to successfully forge strong working relationships with clients;
- New business development amongst existing clients and identification and development of new business opportunities outside the existing client base;
Business Leadership
- Leads and manages an entire account team to meet operational and financial targets
- Overall quality and profitability of the services provided by the team;
- Management and control of revenue budgets set for the Local office, estimate and plan; budgets, resources and profitability of projects and clients; able to manage Profit and Loss;
People Leadership
- Takes an active involvement in the recruitment process of new staff to complement existing team and deliver client programs;
- Drives training programs and activities within the local office;
- Ensures that teams are equipped with the right resources, tools and training to perform to the build high performing teams and manage workloads;
- Acts as an advisor and source of technical advice to members of local office;
- Represents Ruder Finn Thunder at professional functions and activities.
Thought Leadership
- Develops appropriate and innovative research designs; provides insights to all stages from proposal preparation, design and report write-ups;
- Drives company development, such as new approaches, improvements to company efficiencies;
- Understands social media and integrates digital products and services into client programs to deliver optimum results;
- Ensures clients and account teams feel confident about how best to utilize new media outlets.
Required Skills / Experience
- Over ten years successful public relations, consumer communication, digital or branding related working experience in agencies;
- Strong skills in leadership and team management, including significant understanding and experience in staff development;
- Strong business/commercial acumen and experience in Profit and Loss management;
- Demonstrated ability to build strong client relationships and develop business;
- Strong presentation and interpersonal communications skills;
- Cultural awareness.