Account Director

VML; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

VML in New York is seeking an Account Director to lead strategic growth for a select portfolio of client partners. You will collaborate with Strategy, Creative, and CX teams to transform client objectives into integrated marketing programs and ensure on-time, on-brand delivery.

You will manage senior-level relationships, drive multi-account leadership, oversee budgeting and billing, and identify opportunities to grow business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Six to ten-plus years of agency experience.
• Strong account management, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term account success and growth strategies.
• Partner with Strategy and Planning to translate client objectives into actionable marketing strategies.
• Lead and manage a book of business with senior-level client relationships.
• Oversee internal teams to meet client goals and ensure project delivery.
• Identify new business opportunities and contribute to agency growth.
• Manage monthly billing and forecasting, escalating billing issues as needed.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment with the ability to make decisions.

Skills

Account management

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Team leadership

Multichannel marketing

Advertising knowledge

Budgeting

Strategic briefing

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field

Job description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

At VML, we create connected brands. We resist the usual ways of seeing, doing and thinking harnessing creativity, technology and culture to reimagine the entire connected consumer experience. Our goal? To create work that becomes part of people’s lives, to drive value for our clients and, in the best of cases, to impact the world.

The Account Director serves as an agency leader for achieving the client’s strategic brand objectives by collaborating with the client and focusing on all facets of strategic growth. He or she must establish and drive all facets of internal working teams to deliver on clients’ goals, objectives and overall strategic direction.

The Account Director also mines new, organic business opportunities with existing clients, by building relationships across the client’s organization, and with key industry partners. This person must be team-oriented and possess excellent problem solving, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

Account Directors works closely with their direct reports to foster a culture of growth and development with the team. They regularly demonstrate initiative in all areas of improving the management and growth of all partnerships, demonstrating a sense of ownership and the ability to manage independently.

The Account Director must take ownership, drive marketing excellence, innovation, and client intelligence. He/she is responsible for of all areas of client delivery and overall relationship health. Financial responsibilities include review and sign-off of monthly billing and forecasting, client management or escalation of billing as needed. Candidates must be prepared for a fast-paced environment and be comfortable making decisions.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for development of long-term account success and growth.
• Partners with Strategy and planning to transform knowledge of client business objectives, internal and competitive opportunities, and customer insights into actionable marketing communications strategies and tactics.
• Partners with Creative to ensure creative platform ideas and subsequent platform development are on-strategy and not only meeting best practices, but breaking through category norms.
• Leads and manages team on a given book of business.
  • Builds and maintain senior level client relationships.
  • Provides team with direction and input to ensure business and project goals are met (80%).
  • Mining new business opportunities (20%).
  • Responsible for development of direct reports.
  • Exhibits enthusiasm for clients’ business and industry. Maintains leading edge of knowledge of clients’ business and industry.
  • Recognizes and seizes opportunities to contribute to agency new business.
  • Regularly informs Manager on status of business, including escalation as needed.

As part of the WPP Group, VML offers one of the best overall compensation packages in the business.

Required Skills

• Has strong account management skills
  • Has excellent communication skills.
  • Has excellent presentation skills and presentation development skills.
  • Has excellent organizational skills.
  • Is a proactive problem solver.
  • Not only has a positive attitude and is a team player, but models that for the junior team.
• Is able to concurrently lead and grow multiple clients.
• Is very comfortable working in an integrated agency environment, which means feeling accountability for responsibilities outside of creative and production and extends into comms planning, media, delivery, etc.
• Has deep knowledge and experience with multichannel marketing.
• A familiarity with online advertising and social media advertising is necessary.
• Has production experience, both traditional video and more nimble content development.
• Is able to support Strategy in crafting creative briefs and provide clear, persuasive briefings to Creative teams and remain an active contributor throughout the creative development process.
• Financial responsibilities include review and close management of production budget and estimates on a job by job basis ensuring close oversight during active production and no overages.
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field; graduate degree is a plus.
• Six to 10-plus years of experience, which may include large-agency interactive or senior clientside marketing experience.
• Has experience managing and growing employees and teams.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$75,000$180,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit www.vml.com, and followalong on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.