Account Director, Client Experience

Weber Shandwick; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Weber Shandwick in Chicago, Illinois, seeks an Account Director for Client Experience focused on food and beverage brands. Lead high-impact, earned-driven campaigns blending storytelling with food culture and manage senior client relationships across teams.

Oversee client strategy, operations, and activation delivery, mentor teams, and drive new business, media strategies, and analytics-informed storytelling. In-office three days a week as required by Omnicom policies.

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years of experience in PR or Communications, preferably with a large focus on food and beverage marketing/PR
• Demonstrated expertise in Integrated Media Strategy and Media Relations
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business Management, or a related field
• Proven experience working on large-scale activations, sponsorships, or campaigns that integrate earned, owned, and paid media strategies
• A deep understanding of the media landscape, and cultural trends within the industry

Responsibilities

• Spearhead creative, award-worthy campaigns that resonate with key audiences and elevate client brands
• Lead client strategy, operations, and activation oversight across teams
• Develop talent and build a strong collaborative team culture
• Drive new business opportunities and media relations strategies
• Provide analytics insights and creative storytelling concepts

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Conflict resolution

Food & beverage knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business Management, or related field

Job description

Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Account Director, Client Experience

We’re looking for a passionate, dynamic, and earned-savvy Account Directorto join our team, focusing on food and beverage brands. This role will center on crafting and executing high-impact, earned-driven integrated activations that blend brand storytelling with the power of food culture. You will lead work tied to emerging and legacy brands, bringing bold, creative ideas, all while managing high-profile client relationships and collaborations across teams and agencies.

You’ll be responsible for spearheading creative, award-worthy campaigns that resonate with key audiences, ensuring our clients capture cultural relevance and media attention. Your remit includes client strategy, operations, and activation oversight, with opportunities to leverage celebrity / influencer endorsements and marquee events. The right candidate will play a major role in talent development and building team culture.

Additional responsibilities include aligning programs and experiences with client goals, allocating agency resources to match budgets, managing a variety of work streams, providing strategic counsel to teams, and ensuring timely delivery of remarkable work. You will also be instrumental in developing new business opportunities, media relations strategies, analytics insights, and creative storytelling concepts. Ideally, you bring prior experience in PR, food and beverage and lifestyle industries.

What We Are Looking For:

• Ability to turn dynamic in-culture ideas into actionable, high-impact campaigns
• Capacity to lead and inspire account teams while owning key projects
• Skilled in conflict resolution and the ability to manage high-pressure environments with grace
• Expertise in motivating and mobilizing teams to meet deadlines and exceed expectations
• Strong leadership skills combined with a collaborative mindset and ability to work independently or as part of an integrated team
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Financial acumen to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively
• Proven ability to successfully manage complex, multi-dimensional projects within set parameters and deadlines
• Reliable judgment when working with clients, stakeholders, and vendors
• Genuine passion for food and beverage space, with an ability to anticipate both client and team needs in this fast-paced, ever-evolving space
• Acute attention to detail in ensuring quality, relevance, and creativity in all work delivered
• Confidence instilled in clients, colleagues, and collaborators that drives trust and excitement

Basic Qualifications:

• 6-8+ years of experience in a PR or Communications role, preferably with a large focus on food and beverage marketing/PR
• Demonstrated expertise in Integrated Media Strategyand Media Relations,
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business Management, or a related field
• Proven experience working on large-scale activations, sponsorships, or campaigns that integrate earned, owned, and paid media strategies
• A deep understanding of the media landscape, and cultural trends within the industry

If you’re passionate about leveraging the intersection of media, and culture to tell compelling brand stories, we’d love to hear from you!

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

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$95,000-$125,000

Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager. Our objective is to increase this requirement over time, and many of our agencies as well as Omnicom’s corporate group already require five days of in-office attendance.

Omnicom is committed to hiring and developing exceptional talent. We agree that talent is uniquely distributed, and we’re focused on developing inclusive teams that can bring the best solutions to everything we do. We strongly believe that celebrating what makes us different makes us better together. Join us—we look forward to getting to know you. We will process your personal data in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice.

It is the policy of Omnicom and any of its affiliates to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. EOE/AA/M/D/V/F.

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