Account Director, Client Services

hovercraft; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hovercraft is seeking an Account Director to lead strategic client partnerships across experiential, technology, retail, content and culture. The role emphasizes executive relationship-building, cross-functional leadership, and growth across enterprise clients.

Based in the Portland, OR or Los Angeles, CA metro areas, with travel to key meetings and activations. You will partner with Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology to deliver breakthrough ideas and drive long-term client value.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of experience in Account Management or Client Services within a leading experiential, creative, integrated, or innovation agency.
• Proven experience leading integrated brand programs from strategy through execution for enterprise-level clients.
• A track record of building trusted client relationships that lead to long-term partnerships and continued business growth.
• Deep understanding of complex client organizations and the ability to navigate multiple stakeholders with confidence.
• Experience managing large-scale budgets, multi-disciplinary teams, and complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Strong commercial instincts with experience supporting proposals, statements of work, and strategic account planning.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to lead executive-level conversations.
• Calm under pressure with a solutions-oriented mindset and a passion for delivering exceptional client experiences.
• A collaborative leadership style that brings together Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology around a shared vision.
• A genuine curiosity about clients\' businesses, a strong point of view on great work, and a desire to build relationships that create lasting value.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior day-to-day strategic partner for clients across multiple accounts and integrated programs.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders at every level of client organizations, becoming a valued advisor beyond individual projects.
• Lead project briefing, scope alignment, timelines, and communications across internal and client teams.
• Champion the client\'s business objectives while ensuring creative excellence and flawless execution.
• Partner closely with Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology to develop breakthrough ideas and integrated solutions.
• Anticipate client needs, identify opportunities to deepen partnerships, and proactively expand Hovercraft\'s impact within existing accounts.
• Collaborate with Executive Leadership on account planning, organic growth opportunities, and strategic client initiatives.
• Ensure financial health across projects by partnering with Production on budgets, staffing, forecasting, scopes of work, and resource planning.
• Help identify opportunities where experiential, retail, digital, content, and technology can work together to create more meaningful brand experiences.
• Help scale the account discipline with a unique perspective on how Hovercraft can differentiate amongst the competition driven by the 101 basics and the special alchemy of service.

Skills

Account management

Client relationships

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Job description

The Role

Lead and grow strategic client partnerships across some of the world's most ambitious brands, helping shape experiences at the intersection of experiential, technology, retail, content, and culture. As an Account Director, you'll serve as a trusted client partner, building executive relationships, identifying opportunities for growth, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional work. This role is equal parts relationship builder, business strategist, and agency leader. You'll partner closely with Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology to bring ambitious ideas to life while helping clients solve meaningful business challenges. Success isn't measured solely by the work we deliver, but by the strength of the relationships we build and the long-term partnerships we create.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the senior day-to-day strategic partner for clients across multiple accounts and integrated programs.
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders at every level of client organizations, becoming a valued advisor beyond individual projects.
• Lead project briefing, scope alignment, timelines, and communications across internal and client teams.
• Champion the client's business objectives while ensuring creative excellence and flawless execution.
• Partner closely with Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology to develop breakthrough ideas and integrated solutions.
• Anticipate client needs, identify opportunities to deepen partnerships, and proactively expand Hovercraft's impact within existing accounts.
• Collaborate with Executive Leadership on account planning, organic growth opportunities, and strategic client initiatives.
• Ensure financial health across projects by partnering with Production on budgets, staffing, forecasting, scopes of work, and resource planning.
• Help identify opportunities where experiential, retail, digital, content, and technology can work together to create more meaningful brand experiences.
• Help scale the account discipline with a unique perspective on how Hovercraft can differentiate amongst the competition driven by the 101 basics and the special alchemy of service.

What We’re Looking For

Remote/Hybrid - Portland or LA metro based with the ability to travel to key client meetings and activations

• 8-12+ years of experience in Account Management or Client Services within a leading experiential, creative, integrated, or innovation agency.
• Proven experience leading integrated brand programs from strategy through execution for enterprise-level clients.
• A track record of building trusted client relationships that lead to long-term partnerships and continued business growth.
• Deep understanding of complex client organizations and the ability to navigate multiple stakeholders with confidence.
• Experience managing large-scale budgets, multi-disciplinary teams, and complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Strong commercial instincts with experience supporting proposals, statements of work, and strategic account planning.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to lead executive-level conversations.
• Calm under pressure with a solutions-oriented mindset and a passion for delivering exceptional client experiences.
• A collaborative leadership style that brings together Strategy, Creative, Production, and Technology around a shared vision.
• A genuine curiosity about clients' businesses, a strong point of view on great work, and a desire to build relationships that create lasting value.

Location: Portland, OR

This role is based in the Portland metro area with the ability to travel to client meetings and activations as needed. Experience working with Nike or within the broader Nike ecosystem is strongly preferred. Candidates should understand how to navigate large, matrixed organizations and have experience delivering integrated work for globally recognized brands.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

This role is based in the Los Angeles area with the ability to travel to client meetings and activations as needed. Experience working with leading technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle, or consumer brands is highly valued, along with a proven ability to build strategic client relationships and lead integrated brand experiences.

Recruitment Notice

We use AI-assisted tools solely to help identify and highlight keywords related to critical design skills and relevant experience within applications. These tools support our recruiting team by improving consistency and efficiency; they do not make hiring decisions. All applications are reviewed by humans, and AI is not used in a discriminatory manner or to evaluate personal characteristics unrelated to job requirements.