Account Director/Client Strategist Lead

Stirling Brandworks; Winchester (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Coverage

Retirement Contributions

Paw-ternity Leave

Milestone Sabbaticals

Job summary

Stirling Brandworks is seeking an Account Director to partner with leadership in shaping high-level client strategies and driving growth across client portfolios.

You will manage the account team day-to-day, lead quarterly reviews, and translate business goals into actionable briefs while leveraging AI tools to elevate output quality and speed. This role requires a strategic thinker with deep agency experience and a client-first mindset.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of agency experience
• Proven media experience including integrated media strategy
• Strong client services background
• Excellent team leadership and people management
• High standards for client-ready, polished work
• Experience partnering with executives to streamline operations
• Experience in B2B environments (SaaS, etc.)
• Familiarity with AI tools to improve client delivery
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; willingness to travel

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic client initiatives and day-to-day account management
• Oversee and develop the account team, setting standards and coaching
• Drive media-led, integrated strategy and cross-channel planning
• Lead quarterly business reviews and long-term planning with clients
• Translate business goals into actionable briefs and efficient workflows

Skills

9+ years agency experience

Media experience

Client services

Team leadership

Polished client-ready work

Executive collaboration

B2B/SaaS familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Stirling is a dynamic digital agency that loves rolling up our sleeves to deliver bold ideas and exceptional results across brand development, performance marketing, and technology. We're looking for an Account Director to join our team, reporting directly to the Director of Client Strategy with a dotted line to the CEO.

This role is designed for a strategic thinker with deep agency experience who excels at client service, managing teams, and delivering work that moves the needle. Partnering closely with leadership, you will drive strategic client initiatives, provide day-to-day team management, and bring essential expertise to shape integrated client strategies.

If you love guiding clients through real strategic decisions, leading a sharp team, and rolling up your sleeves alongside a group that takes the work (but never itself) seriously, this is the role for you.

• Strategic Leadership & Operations: Partner directly with agency leadership to support high-level client strategy, day-to-day operations, account growth, and annual planning.
• Team Management & Development: Serve as the primary leader responsible for day-to-day management, supervision, and performance of the account team. Own team standards and accountability - setting clear expectations, developing the team, and holding the work to a consistently high bar. Lead by example and provide human first coaching with a focus on team member growth.Partner with the Director of Client Strategy on department direction.
• Media & Integrated Strategy: Serve as the strategic lead on media-driven engagements, partnering with internal teams on campaign planning, media strategy, paid performance, and cross-channel execution.
• Client Engagement: Lead quarterly business reviews, monthly planning, and strategic direction across assigned accounts; acting as a trusted partner rather than a delivery vendor.
• Innovation & Efficiency: Translate business goals into actionable briefs while leveraging AI tools and modern workflows to elevate output quality and speed.

Key Qualifications

• 9+ years of agency experience, with a background in client services, account management, and strategic leadership.
• Proven media experience, including integrated media strategy, campaign planning, or paid performance oversight.
• Maintain a high standard of polish and taste across everything the team produces;client-ready work that's accurate, well-formatted, and pixel-perfect, especially on larger deals.
• Strong team lead capable of managing daily team operations, driving account growth, and navigating commercial conversations (retainer health, scope expansion).
• An eye for polish and craft. A high bar for how client-ready work looks and reads, and the judgment to hold a team to it.
• Direct experience partnering with executive leadership to streamline agency operations and high-level client strategies.
• Experience in B2B environments (e.g. B2B, SaaS, community banking, human services) navigating complex sales cycles and regulatory contexts.
• Familiarity with using AI tools (Claude, custom GPTs, automated workflows) to optimize modern client delivery.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; willingness to travel for client meetings and key events as needed.

Why You'll Love Working With Us:

Beyond doing great work with awesome clients, we’ve built a collaborative team (complete with Millie, our office dog) that enjoys the company we keep. We take the work seriously—never ourselves.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary & Retirement Contributions
• Healthcare Coverage & Lifestyle Benefits
• Paw-ternity Leave
• 5-Year Milestone Sabbaticals (2 additional paid weeks off)

Stirling is an equal opportunity employer.