Senior Account Director

EMA Management Services Group, Inc.; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mower in Syracuse, NY seeks a Senior Account Director to lead senior client relationships and strategic marketing programs. You will guide cross‑disciplinary teams, translate strategy into action, and drive revenue growth across key accounts.

The role demands deep client understanding, strong leadership, and the ability to deliver measurable business outcomes while overseeing budgeting and profitability. Collaboration with senior leaders is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, business, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• 10+ years of account management or related client-side marketing experience.
• Significant experience leading complex client relationships and integrated marketing programs.
• Experience developing and presenting strategic recommendations to senior‑level client stakeholders.
• Broad understanding of digital and traditional marketing disciplines, including strategy, creative, media, digital marketing, analytics, public relations, and integrated communications.
• Working knowledge of Google Analytics and marketing measurement.
• Demonstrated experience managing client budgets, account financial performance, and organic growth opportunities.
• Demonstrated supervisory, delegation, coaching, and mentorship skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, collaboration technologies, and AI‑enabled productivity tools.
• Exceptional strategic thinking with the ability to connect marketing strategy and recommendations to larger client business objectives.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to establish credibility and trust with senior client stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with the ability to navigate complex client and internal dynamics.
• Ability to lead and influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong business and financial acumen with an understanding of account profitability, forecasting, budgeting, and growth.
• Sound judgment, curiosity, and creative problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to identify opportunities, anticipate client needs, and bring proactive thinking and recommendations to the relationship.
• AI proficiency: Ability to confidently and responsibly use AI tools in daily work to improve efficiency, creativity, and insight.

Responsibilities

• Lead the health and strategic direction of major client relationships while providing senior oversight of day-to-day account management.
• Build trusted, lasting relationships with senior client stakeholders based on a deep understanding of their businesses, industries, challenges, and objectives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to clients, bringing forward insights, perspectives, and recommendations that add value beyond the immediate assignment.
• Partner with Mower Insight and other agency disciplines to provide strategic planning and direction across assigned accounts.
• Develop and present major strategic, creative, and integrated marketing recommendations to clients.
• Navigate complex or challenging client situations with sound judgment, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Plan and lead formal and informal client presentations, strategic discussions, and senior-level meetings.
• Lead the development and implementation of integrated marketing communications plans aligned with client business and marketing objectives.
• Bring together the appropriate agency disciplines to develop effective client solutions.
• Develop strong strategic and tactical briefs that provide clear direction and inspire strong agency work.
• Maintain a broad understanding of traditional and digital marketing channels and emerging technologies to help clients identify opportunities.
• Ensure client strategies and programs remain focused on measurable business and marketing outcomes.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and development to account team members, including effective delegation and opportunities for growth.
• Collaborate with senior agency leaders to ensure clients receive full value of capabilities.
• Own the overall financial health of assigned client relationships, including forecasting and budgeting.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Financial acumen

Team leadership

AI proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing/advertising/communications/business

Tools

Google Analytics

Microsoft Office

AI-enabled productivity tools

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Account Director

Full Time Syracuse, NY, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1002

Salary Range: $130,000.00 To $160,000.00 Annually

Mower is a fiercely independent, 100% employee-owned, full-service advertising, marketing, and public relations agency with team members located across the United States.

Our team is seeking a Senior Account Director to provide senior-level strategic leadership across major client relationships and integrated marketing programs. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, developing a deep understanding of their businesses and bringing forward ideas, insights, and solutions that help them achieve their marketing and business goals.

The Senior Account Director will lead across a wide range of disciplines, including strategic planning, branding, product launches, digital marketing, public relations, research, and campaign execution and measurement. This individual will also be responsible for the overall health and financial performance of assigned accounts, developing strong internal teams, identifying opportunities for organic growth, and contributing to Mower’s broader growth initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, curious, and confident client leader who can see the bigger picture while ensuring teams successfully turn strategy into action. They build trusted relationships, navigate complex situations, inspire cross-functional teams, and consistently bring clients valuable thinking and perspectives they may not have considered.

Other duties may be assigned.

Client Relationship & Strategic Leadership

• Lead the overall health and strategic direction of major client relationships while providing senior oversight of day-to-day account management.
• Build trusted, lasting relationships with senior client stakeholders based on a deep understanding of their businesses, industries, challenges, and objectives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to clients, bringing forward insights, perspectives, and recommendations that add value beyond the immediate assignment.
• Partner with Mower Insight and other agency disciplines to provide strategic planning and direction across assigned accounts.
• Develop and present major strategic, creative, and integrated marketing recommendations to clients.
• Navigate complex or challenging client situations with sound judgment, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Plan and lead formal and informal client presentations, strategic discussions, and senior-level meetings.

Integrated Marketing & Account Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of integrated marketing communications plans aligned with client business and marketing objectives.
• Bring together the appropriate agency disciplines, including Insight, Creative, Project Management, Media, Performance Marketing, Public Relations, Public Affairs, and other subject‑matter experts, to develop effective client solutions.
• Develop strong strategic and tactical briefs that provide clear direction and inspire strong agency work.
• Maintain a broad understanding of traditional and digital marketing channels and emerging technologies to help clients identify opportunities and make informed decisions.
• Ensure client strategies and programs remain focused on measurable business and marketing outcomes.
• Provide strong, positive leadership to cross‑functional account teams and help create an environment of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Guide teams through challenging situations while maintaining a constructive and solutions‑oriented approach.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and development to account team members, including effective delegation and opportunities for growth.
• Collaborate closely with Group Account Directors, specialty leaders, and other senior agency leaders to ensure clients receive the full value of Mower’s capabilities.
• Take a leadership role in agency initiatives and special projects that strengthen Mower and move the agency forward.
• Own the overall financial health of assigned client relationships, including internal forecasting, client budget planning, and participation in financial negotiations.
• Maintain target agency profitability and margin goals while balancing client needs and delivering strong work.
• Identify and recommend organic growth opportunities within existing client relationships.
• Cross‑sell relevant Mower capabilities and services when they align with client business and marketing needs.
• Develop relationships with prospective clients and help introduce Mower’s capabilities, expertise, and approach.
• Participate in new business development efforts, including networking, prospect engagement, proposal development, RFPs, and pitches.
• Build and maintain professional relationships and networks that strengthen Mower’s visibility and create opportunities for the agency.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, business, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• 10+ years of account management or related client-side marketing experience.
• Significant experience leading complex client relationships and integrated marketing programs.
• Experience developing and presenting strategic recommendations to senior‑level client stakeholders.
• Broad understanding of digital and traditional marketing disciplines, including strategy, creative, media, digital marketing, analytics, public relations, and integrated communications.
• Working knowledge of Google Analytics and marketing measurement.
• Demonstrated experience managing client budgets, account financial performance, and organic growth opportunities.
• Demonstrated supervisory, delegation, coaching, and mentorship skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, collaboration technologies, and AI‑enabled productivity tools.
• Exceptional strategic thinking with the ability to connect marketing strategy and recommendations to larger client business objectives.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to establish credibility and trust with senior client stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with the ability to navigate complex client and internal dynamics.
• Ability to lead and influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong business and financial acumen with an understanding of account profitability, forecasting, budgeting, and growth.
• Sound judgment, curiosity, and creative problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to identify opportunities, anticipate client needs, and bring proactive thinking and recommendations to the relationship.
• AI proficiency: Ability to confidently and responsibly use AI tools in daily work to improve efficiency, creativity, and insight. Demonstrates curiosity about emerging technologies and identifies innovative ways to apply AI to enhance productivity, problem‑solving, and client outcomes while adhering to Mower policies. Embraces new possibilities and adapts readily to evolving technologies.
• Ability to continuously learn and adapt to changing client needs, marketing environments, technologies, and priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to developing others and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performing team environment.

Salary Range: $130,000–$160,000 annually

Salary differential is based on seniority, merit, education, training, and experience.