Senior Account Director

dentsu; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k)

Flexible paid time off

15+ paid holidays annually

Parental leave

Job summary

Merkle, part of Dentsu, seeks a Senior Account Director in New York to lead 1–3 digital transformation engagements, ensuring client health, financial performance, and top-quality experiences.

You will partner with Client Partners, Project Managers, and capability leads to drive end-to-end delivery, build trusted relationships, and identify growth opportunities while connecting client problems to the right capabilities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in account management or client services within a digital agency, consulting firm, or technology services organization.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading Digital Transformation engagements, including web and mobile application development, UX initiatives, commerce platforms, and enterprise technology implementations.
• Ability to discuss these solutions credibly with client stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing and growing senior client relationships, driving client retention, and generating organic account growth.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with revenue forecasting, scope management, profitability discussions, and services engagement financials.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively engage across all levels of an organization from project teams to executive leadership.
• Experience partnering closely with Project Managers and Delivery leaders on complex, multi-workstream engagements and understanding of effective account management and delivery team collaboration.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or a similar CRM platform for forecasting, pipeline management, and account documentation.
• Familiarity with leading content management systems and/or commerce platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop junior talent while contributing positively to team culture and organizational growth.

Responsibilities

• Build and sustain trusted, multi-threaded client relationships that position Merkle as an indispensable partner.
• Develop a deep understanding of each client's business model, competitive landscape, and strategic priorities to lead with insight rather than simply respond to requests.
• Bring forward-looking perspective to clients by identifying emerging needs, flagging risks early, and connecting business challenges to Merkle capabilities and alliance partner solutions.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments, managing alignment across client buyers, delivery leads, technology partners, and senior sponsors while serving as the bridge between client expectations and internal execution.
• Own the commercial health of assigned accounts, including revenue forecasting, scope management, change order execution, and Salesforce accuracy to ensure engagements remain financially sound and well-documented.
• Contribute to account retention, renewal strategies, and growth planning in partnership with Client Partners and Growth teams, including identifying and developing expansion opportunities.
• Provide strategic context to delivery teams by translating client priorities into actionable direction that improves execution and keeps work aligned with business objectives.
• Develop and mentor junior account team members while modeling best practices in client leadership and account management.

Skills

Client leadership

Revenue forecasting

Stakeholder management

CRM platforms

Salesforce

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic advisory

Account growth

Tools

Salesforce

CRM

CMS / Commerce platforms

Job description

Job Description: Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that delivers unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices.

For over 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios.

With 16,000+ teammates across 50+ global offices, we bring together diverse expertise: 5,000+ technologists and engineers, 4,500+ data analysts and scientists, 3,000+ strategists and operators, 2,500+ loyalty and engagement experts, and 1,000+ designers and UX professionals.

As part of Dentsu, we combine media and creative excellence with data, CX, and technology depth to deliver end-to-end solutions.

The Senior Account Director is a senior client leadership role within Merkle's Account Management function, focused on Digital Transformation.

In this role, you are the primary steward of one to three digital transformation clients, responsible for the health of those relationships, the commercial performance of your engagements, and the quality of the experience clients have with Merkle day in and day out.

Digital Transformation at Merkle spans the design and delivery of web and app experiences, front-end and back-end development, UX, commerce platforms, and the ecosystems that connect them.

You do not need to be a technologist, but you need to be fluent enough in how these solutions are built and sold to lead client conversations with credibility, connect client problems to the right capabilities, and identify growth opportunities before they become obvious.

This role sits at the intersection of relationship depth, commercial discipline, and proactive advisory, where client trust is earned and account momentum is built.

You will partner closely with Client Partners, Project Managers, and capability leads to ensure seamless execution and an exceptional client experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and sustain trusted, multi-threaded client relationships that position Merkle as an indispensable partner.
• Develop a deep understanding of each client's business model, competitive landscape, and strategic priorities to lead with insight rather than simply respond to requests.
• Bring forward-looking perspective to clients by identifying emerging needs, flagging risks early, and connecting business challenges to Merkle capabilities and alliance partner solutions.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments, managing alignment across client buyers, delivery leads, technology partners, and senior sponsors while serving as the bridge between client expectations and internal execution.
• Own the commercial health of assigned accounts, including revenue forecasting, scope management, change order execution, and Salesforce accuracy to ensure engagements remain financially sound and well-documented.
• Contribute to account retention, renewal strategies, and growth planning in partnership with Client Partners and Growth teams, including identifying and developing expansion opportunities.
• Provide strategic context to delivery teams by translating client priorities into actionable direction that improves execution and keeps work aligned with business objectives.
• Develop and mentor junior account team members while modeling best practices in client leadership and account management.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in account management or client services within a digital agency, consulting firm, or technology services organization.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading Digital Transformation engagements, including web and mobile application development, UX initiatives, commerce platforms, and enterprise technology implementations.
• Ability to discuss these solutions credibly with client stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing and growing senior client relationships, driving client retention, and generating organic account growth.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with revenue forecasting, scope management, profitability discussions, and services engagement financials.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively engage across all levels of an organization from project teams to executive leadership.
• Experience partnering closely with Project Managers and Delivery leaders on complex, multi-workstream engagements and understanding of effective account management and delivery team collaboration.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or a similar CRM platform for forecasting, pipeline management, and account documentation.
• Familiarity with leading content management systems and/or commerce platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop junior talent while contributing positively to team culture and organizational growth.

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we're connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams.

Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, Metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other hub offices at any time. Employees who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of work location, employees are expected to remain flexible to support business and client needs, which may include attendance in an office.

Location: New York - 150 E 42nd Brand: Merkle Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent

Additional Information

The annual salary range for this position is $136,850 - $158,750. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. This position is also eligible for discretionary incentive compensation.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k)
• Flexible paid time off
• At least 15 paid holidays annually
• Paid sick and safe leave
• Paid parental leave

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits in accordance with company plans and policies.

For additional information regarding benefits, please visit: www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] by clicking on the link to let us know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.

About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering - exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences.

Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact.

Be a force for good.

Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients.

We're leading the way - helping to build a more sustainable planet.

Dream loud.

In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future.

Team without limits.

We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way.

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