Account Director, Client Experience

Circa - IPG DXTRA•Chicago, IL

16h

About The Position

Weber Shandwick is seeking a passionate, dynamic, and earned-savvy Account Director to join their 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. The Account Director 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. Responsibilities include spearheading creative, award-worthy campaigns that resonate with key audiences, ensuring clients capture cultural relevance and media attention. The remit includes client strategy, operations, and activation oversight, with opportunities to leverage celebrity/influencer endorsements and marquee events. The role also plays a major part 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. The Account Director will also be instrumental in developing new business opportunities, media relations strategies, analytics insights, and creative storytelling concepts. Prior experience in PR, food and beverage, and lifestyle industries is ideal.

Requirements

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 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
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

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in PR, food and beverage and lifestyle industries.

Responsibilities

Crafting and executing high-impact, earned-driven integrated activations that blend brand storytelling with the power of food culture.
Leading work tied to emerging and legacy brands, bringing bold, creative ideas.
Managing high-profile client relationships and collaborations across teams and agencies.
Spearheading creative, award-worthy campaigns that resonate with key audiences.
Ensuring clients capture cultural relevance and media attention.
Client strategy, operations, and activation oversight.
Leveraging celebrity / influencer endorsements and marquee events.
Playing a major role in talent development and building team culture.
Aligning programs and experiences with client goals.
Allocating agency resources to match budgets.
Managing a variety of work streams.
Providing strategic counsel to teams.
Ensuring timely delivery of remarkable work.
Developing new business opportunities, media relations strategies, analytics insights, and creative storytelling concepts.