Account Executive, Shopper Marketing

Acosta•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Account Executive works closely with account management to support the planning and execution of account-specific shopper marketing programs. This role requires 1-2 years of prior CPG or ad agency experience or applicable marketing internship(s), a comprehensive understanding of the marketplace, and strong communication skills. Additional experience with consumer-packaged goods and/or retail marketing is a plus. The position involves opening jobs, developing estimates, tracking expenses, invoicing, developing and managing timelines, keeping the team abreast of critical dates, scheduling meetings, writing and updating weekly job status reports, and handling general administrative requests.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, or related field or equivalent work experience required
1-2 years agency experience in marketing or consumer packaged goods preferred or applicable internship(s)
Proven collaboration, organization, and communications skills
Team player with a positive attitude
Self-starter with strong problem-solving ability
Ability to effectively develop and communicate ideas to upper management
Ability to handle multiple projects
Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
Experience in working in Salesforce platform is a plus

Nice To Haves

Additional experience with consumer-packaged goods and/or retail marketing is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary day-to-day client contact, leading status meetings, managing ongoing communications, and developing strong relationships across appropriate levels of the client organization.
Anticipate client needs and upcoming project opportunities while ensuring timely follow-up on discussions, action items, and deliverables.
Attend client meetings and consistently provide meeting recaps, recommendations, and next steps within established timelines.
Support strategic planning efforts by leveraging agency planning tools, participating in brainstorming sessions, and partnering with clients and internal teams to develop effective shopper marketing solutions.
Stay informed on industry trends, competitive activity, and marketing best practices to provide relevant recommendations and insights.
Ensure program recommendations align with client business objectives, sales goals, brand standards, and communication priorities.
Lead and manage the creative development process, including briefing, facilitation, concept development, creative reviews, and client presentations.
Partner with internal creative teams and external vendors to obtain assets, provide direction, and deliver solutions that meet approved creative guidelines and communication priorities.
Support the execution of shopper marketing programs, promotions, sweepstakes, rebates, and other consumer engagement initiatives.
Open and manage jobs in the Salesforce system.
Manage project timelines, budgets, and deliverables while proactively communicating changes, risks, and opportunities to clients and internal stakeholders.
Partner with account leadership to support account profitability through estimating, billing forecasts, appropriate markups, and budget management.
Ensure adherence to agency processes, procedures, and project management standards.
Collaborate with client teams, agency departments, and business partners to develop innovative programs and support successful execution.
Foster strong relationships across the organization and contribute positively to team culture through collaboration, flexibility, and a willingness to support business needs.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned by Account Director and Account Supervisor.