Account Manager

Equator Design • Chicago, IL

19d • $77,000 - $87,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Primary purpose of this role is to ensure long-term success of our clients in our strategic brand building and packaging design environment. This is by supporting the cross-functional internal teams to deliver timely and successful package design. The Account Manager will be the day-to-day business lead building and maintaining strong client relationships for a large CPG account. This position acts as brand steward and develops relationships to become a trusted resource to clients. The Account Manager will support on all aspects of client projects, including communication, quality control, coordination, client relationships, problem solving and execution to ensure successful projects from start to finish. You will be required to work with Client stakeholders to provide solutions for large-scale packaging rollouts across owned brands. This includes partnering with the internal team and Clients for end-to-end project lifecycle from design through delivery.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of creative agency experience in Account Management and/or Project Management, preferably at an ad agency or CPG company.
• Experience in packaging design from start to finish. Upstream in brand foundation, strategy, and innovation, right through to design adaptation and completing artwork through production handed off to prepress.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Keynote) essential and knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and/or InDesign) an advantage.
• Shows commitment to meeting high standards of creativity, quality, client service and deadline requirements
• You have a thorough understanding of the creative process with experience showing understanding of critical thinking, decisive actions, and identifying potential problems before they occur.
• You can evaluate design effectiveness and brand performance across packaging and all media.
• You’re a motivated problem solver with an appetite for growth in a fast-moving, industry-defining business.
• You have a positive, proactive attitude towards opportunities and potential problems.
• You possess superior written and interpersonal communication skills that can flex and navigate easily across clients, onsite and offsite teams

Nice To Haves

• A desire to deliver excellent client service and initiative to think proactively.
• Experience and knowledge of planning, design and production process, having worked with Creative and Production Teams.
• Ability to thrive is fast-paced, high volume environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A strong attention to details and ability to manage a large volume of projects.
• A collaborative approach to working within the team.
• The ability to work in a fast paced, highly dynamic environment and demonstrate resiliency.
• Compassion, honesty and the ability to develop trust with the internal team and client.
• You will celebrate collective successes and learn/grow from opportunities to ensure that the team is always striving to be their absolute best.
• A sense of humor!

Responsibilities

• Provide regular updates to Clients on project status, deliverables and timelines.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including designers, project managers, production, to ensure projects align with Client objectives and Briefs.
• Ensure deliverables are met on schedule
• Monitor project progress, addressing challenges and escalating issues when necessary
• Keep trackers and status documents up to date
• Assist in developing Client presentations, ensuring they include the assignment and considerations and creative work that meets the brief
• Support the development of strategic recommendations and solutions that meet the Clients needs with rationale from the team to support creative decisions
• Participate in Client presentations, helping articulate project goals and any insights, supporting in presenting creative concepts
• Identify opportunities to expand Client relationships with recommendations of additional services or solutions
• Communicate any scope changes to Clients, obtaining necessary approvals and managing expectations
• Manage the complete lifecycle process from creative briefs through to final approval, production, delivery and post-analysis while working closely with creative/strategy teams, partners and vendors to ensure budgets and timelines are managed appropriately.
• Lead status meetings, creating agendas before and conference reports afterwards.
• Provide strategic critiques and quality check on all design work to ensure high standards are met error-free and aligned with client feedback.
• Support in project kick-offs, brainstorming sessions, and client meetings, ensuring smooth project workflow in conjunction with all team members.
• Ensure the designs presented align with the approved briefs and documentation from Clients.
• Understand project needs to help identify internal and external resources required to deliver on a project’s objectives.
• Deliver against KPI’s on projects and debrief successes and opportunities.
• Manage multiple concurrent project workbacks
• Research to stay informed about Clients industries, competitors and trends to proactively provide valuable insights

Benefits

• selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage
• dental plan
• vision plan
• basic and supplemental life insurance
• a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection
• short/long term disability
• 401(k) Savings Plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed