Creative Account Director
About The Position
The Creative Account Director will help establish and promote an in-house global creative services offering in New York for a major banking client. The role combines new-business development, account direction, project management, and creative leadership in a highly regulated environment with strict brand guidelines. The position works with the Global Creative Director, based in EMEA, and a global team delivering creative services across channels and media. This strategic and operational leader connects creative ambition with operational excellence. The role maintains strong day-to-day client communications, aligns creative delivery with campaigns and business objectives, and oversees service quality and operational performance. It also focuses on optimized cost-to-serve models, continuous improvement, and team growth and development. The role does not involve hands-on design, but requires understanding design processes and execution across media such as social, above-the-line, motion graphics, film, and print. The Creative Account Director will help define and build operating models, engage key stakeholders, grow services, and shape a service delivery team capable of supporting changing business needs and growth. Williams Lea’s wider leadership team supports the account management team in taking ownership of operations, driving innovation and best practice, and delivering business support services.
Requirements
- Experience as a Creative Account Manager and readiness to move into a demanding next-step role.
- Creative-industry background or experience in an environment involving design, motion graphics, and film; hands-on design is not required.
- Proven project management and delivery skills.
- Fluency across the marketing operations stack, including creative production and campaign delivery.
- Ability to develop and implement strategic objectives.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to plan and negotiate.
- Detail-oriented approach.
- Self-motivated and able to work autonomously.
- Ability to manage, motivate, and develop a diverse team.
- Strong communication skills at all levels.
- Client-management skills and ability to engage key stakeholders.
- Ability to lead conversations confidently and listen inquisitively.
- Strategic thinking, personable manner, and inspirational leadership attributes.
- Understanding of Williams Lea’s company values and business objectives, with the ability to deliver against them.
- Pragmatic approach to adopting AI.
Nice To Haves
- Corporate experience, ideally with a bank, or design/creative agency experience.
Responsibilities
- Gather and analyze client feedback to inform creative process improvements.
- Partner with client leads to identify growth opportunities and improve delivery.
- Lead strategic planning across the account.
- Identify new services and manage them from sale through implementation and ongoing management.
- Implement tools and systems to improve team efficiency and visibility.
- Ensure operational excellence and client satisfaction.
- Oversee the creative workflow in collaboration with the Global Creative Director and highlight potential risks to the client.
- Analyze data and reports to identify opportunities to improve service delivery.
- Grow existing services and identify new service opportunities.
- Track Williams Lea and client budgets and purchase orders across creative projects.
- Support month-end activities and invoicing.
- Manage contractual governance.
- Maintain excellent day-to-day client communications and align creative delivery with campaigns and business objectives.
- Work with the Global Creative Director to enable the team to deliver the creative vision.
- Develop and implement optimized cost-to-serve models and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Support team growth and development and lead the team through challenging and busy periods.
- Help define and build new operating models and engage key stakeholders in shaping service delivery.
Benefits
- Medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Paid time off
- Disability insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Life insurance
- Voluntary supplemental insurance coverages
- Parental leave
- Adoption assistance
- Tuition assistance
- Employer and partner discounts
- Potential participation in a bonus, commission, or incentive program, depending on the role
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
