Creative Account Manager

Equator Design • Chicago, IL

240d • $65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

Equator is a global packaging design agency, delivering strategy to shelf without compromise. We create powerful brands that get noticed and chosen. Equator is part of SGK. We're on the hunt for a top-tier Creative Account Manager to support our team onsite two days during the week in our Chicago office. If you're an ambitious and innovative leader who is passionate about experiential strategy and is eager to solve creative business problems for world-class brands, read on. This Creative Account Manager will lead valued relationships with clients and key agency players. This role establishes trusted relationships with clients and colleagues while identifying opportunities for additional revenue growth within the assigned client accounts. They will ensure efficient coordination of projects from estimation to completion, and partner with the broader project team to ensure deliverables are completed on time and on budget. As a primary point of contact, this role represents the Equator organization for multiple prestigious clients. This role requires high energy, an entrepreneurial approach to business, the ability to be collaborative, easily navigate complicated initiatives and quickly become someone asked for by name.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing or related field.
• 2+ years previous account management experience in a Creative Design Agency, Market Research firm or similar consulting environment.
• High degree of proficiency MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications.
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, presentation, budgeting, project management (from conception to completion), & planning skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning).
• Solid understanding and application of mathematical concepts.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization, as well as, internal and external clients.
• Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management.
• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the main day-to-day contact on current projects for clients, suppliers, external partners, and the Account team.
• Ensure best-in-class account handling and relationship development through inspiring and delighting clients with added value ideas and services.
• Build new relationships and nurture existing relationships with internal and external clients.
• Participate in meetings with existing clients and internal teams to identify adequate new services/offerings to meet clients' evolving needs.
• Ensure high quality standards in all client deliverables.
• Coordinate client-specific projects throughout the lifecycle, including estimate creation, selection of appropriate projects and sub-projects, assignment of resources, monitoring project progress, and generation of the client/project invoice.
• Translate client requests and requirements into detailed, and sometimes technical, instructions for project teams.
• Partner with the client, the Account Team, and project teams to resolve identified project issues.
• Ensure accurate and timely invoices are generated by maintaining correct project details and supporting evidence.
• Initiate new data item requests utilizing the Master Data Management (MDM) process and guidelines.
• Participate in cross-functional teams to develop and/or adapt processes, policies, and workflows to improve efficiency, accuracy, speed, quality, etc.
• Provide solutions for business-related issues and situations and generate specific plans that achieve objectives.
• Manage and balance marketing budgets to maximize Return on Investment (ROI) and drive incremental sales.
• Provide expertise on customer pricing and promotional planning.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate activities of employee(s) to ensure goals or objectives are accomplished.
• Mentor, coach, train and develop team.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Salary range of $65,000 - $75,000.
• Occasional travel either locally, nationally, and/or internationally may be required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree