Creative Account Manager

Propelis • Chicago, IL

4h

About The Position

Equator is a global packaging design agency, delivering strategy to shelf without compromise. They create powerful brands that get noticed and chosen. Equator is a division of Marks, part of the Propelis Group. Propelis is a portfolio of global marketing services and technology companies with a combined legacy of 150+ years, 2,000+ clients, 9,000 employees, and operations across 30 countries, providing the scale and support of a global organization while preserving the unique culture and identity of each company. The Creative Account Manager role is designed to proactively manage creative projects through the design process, ensuring exceptional quality to agreed budget and timeline, and achieving the creative vision from design through production stage. This role involves partnering with Creative to develop strategy, present design projects effectively, and engage clients to sell the agency's creativity and under-one-roof service model. It also requires collaboration with internal partners across Creative, Production, and Finance to develop strong partnerships and manage client expectations and project needs, ensuring cohesive team engagement. The Account Manager will also train and mentor Assistant Account Managers, manage photography processes, and maintain proactive, accurate, and professional communication with all stakeholders. They will act as a brand advocate, understanding category insights and trends, consulting clients, and guiding them through Equator’s process, while also pursuing organic growth opportunities.

Requirements

• Creative to the core
• Collaboration – Positivity to work as part of a team and meet shared objectives
• Communicates Effectively – Ability to communicate ideas and present across teams, clients & sites
• Self Development – Proactively seeks help, asks questions and looks for opportunities
• Plan and Aligns – Ability to plan their time and deliver to deadlines
• O2 proficient
• EQ Live proficient
• Excel proficient

Responsibilities

• Proactively manage creative projects through design process delivering exceptional quality to agreed budget and timeline, ensuring the creative vision is achieved from design through production stage
• Partner with Creative to develop strategy, present design projects effectively and engage clients to sell our creativity and under-one-roof service model
• Collaborate and engage with internal partners across Creative/Production/Finance to develop strong partnership and manage client expectations, project needs and ensure cohesive team engagement
• Train and mentor AC to understand process and actively contribute to projects
• Proactively manage projects monitoring design time and delivering creative within agreed SLA and agreed cost
• Manage photography process clarifying all details/expectations to ensure client and design vision achieved on set
• Manage all stakeholder expectations with proactive, accurate and professional communication across all touch points, escalating issues were appropriate
• Advance plan with traffic manager to proactively and efficiently manage staff schedules
• Participate in project post-evaluations to identify best practices and areas for improvement
• Demonstrate strong partnership with the client as an engaged, energetic and valuable team member
• Brand advocate for multiple brands/client contacts through dedicated categories of business; understands category insights and trends to inspire design
• Consults client to understand needs and offer suggestions through strong project ownership, flexibility and integrity
• Advocate for Equator with client and suppliers – guides them through Equator’s process with ease anticipating all project planning and staffing needs
• Accurately capture and communicate project details through internal/external workflow systems (O2)
• Actively pursue organic growth opportunities through exceptional design delivery and client service
• Deliver thoughtful/strategic creative briefs which inspire design to produce effective solutions, exceeding client expectations, whilst achieving consistent, efficient and accurate design
• Accurate estimates, forecasts and invoices to ensure fair representation of work provided and profitable outcome
• Deliver creative within agreed timelines
• Deliver profitable projects managing design time, creative rounds and all related costs
• Deliver proactive, accurate and professional communication across all touch points, internal and external
• Provide accurate reporting for current and future project work as requested by AD or Directors

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