Group Account Director

Diamond•Toronto, ON

About The Position

The Account Management team functions as our clients’ strategic advisors and partners. They represent our clients’ needs and build efficient cross-functional teams to deliver on all work flowing through the Agency to deliver against those needs. They are responsible for ensuring all the work aligns with the clients’ brand, objectives and budgets. They will work with all departments to ensure that client’s expectations are met and that the agency operates at profitable levels.The Accounts team works in close partnership with every department across Diamond, collaborating to ensure projects are delivered seamlessly and executed to the highest standard.They are responsible for maintaining and growing the client relationship within the scope of each project and beyond. They are responsible for identifying new opportunities for the agency to pursue that will help drive bottom line growth. The Accounts Team is ultimately the function accountable for all aspects of the client experience throughout the entire project cycle.As a Group Account Director, you will be accountable for leading a significant portfolio of business and serving as the senior strategic advisor to multiple client partners. This is a leadership role for an experienced agency professional who has built their career within a leading multinational advertising or integrated marketing agency, managing complex, Tier 1 consumer brands and high-performing client teams.We're looking for a digitally fluent marketing leader who combines the strategic rigor of a traditional advertising professional with a deep understanding of today's connected marketing ecosystem. You naturally think in customer journeys rather than channels and are equally comfortable leading conversations around brand strategy, digital experiences, CRM, CX, agile delivery, data, analytics and optimization. We're seeking someone who can seamlessly integrate experiential into broader marketing ecosystems and help clients maximize the effectiveness of their investment across every consumer touchpoint.You are a collaborative, commercially minded leader who thrives on solving business and brand challenges through integrated thinking. You bring strong strategic and analytical capabilities, know how to translate insights into action, and have a proven ability to build trusted client relationships while leading cross-functional agency teams to deliver exceptional work.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive agency experience is required, ideally within a leading multinational advertising or integrated marketing agency, managing large Tier 1 consumer brands. Agency experience is mandatory.
Currently operating as a Group Account Director (or equivalent senior client leadership role) with responsibility for leading complex, integrated client portfolios.
Demonstrated understanding of customer journey planning and how channels work together to deliver business outcomes.
Digitally fluent with experience leading integrated marketing programs spanning brand, digital products, CRM, customer experience (CX), data, analytics and agile delivery.
Extensive experience leading integrated digital marketing initiatives and partnering with digital, strategy, analytics, technology and creative teams.
Experience working on large consumer-facing brands
Exceptional understanding of strategic marketing and business principles
Expert at storytelling and building impactful and influential strategy and creative concept presentations.
Strong understanding of the current media landscape and understand how to apply that understanding to holistic and integrated solutions for brands.
Proven success leading team-based projects
Self-motivated with quantifiable success in marketing and/or retaining and growing brand and/or client portfolios.
Strong planning and organizational skills: time-management, working to critical paths, budgeting, delegating, facilitating meetings, multi-tasking, attention to detail, follow up, etc.
Love building relationships and getting to know clients

Nice To Haves

Client-side experience a significant asset, particularly Tier 1 CPG or in the Financial Industry
Planning experience a significant asset
Working within, and managing a retainer-based billing model

Responsibilities

Act as the senior integrated marketing advisor to clients, connecting brand strategy, digital experiences, CX, analytics and experiential marketing into cohesive business solutions.
Demonstrate confidence and industry expertise as a senior Agency leader
Be an expert in your client’s business – key issues, opportunities, strategies
Develop a trusted advisor relationship with clients and key stakeholders
Challenge the status quo for the best results for the agency and the client
Accountable for delivering the Client Development Plan
Support the development and establishment of Agency best practices
Develop tailored frameworks and processes to address business challenges based on the client, opportunity, and desired outcome.
Facilitate the deconstruction of client brand and business challenges in order to develop actionable strategies that are then translated into actionable creative briefs.
Work closely with the Strategy & Creative teams to ensure strategically sound and powerful creative output.
Identify and support the organic development of incremental business within existing client portfolios
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Account team by providing strategic direction, mentorship, performance coaching, and opportunities for professional growth.
Work collaboratively with project team and provide valuable feedback at each critical juncture point of a project to ensure delivery to Diamond standards (eg. project kick-off, creative brief, concept & creative development and presentation, final wrap reports)
Oversee the development of all key client-facing presentations
Ownership and accountability over program budgets and profitability
Lead, mentor and develop direct reports including providing clear on-going performance feedback