**This is a 6 month fixed term contract initially, with a strong likelihood of extention. **
DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention services across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Meta, eBay, and OpenAI. We have been certified B Corp and Climate Neutral since 2021.
JOB PURPOSE
This role is part of our Global Studios team. We create emotive yet conversion-focused ideas, products and campaigns at scale and speed. Our specialty is hyper-personalised, digital communications that change perceptions, shape new behaviours, and shift market share for our clients.
As Account Director, you will be responsible for building strong relationships with clients at all levels including strategic input, and overseeing the delivery of a wide variety of substantial integrated campaigns.
You will be required to manage client briefs from start to finish, planning, assigning and reviewing creative and managing the overall agency workload in partnership with the producers and the senior design team.
You will be working closely with designers, copywriters, developers and other parts of the agency to ensure successful campaign deliveries which are profitable without compromising creative integrity.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Manage client briefs from start to finish, ensuring successful delivery to client deadlines across multiple campaigns.
Liaise with clients and manage their expectations.
Re-lay client feedback to designers, copywriters and developers & plan and manage workloads of the team.
Ensure client requirements are met whilst protecting DEPT® values/brand.
Support the senior team with administrative tasks.
Build a full understanding of the clients’ business, strategies, objectives, brand, audiences and challenges, advising on the communications solution that best meets their needs, with a view to becoming their trusted adviser.
Build excellent working relationships with key clients – regular meetings, planning, briefing, evaluation.
Work closely with creative and strategy teams and to have oversight of all statements of work/proposals as well as all content production for clients.
Ensure the right DEPT® team is in place to deliver, high standards are maintained and adding value wherever possible. Ensure success criteria are met and projects are delivered to time and to budget.
Ensure a good knowledge of all DEPT® products and services and actively promote them to clients.
Report to senior management with internal and external issues and events that might impact upon accounts, either positively or negatively.
Direct account management activity – undertaking pitches and presentations, formulating and implementing account plans, and running the account management process.
Hold key new business development responsibilities, working with others in the team to proactively seek new opportunities for the business. Writing proposals and creative treatment. Contributing to winning new business.
Ensure processes are followed and that there is consistent professional delivery (to brief). Managing workflows. Lead Account Direction best practice within the Agency.
Maintain a strategic overview of key accounts and their markets – running regular internal client-facing account reviews. To prove how we are meeting our clients’ objectives through metrics, feedback, research, etc.
Oversee the client contract, to proactively manage the account and resources to maximise profitability.
Management and leadership
Delegate and allocate responsibilities efficiently to manage projects end to end.
Interview candidates and hire resources.
Conduct performance reviews of team members and identify areas of improvement, give feedback and recommend for promotions or salary increments.
Effectively lead teams and inspire others to achieve goals through innovation, quality and excellence.
Identify strengths and weaknesses of team members and suitably make changes if required.
Encourage team interaction, boost employee motivation and appreciate team contribution.
Match project tasks with opportunities for development so that employee potential is utilised to the maximum.
Manage change and effectively cascade information to teams to ensure smooth execution.
WHAT YOU BRING
Experience delivering a broad range of multi-channel marketing communications including digital and direct.
Extremely organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to work under pressure and meet and manage deadlines with ease and efficiency.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
A great team player and team-building skills.
People management/leadership skills.
Excellent negotiator with good networking ability.
Ability to communicate effectively with team giving guidance and feedback.
Resource management skills and ability to handle complex issues.
Understanding of the production & interactive processes.
Excellent planning and organisation skills.
Ability to manage and develop client and supplier relationships.
Ability to commercially manage budgets.
Proven business development experience and success.
Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages.
WE OFFER
A flexible hybrid working policy to enjoy the best of both worlds (2 days from the office, depending on location).
Early Finish Fridays, kickstart your weekend early with alternating early-finish Fridays.
26 days paid holiday, plus UK Bank Holidays.
Access to dedicated mental health resources including enhanced sick pay scheme, employee assistance programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
Company Pension Scheme.
Access to a Private Medical Insurance or Cash Plan scheme.
Season Ticket Loan, interest-free Season Ticket Loans to help spread the cost of travel.
Cycle to Work Scheme, save money on a new bike and equipment.
EV Car Scheme, access to an electric vehicle via a salary sacrifice arrangement.
Enhanced family-friendly policies to support parents.
Workplace Nursery Scheme, save on childcare by paying for nursery fees through a tax-efficient salary sacrifice scheme.
DEPT® Allowance, a dedicated company contribution to spend on either your professional development or personal wellbeing.
Social and Cultural Events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations.
Learning and Development, continuous growth opportunities through internal training, and "inspirational talks” guest speakers.
Buddy Program, you will be paired with a ‘Buddy’ to help you navigate your first weeks’ at DEPT®.
A Certified BCorp Agency and is multi-award winning “Agency of the Year”.
Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global, at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
Global DEPT® Cares Month, an annual initiative where our teams donate their professional skills and time to support local charities and pr-bono projects.
WHY DEPT®?
We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.
We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.
At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.
**DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION **
At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.
Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.
We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.
Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.