Position Overview
We are looking for a strategic Account Director to lead our JLP client services team. You will oversee projects from initial brief through to delivery, keep ownership of client communication throughout.
You will lead the project management (PM) team to deliver right-first-time service in line with the client’s contractual requirements and ITG’s KPIs, providing both strategic and operational leadership. You will also be responsible for identifying and delivering automation and AI efficiencies, in production and operationally, as a team.
Key Responsibilities
Project oversight: Oversee the project lifecycle from early brief request to final delivery. Shape briefs to make sure they are complete, upload them to STQ, and bring in the right experts at the right time.
Client management: Be the main point of contact for the JLP Marketing team and other brief owners, and lead all client communications. Understand their plans and objectives and make sure outputs align with them.
Cross-departmental collaboration: Work with the Marketing Campaign Lead, Creative Director, Head of Production and others to keep delivery smooth and aligned to the client’s strategic goals.
Team integration: Be the "glue" that keeps campaigns moving, bringing in resource managers, traffic managers and senior leadership at the right moments.
Automation and AI efficiencies: Identify and deliver automation and AI opportunities across production and day-to-day operations. Build and own an efficiency roadmap with the team, working with production and traffic management. Report progress and savings monthly to the Senior Account Director.
Budget and commercial management: Lead on estimating costs and making sure budgets and timelines are achievable. Work with production to drive agency profit and efficiency, contribute to the account P&L and annual budgeting and forecasting, and stay within the client’s commercial agreements. Report key savings monthly to the Senior Account Director.
Time awareness: Make sure the team is realistic about how long jobs take and how their time is spent (for example, meetings they don’t need to attend). Work with production and traffic management to define "what good looks like" for each brief type, and use this to align JLP behaviours with ITG ways of working. Report learnings monthly to the Operations Director.
Process adherence: Make sure processes and best practice are followed so projects are right first time, on time and within SLAs.
Reporting: Support the Managing Partner with monthly packs for the client and ITG senior team, covering account performance and client priorities.
People leadership: Line manage and develop the PM team. Direct and delegate so you can focus on strategic oversight rather than admin.
Requirements
• A service-minded approach with proven customer management skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Highly numerate, with strong commercial awareness.
• Interest in, and ideally experience of, applying automation and AI to improve ways of working.
What We Need from You
• Leadership: A visible, inspiring leader who takes full ownership and encourages the team to do the same.
• Customer focus: Customer-centric thinking, commercial acumen and attention to detail.
• Collaboration: An engaging approach with internal and external teams, setting your own agenda and prioritising well.
• Proactive problem-solving: Spot opportunities and issues before they arise.
How You Will Succeed
• Partnering with clients: managing delivery expectations and challenging constructively when needed.
• Building strong relationships with colleagues for smooth handovers across every process.
• Coaching the team to gather accurate information from clients and write complete briefs.
• Delegating effectively so you can oversee multiple projects and cut admin time.
•…