Senior Account Manager

Primary Purpose

Represent Marks and support our ever-evolving business needs and act as an integral member of the team, building partnerships and collaboration with both agency and client teams. Serve as the primary liaison between the agency and the client, working exclusively on a dedicated client's business from our near site agency office.

As the Sr. Account Manager, you are the brand strategy and design steward. Partner with the clients to clearly understand the creative brief objectives and partner with design team to add value, review/critique design concepts to meet the creative brief and client expectations. The Sr. Account Manager represents the agency's point of view in making recommendations to the client and represents the client's point of view within the agency to facilitate the creation of effective design strategies and work.

In the face of demanding deadlines, multiple, rapidly changing priorities, you will support and exhibit behaviors consistent with Marks values and beliefs in a fiscally responsible manner. Marks philosophy: Design integrity, Technical accuracy and Speed to market.

This is a hybrid role based in Providence, RI

Reporting To: Design Account Director

General Overview

The Sr. Account Manager will work closely with the Account Director, Creative Director, Project Managers, Lead Designers, Sr. Quality Manager, Production Artists to support and contribute to the day to day project management, deliverables and flawless execution. Clearly understand client objectives and concisely communicate expectations to the team in a timely manner. Facilitate and maximize the teams time to effectively develop new design concepts and/or revisions that meet client expectations, brand guidelines, and are on time and on budget. In addition, always think ahead, keep an eye on the roadmap to effectively manage, plan and anticipate upcoming business needs, teams workload, and/or identify additional resources, as required. This role will advocate our culture, brand and community.

50% PROJECT/ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

* Be the dependable lead point of contact for any and all matters for assigned client/agency work.
* Build and maintain strong, long-lasting client/agency/vendor relationships. Partner with PDM to earn their trust and respect as a value added, strategic brand partner.
* Challenge status quo, (as needed), clearly understand business objective and have a POV to add value in delivering the best design solutions to meet client objectives and/or exceed brief expectations.
* Develop a trusted advisor relationship with key accounts, client stakeholders and vendors.
* Schedule/attend agency/client meetings, create/present presentations, actively participate and/or lead project kick-offs and creative reviews in collaboration with the design team.
* Proactively manage assigned projects from brief through execution and release of artwork partnering with the client, vendors and agency teams to meet project brief objectives and deliverables in a timely manner.
* Daily collaboration with clients PMs and PDMs to ensure projects are progressing in an effectively and timely manner.
* Develop and lead weekly status report meetings to report on project status and highlight any challenges or potential delays. Proactively lead, anticipate and provide solutions to address any issues and keep projects on course through completion.
* Effectively manage all client requests and alert or escalate any issues to the Account Director as needed, and keep them apprised of workload demands to best manage team resources and address potential risks.
* Identify organic growth opportunities within existing client relationship and share with leadership to support and identity resources to pursue.

50% INTERNAL PROJECT MANAGERS TEAM LEAD

* Develop internal relationships to earn trust and respect of Project Managers. Be a champion and mentor to the Project Managers. Lead by example, uphold high standard and reinforce best practices for success.

* Provide oversight and support PMs in developing effective and well positioned Concept Presentation set-ups to best elevate the quality of thought provoking presentations and deliverables to the client.
* Collaborate with Project Managers and Traffic Manager to ensure correct resources are assigned for each project/request and make any necessary adjustment of work in progress to ensure on time delivery and/or resource optimization throughout the life cycle of the project or special requests.
* Conduct status meetings with all teams to ensure accounts are running properly.
* Daily status updates for all projects in collaboration with the project managers; work with
design lead and agency leaders to reschedule projects and reset expectations based on new
or changing priorities; ensure transparency and no surprises.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT/COMMUNICATION

* Demonstrate understanding of client's brands and how each project objectives fit into the overall brand strategy.
* Ensure client expectations and projects are effectively managed: keeping our clients happy, being an invaluable resource, provide timely and successful delivery of brand/project solutions according to Brand Guidelines and brief objectives.
* Develop creative briefs and/or ensure the client issued briefs are comprehensive with necessary content to kick off new assignments.
* Develop and issue meeting recaps that outlines key discussion points, requests and/or agreements and key next steps/timing to key team members in a concise and timely manner.
* Add value to the strategic development portion of projects including brainstorming sessions, be known as the expert of the category, competitors and target audience behaviors/needs.
* Create any OOP cost estimates and secure client approvals prior to incurring costs.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
* Assist Account Director in forecasting, tracking/reporting any data or key account metrics.
* Take the lead on miscellaneous client requests for presentation material, artwork file requests, etc. and managing team resources (PMs/Traffic/Production Designers) to support deliverables.
* Participate in and supports agency business objectives appropriate to role (quality objectives, company policies, team morale).
* Actively identify and suggest workflow/processes improvement opportunities.
* Proactively contribute to the development and continuous improvements of SOPs.

Success In The Role

Success in this role is achieved by consistently demonstrating the ability to lead, partner and collaborate with the client and agency teams to achieve business objectives, uphold the Marks Design Pillar Standard of Excellence, manage multiple priorities with internal and external clients, and make sound decisions to ensure the business moves forward. Establish the reputation of being the client's brand steward and go to person for addressing any requests or solving any problems

Education & Experience

* Bachelor degree in Marketing or related field
* Minimum 7 years of relevant Account Management experience in a design agency environment
* Strong project management skills with in-depth hands-on program management and execution experience working in a fast paced CPG environment
* Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence brand design strategy decisions credibly and effectively at all levels of the organization across both agency and client teams
* Ability to provide industry/category and consumer insights to help guide and influence effective design development
* Experience in developing and delivering client-focused solutions based on business needs
* Superior organizational skills with proven ability to manage multiple projects at a time, while paying strict attention to the details and adhering to brand guidelines
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
* Willingness to work an extended schedule, as needed, to meet project deadlines
* Proficient using Mac OS, and Microsoft Products; and project management/routing programs

Ideal Candidate Will Possess

* Broad experience working directly in a high-volume, fast-paced, constantly changing creative environment and demonstrate resiliency
* Proven problem solver with expert knowledge of design workflow best practices
* Ability to construct workable solutions when presented with multiple and, often times, conflicting points of view
* Unflappable, ability to bring a sense of focus and calm assurance to high-energy interactions
* Creative and innovative thinking
* A collaborative team oriented approach to working and keeping all parties informed
* Compassion, honesty and an ability to develop trust with both internal and client teams
* A sense of humor and have passion for your job

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $75,000 USD - $85,000 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a 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 and 401(k) Savings Plan.