Account Director

LaForce is looking for a PR powerhouse with extensive experience and success working with luxury hospitality and spirits brands. The ideal candidate has their finger on the pulse of all things pop culture, trends, New York City and beyond!

The Role

As an Account Director, you will be responsible for effectively managing multiple large scale accounts and account teams (including financials) and will serve as a key client contact.

You are viewed as an established leader and a seasoned professional; respected by senior clients, with a proven track record that demonstrates team growth by leading, maintaining and winning new business.

Summary

• Demonstrates strong understanding of strategy development, media relations and public relations industry, with general knowledge of the social/digital landscape
• Takes a proactive approach, looks at brand roster from a holistic, big picture perspective and takes initiative driving workstreams with minimal follow-up
• Shows consistent and reliable support to senior management and team; reports in to Sr. Director, VP, ASVP or SVP
• Understands concepts and takes initiative to drive programs and project pillars efficiently
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of client objectives and needs, communicates them to team and ensures deadlines are met
• Steps ahead of management; demonstrates an ability to manages up and down efficiently and effectively.
• Works with an eye on the peripheral agency landscape and understands how this impacts their day-to-day (i.e. Understands their pillar, but doesn’t ignore what is going on around them
• Critical thinker that enhances, pokes holes, solves problems and makes work better as it moves up the ladder

Writing

• Demonstrates writing excellence when crafting internal and external materials and correspondence
• Ability to create presentations, understands, and drives storytelling and strategic aspects of deck writing whether it be new business, annual presentation or program re-caps
• Understands, reviews, enhances and edits written materials so that minimal changes come back from management and/or client
• Provides clear direction and holistic account management to mid and jr. level staff

Media Relations

• Drive holistic media strategy that meets program objectives and KPI’s
• Develops new and creative media strategies
• When there are roadblocks, knows when and how to pivot, expand and exact timing to communicate to client
• Responsible for having and identifying strategic media relationships and ensures overall media strategy is aligned with client/ brand goals
• Identifies, secures and manages top tier media opportunities from start to finish
• Guides account support to ensure successful implementation of media strategies

Program/Project Management

• Able to manage and lead multiple programs and projects seamlessly
• Accountable for all programs, strategic direction and projects management
• Monitors programming to ensure that deadlines, quality standards and KPIs are met

People Management

• Manages, mentors and develops staff
• In partnership with SD/VP/ASVP/SVP, participate in review process for staff managed
• Contributes to and boosts morale of client and agency teams; works with leadership to identify talent and staffing improvement areas
• Provides clear, concise direction and feedback that garners buy-in from team members
• Responsible for the review process of direct reports
• Sets account priorities and communicates them accurately and efficiently to team members
• Commits to continuous learning and improvement of leadership skills; sets and pursues goals
• Consistently manages up and proactively updates senior team members and agency leadership

Client Management

• Defines scope-of-work and sets client expectations
• Establishes metrics for determining success and evaluates programs with team and client
• Demonstrates presence, value and contributes to show there is a clear reason for being on the account with all clients they are working with
• Provides counsel to clients and sets strategy and direction of work
• Has a thorough understanding of client’s business and competitive environments
• Demonstrates the ability to successfully navigate communication across a diverse client roster including tailoring tone, delivery, evaluating approach, etc. when necessary
• Identifies client problems and creative challenges and sees them through without guidance

Business Management /Development

• Develops and grows senior-level client relationships
• Introduces clients to new capabilities, initiates new business process and exhibits an overall enthusiasm for team growth
• Develops new business plans and demonstrates clear understanding of strategy as it pertains to each brand/ client, without direction
• Demonstrates strong presentation skills and ability to influence decision-makers

Financial / Budget Accountability

• Ensures that accounts are managed for agency profitability
• Provides recommendations for team staffing, as it relates to budgeting and oversees all workstream delegation
• Analyzes and oversees budgets and expenses on brands within portfolio, where applicable
• Managing mid to junior team members to ensure expense spend is within client budget

Skills, Qualifications and Knowledge:

• Bachelors degree with 7-8 plus years of agency experience
• Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to manage, motivate and lead team efforts
• In-depth analytical skills
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Big picture, innovative thinker - ability to develop creative solutions and new programs
• Evaluate creative ideas from clients and staff
• Exhibits broad understanding of digital and social marketing, leading trends and changes and current landscape
• Proven ability to consistently make sound judgments and effectively motivate and manage team members
• Sets the direction and leads strategic client programs
• Works with leadership on anticipating needs and aligning current and new team members
• Ability to independently get annual programs “off the ground,” set priorities, and ensure team meets client expectations and program goals

Applicants who meet some but not all or exceed the requirements mentioned above are still highly encouraged to apply!

Benefits

LaForce offers a competitive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience
• Several medical, dental, and vision plan options
• Pre-tax Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401K with employer match
• Free lunch 1x per week
• Generous PTO (vacation, sick, mental health days, birthdays off,etc.)
• Summer Fridays
• Anywhere August
• Hybrid office schedule (3 days in office)
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Parental leave
• Corporate fitness partnerships

LaForce is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. LaForce is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process.