Walker Sands Logo

Walker Sands

Account Director

Posted 9 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Chicago, IL
100K-105K
Senior level
Chicago, IL
100K-105K
Senior level
The Account Director leads client accounts, develops marketing strategies, manages teams, and serves as a strategic advisor to clients to drive growth.
The summary above was generated by AI

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

Walker Sands is seeking a seasoned Account Director who can lead a portfolio of complex integrated and point solution programs that leverage SEO, paid media, creative, brand and strategy, marketing automation, PR and social media services. This Director will work with our channel experts to drive results for B2B technology clients and become invaluable extensions to our clients’ marketing teams. As a senior member of the Client Services team, the Account Director will be accountable for the success and growth of some of the agency’s highest-value clients.

The Account Director will act as a senior client contact and strategic advisor, work with our services teams to define program goals and strategies, manage client health and renewals, and support sales pitches. The Account Director will provide senior client management for a mix of AOR accounts, integrated programs and point-solution client accounts.

Responsibilities

  • Lead medium to large point-solution and multi-service accounts as the primary day-to-day contact and hands-on client account leader. Serves as a senior point of contact for both internal service teams and external clients; works with services teams to define program goals and strategy; monitors results and client business impact; builds client relationships; and manages account profitability, client health and renewals. 
  • Provide department leadership including: manage utilization for those in the coaching tree, contribute to department process improvement and innovation, and develop department training. 
  • Act as a strategic advisor to clients, providing expert guidance on marketing trends, opportunities, and best practices.
  • Drive integration and collaboration across all teams to deliver outcome-driven integrated marketing solutions. 
  • Lead and participate in sales pitches for new business, with strong presentation skills that build confidence in the program and team. 
  • Proactively identify opportunities for account growth and work with clients and internal teams to develop and implement plans to capitalize on them.
  • Coach junior Account Management team members, including Associate Account Directors and Senior Account Managers. 
  • Inspire, mentor and motivate team members to produce great work and develop competence.
  • Demonstrate understanding of account and project profitability levers, including scoping, pricing, rates and staffing. 
  • Drive increased profitability of accounts over time.
  • Operate a profit-minded approach to managing account resources.
  • Run internal account team planning meetings, high-level client strategy meetings and account review meetings.
  • Produce and present client-facing reports that demonstrate the business value of our programs to clients.
  • Oversee client billing, profitability and contract renewal for assigned accounts.

Experience

  • At least 7-10 years leading client accounts in a marketing and/or creative agency.
  • Understanding of all aspects of digital marketing.
  • Experience working with and/or managing cross-disciplinary teams in a matrix account team structure.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate with and present to executive and C-level client contacts.
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Proficiency in project management tools and software.
  • Excellent listening, negotiation and presentation skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Compensation & Benefits:

  • We strive for salary range transparency in our hiring process. This is a major step towards not only complying with regulations where required, but also to make sure pay equity and DEI are top of mind during the hiring process. Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package - this role will also be eligible for a bonus based on company performance, as well as benefits. Below is the starting salary for this role:
    Starting Salary: $100,000 - $104,500 a year
    • Placement on the salary scale will be determined by various factors, such as, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, education, business or organizational requirements and internal equity.
    • Starting salaries are not inclusive of a full range of compensation for this role and are instead meant to reflect the expected beginning salary for a new hire. Merit-based increases can be earned after time in role.

Total Rewards Package:

    • 🩺 Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
    • 💰 Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
    • 🌴 Flexible PTO: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
    • 🏡 Hybrid Work: Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
    • 🎉 Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
    • 👶 Family Support: Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
    • 📚 Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
    • 🌟 Culture: Our agency values our supportive, collaborative culture where we work hard to achieve the best outcomes for clients. Read more on our website here!

#LI-Hybrid

Top Skills

Marketing Automation
Paid Media
Pr
Project Management Tools
Seo
Social Media
HQ

Walker Sands Chicago, Illinois, USA Office

55 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL, United States, 60603

Similar Jobs

8 Days Ago
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
150K-175K Annually
Senior level
150K-175K Annually
Senior level
Agency • Gaming • Marketing Tech • Mobile • Analytics
The Senior Account Director will drive client strategies, build relationships, provide leadership, and innovate solutions within the financial services sector.
Top Skills: AnalyticsFinancial ServicesIntegrated Omni-Channel Marketing
2 Days Ago
Chicago, IL, USA
155K-165K Annually
Senior level
155K-165K Annually
Senior level
AdTech • Healthtech • Marketing Tech
As a Group Account Director, you will lead client communications, manage high-value projects, develop client relationships, and foster collaboration between teams, ensuring project success and financial goals are met.
Yesterday
12 Locations
206K-266K Annually
Senior level
206K-266K Annually
Senior level
Biotech
The Institutional Account Director is responsible for managing relationships, developing strategies for account management, and promoting Gilead's therapies within healthcare institutions, especially regarding access to long-acting injectable products for infectious diseases.

What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene

With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.

Key Facts About Chicago Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
  • Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
  • Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account