Connecting to LinkedIn...

Lead Account Manager / Creative Services

Job Title: Lead Account Manager / Creative Services
Contract Type: Contract
Location: Reading
Industry:
Salary: Negotiable
Start Date: asap
Duration: 12 months
REF: PP/CK/Accountmanager_1641895392
Contact Name: Caroline Kennedy
Contact Email: caroline.kennedy@projectpeople.com
Job Published: about 2 years ago

Job Description

LEAD ACCOUNT MANAGER / CREATIVE SERVICES

12 month contract or FTC

Reading/Home

We have an exciting opportunity for an Lead Account Manager to join our newly formed in-house agency that is going to re-energise our brand and take our marketing effort to new heights.

We are looking for someone to set up and lead Account Management within the IHA (In-house agency). The Lead Account Manager will need to be experienced in setting up processes from scratch, getting stuck into the day-to-day management of briefs as well as manage the team of 3-4 account managers.

This is a new function to the team, and a critical one to help seamlessly navigate the brief end to end. The Lead Account Manager must be a highly personable, pro-active personality who is passionate about creative and understands that solutions are sometimes found in the least obvious places.

The Lead Account Manager will be central to the success of the IHA's creative projects, ensuring everyone is clear on their roles and responsibilities at all times. The right candidate will 'lead from the middle' - bringing calm, authoritative discipline to the creative process and commanding respect from colleagues and internal customers at all levels. They will lead the team of account managers, be responsible to setting and implementing account management processes and ways of working and be a vital part of the leadership team. They will manage the expectations and inputs of internal customers, while coordinating multi-disciplined teams to ensure the highest possible standard of work is achieved smartly and efficiently.

Working closely with the Creative Director, Design Head and Operations Lead, the Lead Account Manager will develop positive working relationships both internally and externally. It's a rare opportunity to help define the culture & ways of working of the new IHA.

Success will be an extension of the IHA's remit over time, taking on higher profile briefs as we prove our capability to the business.

Responsibilities of the Lead Account Manager also include

Setting up the Account Management function from scratch. The ultimate purpose of the role is to build and establish account management as a vital cog to the IHA structure. The role is responsible for creating the conditions for consistently great work, on brand, on time and in the most organised way possible. This will be achieved by using your experience in creative development, expert knowledge, skills, ability, and personality. To achieve this, be pro-active at all times: bring energy, share ideas, motivate the team and help make this an IHA that talented people want to be a part of.

Leading a team of Account Managers. This is a new part of our IHA structure and has recently seen a growth in demand. The team of account managers need an experienced leader to organise the ways of working, bring order and structure to how we project manage and enable the wider agency to focus on delivering best in class work. You will be a highly organised and experience people leader and problem solver, and the person to whom the team gravitates for clarity on ways of working, best practice and the requirements of the brief. You will have the gravitas and sensitivity to be able to have difficult conversations with the IHA senior leaders, make decisions and lead others through change, as well as the ability to enforce and expect accountability from your team.

Plan and Manage projects. Lead the team to plan projects in advance, working closely with the Creative Director, Design Head and Operations Lead to assign responsibilities, plot key milestones and identify risks & dependencies. Set an example of how it should be done and maintain a high standard in this area. Advise on those risks & managing them proactively by working up & presenting options. Ensure learnings from previous projects are applied. Insist on disciplined delivery. Be reactive and nimble in the application of processes, with the ability to spot the need for flexibility and pivot where necessary. Be constantly alert to potential challenges and obstacles and solve them in advance before they become problems. Work with the Creative Director, Design Head and the Creative Production Manager to support projects once they go into production, in particular by managing feedback rigorously but sensitively. Demonstrate throughout a passion for the creative work and for embracing new & diverse ways of working.

Assume commercial responsibility for project delivery. Maintain an in-depth knowledge of how we're tracking against time and money. Monitor/manage the budget so that it is commensurate with the objectives & opportunity. Bring awareness at all times of what's in and out of scope and flag any potential over-burn before it occurs. Strive to increase efficiency, through smarter ways of working.

Collaborate with the in-house agency team and its internal customers. You will be able maintain quality whilst helping the team to deliver to short deadlines and fast turn-round times. You will build strong collaborative relationships with the rest of the IHA team maintaining the focus on creative excellence and work that works well. You'll also develop positive relationships with marketing and other roles that brief the IHA, helping them to help the IHA generate quality work.

Help the In-House Agency run efficiently and effectively Based on your clear understanding of all the brands in the stable and the creative ambition of the IHA, you will support agreed ways of working across the team so that each member of the team is able to work efficiently and effectively. You'll make good use of internal systems, tools and processes which enable the team to excel and you'll ensure all your time is recorded in REBUS. Finally, you'll demonstrate behaviours that encourage respect across all functions of the IHA and show due regard for timelines, budgets and other constraints inherent in the brief.

The successful Lead Account Manager will have:

  • Proven track record managing multi-channel creative campaigns.
  • Brilliant commercial tracking.
  • Experience in driving forward big ideas and working with stakeholders, creative people and producers in implementing them.
  • An in-depth knowledge of the creative and design process as well as an interest and understanding of the production process.
  • Ability to take and interpret creative briefs
  • Can read and translate media schedules in order to know how to service the creative process.

To apply for the Lead Account Manager please send your CV to caroline.kennedy@projectpeople.com

Project People is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

SIMILAR ROLES