Subject Matter Hiring for Senior Director, Account Leadership at Washington, DC Full Time

We are looking for a Senior Director to lead a group of high-profile clients. Responsibilities include account planning and supervision, project and financial management, and the management of a small team. Working with the Senior Vice President, the Senior Director will set and achieve client goals, serve as the strategic liaison between the client and agency teams, oversee agency work on behalf of clients, support agency growth, and mentor junior teammates. The job requires professionalism, polish, and the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with clients and colleagues.

What You’ll Do

Relationship Management: Owns the business relationship with select clients, as well as the strategic vision to set and achieve client objectives.Is the senior contact and trusted expert for clients, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of their business, target markets and competition.

• Provides strategic guidance to clients, both in setting the initial direction and on an ongoing basis
• Anticipates and addresses client needs, and consistently works to optimize client initiatives
• Creates value for clients by surfacing emerging marketing trends, opportunities and agency capabilities, and by initiating new projects and more efficient processes
• Understands when to elevate client concerns and opportunities to senior management and partners in determining the solution
• Actively cultivates relationships across and throughout Subject Matter + Kivvit to marshall the thinking and services that address our client’s challenges

Account Management: Leads communications campaigns independently from start to finish, including the development and implementation of advertising, strategic communications, content development and digital strategies.

• Serves as strategic integration leader across internal teams, which includes Creative, Strategic Communications, Video, Content, Technology, Digital and Government Relations, teams
• Leads, writes and is responsible for the delivery of marketing and communications plans
• Works with others on the Account Leadership and other agency teams to effectively achieve client and agency goals. Is a connector and convenor of team members
• Assigns and takes on projects as appropriate
• Works with Agency leadership to define the vision for the client. Provides updates as needed and identifies opportunities for meaningful engagement.
• Writes or edits client materials including, strategic guidance memos, strategic briefs, thought leadership content, creative materials and results reports, as well as Master Service Agreements, Scopes of Work and change orders

Team Leadership: Trains Account Leadership team members as applicable.

• Motivates team members by setting clear expectations, promptly reviewing work and providing instructive feedback
• Identifies training and development opportunities for team members, and encourages them to take the steps necessary to advance their careers
• Supports development and planning for the Account Leadership team and agency

Business Success: Closely monitors and manages the financial health of multiple accounts.

• Maintains internal financial and budget reporting, with consistent updates, in partnership with Project Manager
• Ensures work quality and adherence to deadlines and budgets
• Raises concerns and solutions about the financial status of accounts to senior leadership when appropriate
• Creates mutually beneficial agency/client relationships

Business Growth: Maximizes personal and agency network to enhance client service and expand agency business.

• Identifies opportunities to maintain and grow accounts
• Leads proposal responses to new business opportunities when assigned

Requirements

your experience

• 10+ years of communications, marketing or advocacy communications experience. Experience within an ad agency or PR firm preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising or Communications; Master’s degree a plus
• Expert knowledge of traditional and digital advertising, marketing, strategic communications, data analytics and market research principles and practices
• Decisiveness to move projects ahead with little oversight
• Demonstrated understanding of business strategy and financial principles
• Ability to execute multiple projects concurrently and efficiently
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Outstanding analytical capabilities to define measurable objectives, assess campaign metrics and reports
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively articulate ideas to clients, colleagues and others
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement of leadership skills.
• Direct experience in building and managing teams.

Candidates need not possess every attribute listed above to qualify for a role. If you identify with this profile but don’t quite meet all of the criteria we strongly encourage you to apply to joining our team!

Benefits

We offer a uniquely rich benefits package to support our team’s quality of life outside of work that includes:

• 100% company paid Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Fully paid parental leave
• 401(k) contributions
• Flexible, hybrid work arrangements
• 12 paid company holidays per year, up to 39 days individual paid time off
• Winter Break: Offices close the last week of the year

SM+K is also committed to providing necessary assistance or modifications to the application process for prospective candidates. If you need support, please reach out to and include your full name and the accommodation needed to assist you with the Talent Acquisition process. Decisions to grant reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

Who We Are

Subject Matter+Kivvit, where creative advocacy meets data-driven communications.

Our diverse skill sets deliver unexpected solutions that break through a complicated communications and policy landscape. We are an integrated consultancy, offering strategic communications, data analytics & insights, government relations, digital strategy, creative content, and advertising services.

As one of the largest independent agencies, we provide clients with the attention they expect of a boutique firm, with the resources of a national agency.

We are here for what is now, and what is next.

Subject Matter+Kivvit prides itself on the kind of innovation that is only achieved through inclusive collaboration and equal opportunity. Maintaining a diverse staff of first-class talent (including those from BIPOC, LGBTQ communities, and others from traditionally underrepresented groups), and conferring a sense of value and belonging on each team member is central to our mission as expert communicators.