Role: Senior Account Director 

Location:Johannesburg, South Africa (hybrid)

ROLE MISSION

Working in partnership with our client, the Senior Account Director will play an essential role in the leadership team by providing strategic & operational input. We expect this person to demonstrate the skills to be credible at this level, with the ability to influence decisions of the leadership team and be able to stay in control of Client relationships and portfolio growth.The Senior Account Director is ultimately responsible for the smooth running of their respective portfolio operationally, creatively and commercially, and is answerable on these points to the client and to the Group Account Director.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING IN YOUR ROLE

• Building strong relationships with all clients, from brand execs and managers through to directors and VP’s, as well as with relevant stakeholders across the IIG network.
• Main point of contact for each Marketing Director. You will work in partnership with them, driving business and the teams to deliver great work.
• Escalation points for the client for any issues with your teams, you will need to be a problem solver that deals with problems with a solution based attitude.
• You will be confident with clients and will challenge the client, when necessary, whilst keeping a positive relationship. You negotiate to create win-win compromises with your clients on behalf of you team members where needed.
• You will ensure each team delivers to the expected levels of client service at all times.
• Lead by example, line managing the different teams
• Developing, coaching and driving teams to constantly add value to our clients and to challenge the briefs we receive, in order to break the norm and deliver outstanding creative work.
• Drive the optimisation and integration of the various departments and OLIVER partner agencies where applicable
• Identification and implementation of resource & infrastructure optimisation opportunities
• Identification & implementation of best practice (both directions)
• Drive efficiencies, economies of scale & resource optimisation.
• Implement and monitor the workflow process.
• Optimize internal and external resource allocation and utilisation.
• The ability to scope projects from a resourcing and timing point of view.
• Owning the commercials for clients and agency, including forecasts, budgets and investments – ensuring that key financial responsibilities are mutually understood and agreed upon, and able to accurately articulate this to senior management with sound recommendations of how to move forward profitably.
• Responsible for growing all the Studios offering, pushing our capabilities to brand teams and keeping us front of mind with brands for all digital advertising and content creation.
• You will actively seek out opportunities with brands and build relationships with senior clients, pushing to upsell our offering
• Follow refined processes and push teams to work to the processes set out but have the ability to challenge process to ensure teams are working as efficiently and effectively as possible.
• Bring new processes to the teams helping them deliver to expectation
• Delegate effectively and appropriately upwards to the GAD and Client Service Director, as well as downwards, and to other departments.

WHAT SKILLS WILL HELP YOU BE SUCCESSFUL 

• 8+ years relevant agency work experience – Currently in an Account Director role.
• Previous experience leading teams of over 5 people – ideal.
• A strong grounding in the commercial running of accounts, commercial planning and forecasting and P&L
• Proactive with a growth and entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong gravitas and the ability to build relationships with senior clients, building trust in our offering.
• A team player with a client centric focus and possess the ability to build strong and effective working relationships with your teams and colleagues.
• Africa experience.
• Nurturing and empowering for team members.
• Responsible for ensuring local teams follow global and regional processes and the seamless flow of communication, strategies and work where applicable.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Lots of agencies say they're different. OLIVER is.

OLIVER believes that agencies work better inside a brand's organisation; delivering more effective work at the speed required to drive modern businesses forward. Using our unique Inside Intelligence methodology, we build specialist, dedicated in-house agencies that collaborate with clients to form better marketing solutions.

Established in 2004, our model is now driven by over 4000 people, working across more than 200 in-house agencies globally. Clients include The Guardian, Unilever, Barclaycard, PepsiCo, AXA, The AA, Adidas, BMW, Post Office, and 3M. OLIVER is part of the Inside Ideas Group (IIG), which also includes a global content agency to Adjust your Set, design, experience, and engineering company DARE and property marketing specialists Aylesworth Fleming.

Follow us on  Instagram oliver.talent

Job Id: 9643

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OUR VALUES

We are a company built on our values, we have given you a brief overview below but would love to tell you more.

Be Ambitious to succeed

Be Imaginative to push the boundaries of what’s possible

Be Inspirational to do groundbreaking work

Be always learning and listening to understand

Be Results-focused to exceed expectations

Be actively pro-inclusive and anti-racist across our community, clients and creations

We've set ambitious, market-leading environmental and social goals around sustainability at OLIVER. We have committed to be net zero by 2030 and take far-reaching action on DE&I in the sector. We expect everyone to contribute to our mission, embedding sustainability into every department and through every stage of the project lifecycle. 

Inside Ideas Group and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected.  All [suitable] applicants shall be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.