SGS & Co - Account Director - Marks (10-14 yrs)

About the job

Who are we?

Marks is a consumer experience agency that creates engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum - from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections.

Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.

A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world's biggest brands connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today's consumer landscape.

Position Summary:

- This position will deliver against our global key clients evolving packaging, marketing and retail businesses by developing and applying insight-based, workflow and design solutions that meet and exceed the expectations of our client partners.

- In-take, manage, and lead all business & design solutions across the key client organization while ensuring client service excellence and best-in-class design execution.

- You will also act as the strategic business leader and develop relationships to become a trusted resource our clients rely on to address business, design, and production challenges while identifying opportunities to elevate our partnership and bring forward solutions that will drive the business forward with mutual value creation.

- As the Account Director (Design) you will be responsible for building the client relationship, workflows, ownership of all aspects of work, resourcing, and the dedicated forecast and P+L for the SGS & Co/Marks and key client relationship.

- The growth of the business partnership with key clients are in client satisfaction, strategic account development, revenue generation (net new and current), contributing margin, successful achievement of identified KPIs, and cultural impact and growth of both direct and indirect teams.

- Your business brain is balanced with your creative brain.

- You celebrate a perfectionist lens for business, brand stewardship, design adaptation, and production all backed by strategic acumen.

- You understand the role design thinking that plays in consumer conversion and the impact of great creative, production, and retail assets.

Major Responsibilities:

- Get immersed in one of our biggest global key clients exciting, fast-paced, design and marketing culture

- Establish and build trusting relationships with key client contacts and stakeholders

- Implement workflows and processes to drive a faster, leaner and better business model

- Create a seamless workflow and energetic, positive, environment with agility to continually evolve

- Drive design strategy across all tiers and identify opportunities to bring forward other SGS & Co/ Marks capabilities

- Oversee all marketing, production, and design for one of our biggest Global clients through Marks - including a focus on packaging design, retail, POS, Digital, Social, Outdoor, and internal needs when needed

- Coordinate and contribute to strategic portion of projects including brainstorming sessions and preparation of proposal and presentation decks

- Ability to lead account and account managers in APAC/India, and creative teams, day-to-day client service and creative outputs

- Ability to apply insights to creative, effectively present and communicate layouts to clients

- Ability to multi-task and problem-solve on a daily basis and connect into the greater SGS & Co/ Marks teams

- Provide strategic direction/rationale and quality check on all design work to ensure high standards are met, error-free

- Lead project kick-offs, brainstorming sessions, and client meetings, ensuring smooth project workflow in conjunction with all team members and our key clients

- Write briefs in conjunction with the client, align on design objectives and design intent.

- Ensure the designs presented align with the approved briefs and scope of work

- Optimize internal and external resources for efficiency, creativity, and design quality

- Ongoing - Recommend improvements in the design process and utilization of resources to optimize efficiencies

- First point of escalation and responsibility to the account team

- Load leveling, and scheduling will be required, and relationships with studios to provide work on overflow

- Estimates will be required prior to work starting based on approved rate cards

- Leading KPIs and action responsibilities through leadership

- New business development initiatives to help further the team and grow the account

- Communicate clearly on the progress of monthly/quarterly initiatives to global leadership

- Success in this role is achieved by consistently demonstrating the ability to manage, oversee and work against the clients' growth priorities, uphold the Design Pillar Standard of Excellence, manage multiple priorities with internal and external clients, and make sound decisions to ensure the business moves forward.

Ideal Candidate:

- You have experience in setting up teams and leading the business, working in an onsite environment (when required) as a Business Leader, Mentor and trusted partner

- You're a motivated problem solver with an appetite for growth in a fast-moving, industry-defining business

- You have a positive, proactive attitude towards opportunities and potential problems

- You are excited and motivated to work on one of the most recognizable brands globally

- You possess superior written and interpersonal communication skills that can flex and navigate easily across clients, onsite and offsite teams

- You have a curious nature and a commitment to continuous learning

- You have experience managing/mentoring account team members and designers

- You can evaluate design effectiveness and brand performance across all media types

- You have a thorough understanding of the creative process

Education:

- Degree in marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Graphic Management Services or Design

- Minimum 10 years of experience in brand stewardship, and account management

- Minimum 8 years of experience working with clients on brand strategy and design adaptation

- Minimum 8 years of experience in visual communication

- Proficient using Mac OS, Microsoft Word, Excel, Keynote and PowerPoint