Onsite Account Director (Brand and Packaging Design) - Marks : Job Details

Position Summary

This position is located on-site (2-3 days per week) with our client in NY and will service our client by developing and applying insight-based business, workflow and design solutions that meet and exceed the expectations of our client partners. In-take, manage, and lead all business & design solutions across our client's internal organization while coordinating with Marks cross discipline teams to deliver with excellence. 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.

As the Account Director you will be responsible for maintaining the Client Relationship, governing workflows, owning all aspects of work, artwork, product, resourcing, and the dedicated forecast and P+L for the account. The growth of the business partnership lies in client satisfaction and relationship, 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 plays in consumer conversion and the impact of great creative, production, and packaging assets.

Major Responsibilities

• Immerse in client's production, design culture, and marketing
• Develop strategic plans and manage the business relationship
• Blend business and creative skills to meet client needs
• Lead project kick-offs, brainstorming sessions, and client meetings, ensuring smooth project workflow in conjunction with all team members and with client
• Provide strategic direction/rationale and quality check on all design work to ensure high standards are met, error-free
• Write briefs in conjunction with the client, align on design objectives and design intent. Ensure the designs presented align with the approved briefs
• Lead account and creative teams effectively to deliver on day to day outputs
• Apply insights to creative and present effectively to clients
• Ability to multi-task and problem-solve on a daily basis and connect into the greater production teams for the end to end offer
• 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 cross discipline teams to deliver on workflow
• Leading KPIs and action responsibilities through leadership
• Act as a strategic partner to your team and client – bring forth innovation and brainstorming future forward solutions

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

Ideal Candidate

• You have experience in setting up and working in an onsite environment as a Business Leader, Mentor and trusted partner
• You have managed clients with multi stakeholders, working across levels, and teams to grow client relationships and deliver on business needs
• 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
• 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, be passionate about design trends and retail innovations
• 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 and have a strategic mindset

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Graphic Management Services or Design
• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in brand stewardship, and account management
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience working with clients on brand strategy, concept, creation and design adaptation with specific knowledge in packaging design
• Minimum 8 years of experience in visual communication, campaign management, planning and production
• Proficient using PC platform and Mac OS, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or Keynote)
• Full-service agency experience
• CPG food and beverage industry experience highly preferred

General Requirements

• Comply with all Company standards, applicable regulation and departmental Standard Operating Procedures
• Comply with Company EH&S policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment.
• Keep work area organized and clean
• Work additional hours when necessary to meet client expectations
• Assist in any additional responsibilities, as directed by management. This job description is not intended to be all inclusive. You may be required to perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by your manager or other management personnel

Physical Requirements

• Occasionally required to walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk, or hear
• Occasionally lift/move up to a specified weight
• Specific vision abilities required

Marks is a brand design and experience agency that is uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change. Fueled by our dual vantage points – embedded partners and future-forward experts – we build brand momentum to move fast, move forward, and move confidently.

As a full-service agency, our expertise extends across all facets of the branding spectrum: strategy, innovation, design, adaptation, integrated marketing communications. Together, we are 600+ people across 12 studios and 8 countries.

Marks is part of SGS & Co, a brand impact group built with the agility and inventiveness that enables our clients to thrive. Our sister company, SGS, is an integrated packaging and marketing company. Together, we shift brands to impact.

Compensation Details

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $140K - $150K USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan. This role is also eligible for Flex PTO.