Account Director

Job Description

The AV team is a highly collaborative, honest, supportive and proactive bunch of people who believe in going the extra mile to deliver a job brilliantly done. The team is made up of over 30 hardworking and dedicated people who are above all passionate aboutmedia and specifically, TV, Video On Demand, and Cinema.The clients range from large to small in terms of spend and we are able to provide each with the best solution they need for AV. We have weekly meetings as a department and keep each other up to date with what is going on. The team are also great at helpingeach other when needed.Spark AV is a team not just a department. This not only makes for a great working environment but a really strong team dynamic which in turn has produced some loyal and knowledgeable industry experts who will be able on hand and willing to take you to thenext level of your career. As a Director you will be at the heart of this AV team conversing and learning from Group Account Directors and the Head of AV with years of industry experience.Growth for Clients: our goal is to create brilliant experiences that drive faster growth for our clients, and you will work with various teams within the broader Publicis Media organisation (Content, Sports, Data and Commerce Practices) to do so. Specificresponsibilities are:

• Build strong, trusted relationships with key, mid-level clients
• Support Head of AV to deliver outstanding work every time
• Lead high quality day-to-day output of the team, be a subject matter expert across TV, VOD and Cinema
• Negotiating with various sales house teams to drive added value opportunities for our clients.
• Build relationships with key senior media owners to understand their offering in detail and be able to objectively evaluate new players.
• Ensure you and junior team deliver operational excellence
• Lead the team to ensure that all KPIs and any audit specifics are achieved
• Strive for strong quality output, market leading delivery and innovative ideas across all briefs
• Show proactivity and full understanding of clients and/or media owner business whilst ensuring regular updates are shared with senior clients stakeholder

Develop a Growth Team: You will have the chance to be a major contributor in shaping the culture of the teams that work in the agency. Specifically:

• Manage a team of Managers/ Senior Execs and Execs
• Deliver and set example of brilliant client and/or media owner service with a full understanding of the clients organisational structure
• Work collaboratively with Planning and PMX teams to deliver quality, timely responses
• Be proactive and results orientated in day-to-day client and/or campaign management
• Lead managerial training of appropriate systems and technology to get under the skin of audience behaviour and consumption of TV, VOD and Cinema
• Set clear progression plans for your team
• Embrace and lead positive culture within your team and agency peers

Drive Growth for Spark Foundry: You are an ambassador for the Spark Foundry brand and will be part of helping us build an exceptional reputation both within Publicis Groupe and with external partners. Specifically:

• Understand how Spark Foundry make money, identify growth opportunities utilising PM solutions and priority media owners
• Contribute to new business pitch work
• Collaborate with the other ADs to drive video and connected TV investment across the group
• Understand contractual obligations on your clients as well as media KPIs
• Work in partnership with other Directors across Spark Foundry to ensure all sales house annual deal guarantees are met.
• Embrace and get involved with agency initiatives and opportunities
• Work with New Business teams to offer AV strategy and innovation at the best possible price
• Build Starcoms reputation, positive relationships with clients, media owners and partner agencies

QualificationsThe ideal candidate should have a fully-rounded knowledge of AV media buying and planning, and continually keep up-to-date with market developments across the TV, VOD, Connected TV and Cinema mediums.You should be passionate about delivering outstanding work for our clients, be able to multi-task and contribute during New Business pitches both behind the scenes and in the pitch itself. You will have a minimum of 5+ years experience of working withina media agency.Above all, someone who wants to share their AV knowledge with our clients, the agency and the wider industry. The ideal candidate will be able to communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise way, quickly understanding the business and communicationsgoals across multiple clients. Core skills should include:

• Advanced negotiation skills
• Advanced presentation skills - comfortable presenting regularly to groups of all shapes and sizes
• Ability to work well with a diverse range of people from the CEO to the entry level graduates at Spark Foundry, client side and media owners too
• Expert knowledge of DDS
• Ability to plan and present in-depth rationales spanning TV, Video on Demand, Connected TV and Cinema mediums
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment and ensure the team do too.
• Experience of working on new business pitches
• Detail-oriented and fantastic attention to detail
• Creative and open to new ideas and confident to challenge briefs.
• Expert knowledge of the media auditing process - existing experience and/or relationships with Ebiquity and SLiK would be an advantage