Account Manager Brand Agency

Skidmore Studio is a strategic brand agency that accelerates growth for emerging consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands. Our shopper-centric, brand before marketing approach drives consumer engagement that leads to exponential growth and returns.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

We’re seeking an Account Manager to collaborate with our clients, project managers, creative team, and media partners. We will only consider collaborative brand managers who have demonstrative success leading client relationships and managing the development of creative work in brand and/or agency settings. The right fit is a strong client service advocate and strategic thinker who is committed to driving value for clients while collaborating with a world-class creative team.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee the development and growth of extraordinary client relationships

• Schedule, prepare for, and lead all client meetings, weekly check-ins, and quarterly account planning sessions
• Grow existing client relationships by driving proactive planning and providing clients recommendations for growth and opportunity that help them achieve future goals
• Build strong client relationships by establishing clear expectations, delivering expectation-exceeding work, and ensuring engaging conversations and presentations
• Serve as primary point of contact for clients and proactively lead communication of the process, scheduling, and execution of all client presentations and meetings
• Close new business opportunities from scope development to project kick-off, in partnership with studio’s business development representatives

Properly manage your client’s projects in collaboration with studio’s creative and production teams

• Partner with project manager(s) to keep your projects moving forward, on time, and on budget
• Process all client assets, product and/or service information, and shared resources, to facilitate use with the appropriate studio individual contributors, stakeholders, or partners
• Be a client advocate while managing conflict resolution even if you have to tell clients “no” if it’s the right thing to do
• Translate data and information into clear, actionable insights
• Collaborate with creative team in brainstorms and ideation, creative briefing, strategy and planning for client

Elevate account services to bring incremental value to clients and the studio

• Own the excellence of account service as well as the account planning process to work through existing scopes of work and identify future ones
• Participate in continuous improvement process of Studio’s best practices for client services and creative
• Identify opportunities for future projects or initiatives and bring energizing and fulfilling work into the studio
• Yield work with the utmost value to clients, whether existing or potential scopes of work

Keep up with and serve as studio expert of client and industry knowledge

• Research the products, services, and current strategies of our clients to manage branding strategies and current projects, and identify opportunities
• Tap into your favorite content sources (such as conferences, email newsletters, podcasts, news outlets, etc.) about emerging CPG branding and marketing trends to inform current strategies and solutions we offer our clients
• Routinely share strategic thinking and POV on client, branding, and CPG industry trends with studio

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience owning a book-of-business, media spending, and/or annual brand development spend of $150K+
• Project management experience with ability to meet goals on-time and on-budget
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Degree in marketing, advertising, communications, business, or experiential equivalent
• Client-facing and relationship-growing experience such as account management, planning, sales, and/or business development
• Strong client-facing presentation and coordination skills with the ability to clearly convey strategies and concepts
• Advertising, marketing or branding roles with CPG brands and/or similar agency experience required

ATTRIBUTES OF SKIDMORVIANS

Ability to work entrepreneurially in shades of gray

• Adaptable and flexible with wearing “multiple hats” within our boutique studio
• Ability to bring structure to the nebulous and communicate clearly in the face of ambiguity
• Resourceful and comfortable with taking ownership of undefined work or problem solving

Desire for excellence and to learn and grow

• Coachable, continuous learner who is vulnerable about one’s own growth
• High creative and service standards with a passion for continuous improvement
• Curious and hungry for knowledge, with a desire to excel and have meaningful impact

Passionate about Brand, Collaboration, and Results

• Ability to capture and respond to feedback in ways that value others
• Creative, innovative problem solver who cares more for collaboration than being “right,” the winner, or in charge
• Desire to remove “not possible” from your vocabulary; substitute with “how might we…”

PURPOSE + VALUES OF SKIDMORVIANS

Every member of the Skidmore team is expected to continuously strive to fulfill the Studio’s core purpose and uphold our core values:

Core Purpose:

To help good organizations and good people be their best.

Core Values:

Be a Sage: Bring wisdom, Add confidence, Be discerning

Have the Zest: Bring enthusiasm, Add flavor, Be genuine

Deliver the Goods: Bring purpose, Add value, Be unified

BENEFITS

Paid time off: Paid vacations days, 11-13 paid holidays per calendar year, and unlimited paid sick/personal time after 60 days employment.

Medical Coverage: The Studio pays a portion of the premium for both employees and eligible family members.

Dental Coverage: 100% Studio paid for employees.

Vision Coverage: 100% Studio paid for employees.

401K Plan: Sponsored 401k retirement savings plan which includes an employer match after 90 days employment.

Wellness Reimbursement: Monthly wellness stipend.

Wireless Communication Stipend: Stipend for personal cell phone and home internet expenses.

COACHING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Every Skidmorvian is supported with a customized, personal development plan with weekly and/or bi-weekly coaching sessions. The plans include rituals and routines for recognition; education and training planning; skills, values, and performance evaluations; and career path creation. Skidmorvians are expected to have personal commitment to their own development, and develop the ability to ask for and receive support from studio’s managers, leadership, and coaches.

REMOTE / VIRTUAL / “CONNECTED” STUDIO

Skidmore Studio is operated as a connected team who work remotely, predominately in Eastern and Central Time Zones. Our virtual work expectation is the team is connected Monday through Friday and available for online meetings, phone calls and chats during common business hours (9 am – 5 pm Eastern, 8 am - 4 pm Central).

Our team is expected to travel for in-person studio-wide meetings every quarter. Previously, those quarterly meetings were taking place in Detroit, Michigan. Future locations may change.

Teammates are provided company hardware and software tools relevant to their roles and are expected to have reliable internet connections and the ability to appear on camera for meetings indicated as video conferences.

ABOUT SKIDMORE

Skidmore Studio is a strategic creative studio originally based in Detroit and now running remotely. Founded as an illustration shop in 1959, the studio helps consumer-facing organizations grow through expert brand strategy, design, packaging, website, and marketing support. The team of designers and creative strategists craft brands that get today’s consumers excited about products on shelves, online, and in their everyday lives. Skidmore works with nationally recognized brands such as Vital Essentials, McCrea’s, Smooj, Griffin Claw, Xenith, and Lipari Foods.