Job Title Account Director Report line Client Director Location Hybrid and London Office Company Skating Panda Limited Contract Fixed-term Contract 9-12 months(maternity cover, with potential to become permanent) Salary £40,000-50,000 per annum *** Please do attach a cover letter and CV with your application *** WHY WORK AT SKATING PANDAWe are Skating Panda, a creative social and environmental impact consultancy which combines thinking, creativity and communications to nurture organisations and people towards changes in perspectives and behaviour.Skating Panda was founded more than a decade ago by our pioneering CEO Andrea Hartley. Fresh from working with Comic Relief co-founder, Richard Curtis, Andrea recognised the need for a consultancy with a difference – one with the sole focus of enabling organisations to affect sustainable positive change through a potent mix of critical thinking, creativity, and communications.Ten years ago, the idea of creating a social and environmental impact consultancy that drove real impact like Skating Panda was considered radical. Today, during a period of growing global crisis, the imperative is clear cut. Throughout this time, Skating Panda has remained totally committed to working with organisations who are genuinely seeking meaningful change – helping them turn their intent into real impact.We work with some of the most forward-thinking individuals in business and non-profits alike in helping solve the most challenging matters of our time. These include The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Benchmarking Alliance, Disasters Emergency Committee, NHS Charities Together, Sky, The Internet Watch Foundation and several global women’s rights movements.The time is now and the need for positive change is urgent. A fantastic opportunity for a talented Account Director to join our team for maternity cover.There is potential for this role to become permanent, depending on business needs and the future structure of the team. The successful candidate will receive a full handover and play a key role in maintaining continuity and delivering results during this period.This role leads a number of accounts, ensuring that they are both impactful and profitable, and, where appropriate, growing. You will take responsibility for the delivery of quality work that meets client needs and addresses their organisational problems and must champion that work. You will do so through the effective management of direct reports over time and your ability to lead and inspire others inside and outside the consultancy. You will regularly be involved with pitches for new business, approaching these with both a creative and commercial mindset. RESPONSIBILITIES:Leading and managing client accounts within Skating Panda, with overall responsibility for the client relationship ensuring the profitability, growth and impact of client accountsTake a strategic approach to our clients’ problems. Understand the wider context to where our work can add value and how to create bigger opportunities for our clientsEither working as the planner or working with planners to interrogate the client briefs, by challenging and asking questions, to develop briefs that meet business needs in an effective and accountable wayManaging and running the process from inception to delivery – being accountable for developing the work, presenting and selling this effectively to clients, through to the final, agreed deliverablesEnsuring the profitability of growth and client accountsIdentifying, developing, and converting new business opportunities with existing and future clientsNegotiating contracts and fees with clients and external partnersManaging the work, performance and professional development of team members over timeLeading and inspiring those outside of the core team, including third parties and individual specialists and associatesReporting key financial and team data to the senior leadership teamMaintaining a detailed awareness of relevant market trends affecting your accounts KEY CAPABILITIES:· Leadership by communication – we need someone who enjoys leading others and can get the best out of people· Strategic mindset – we need someone who can help wrap their heads around complex business problems and make them simple for our teams and for our clients· Client growth – create initiatives to take advantage of market opportunities, reduce operational threats, forestall business risks and maximise core strengths· C-Level relationship development – we need someone to have the credibility to be able to inspire our senior clients and build them up to build our business too· Building Skating Panda – we need someone who ideally wants to be an integral and long-term part of a growing business, and who in time, will want to represent the company, in public at events or with the press if and as needed. Being one of the external ambassadors of Skating Panda, representing and marketing it appropriately is crucial EXPERIENCE AND SKILLSET:A strong and stable track record operating at Account Director level within a marketing environment.Has exceptional client service skills, with an ability to partner with and influence senior clientsProven team leadership and management experience, with a real passion for leading, motivating, managing and developing teamsStrong commercial acumen and with a good business brain, including previous financial and budget responsibility experienceFlawless presentation skills, from conception of a story or pitch to delivery in boardroomsAbility to collaborate with strategists, consultants and creatives, and ability to seamlessly integrate and draw from diverse skill setsTarget-driven with the drive and nous to spot business development and client growth opportunities plus the ability to devise and implement a strategy to convert themAbility to independently lead and make decisions that balance the needs of the client with internal goals and teamsAmbitious and driven but honourable and trustworthyCharismatic and inspirational yet tough and capable of making difficult decisionsA well-connected individual with a proven networking and pitching abilityHighly conversant with developments in the fields of positive change and purpose from a corporate and a non-profit perspective SALARY & BENEFITS£40,000-50,000 per annum BENEFITS We provide excellent benefits including: · Flexible working pattern (hybrid: London & home).· Opportunity to work with some of the most impactful organisations in the world.· Possibility of transitioning to a permanent role within the Skating Panda team.· 25 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays· Birthday as a day off if it falls on a weekday· Up to five learning and development/volunteering days· Private health insurance for permanent employees post probation· Enhanced benefits across multiple areas e.g. parental leave, menopause policy· Workplace policies that go well beyond statutory minimum – e.g. parental leave, menopause policy· Contributory pension scheme available from month 3 of employment· Cycle to work scheme· Eyesight tests· Staff referral gifting· Discretionary reward scheme The Skating Panda world includes: · Bamboo culture club with its regular social outings, knowledge sharing· Hybrid working· Lunch and learn sessions with internal and external speakers· Learning and development opportunities EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT At Skating Panda, we practise what we preach and believe a sustainable impact is made by a diverse workforce. Skating Panda respects all applicants, regardless of age, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and expect all staff, clients, and suppliers to respect and share these values.
Job Title
Account Director