AKA UK
Account Director, Culture & Lifestyle
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Reports to: Abi Dempsey, Head of Culture & Lifestyle
AKA is one of the world's most successful entertainment marketing agencies, with offices across three continents. We are a full-service advertising and marketing agency for live entertainment, museums, galleries, events and visitor attractions, working with some of the country's leading organisations.
Current clients include Hamilton, Paddington, BFI, Historic Royal Palaces, Southbank Centre, Art Fund, Les Miserables, The Paddington Bear Experience, The Crystal Maze, Phantom Peak & Immerse LDN.
Role Overview
This role is an exciting opportunity to join AKA’s Strategy & Account Management team within the Culture & Lifestyle department, taking day-to-day responsibility for the strategic development of a dedicated account patch, including Sadler’s Wells, the Southbank Centre and the Old Vic. The successful candidate will lead the delivery of high-quality, compliant and impactful paid media and marketing campaigns that meet client objectives and uphold the standards expected by AKA.
We would welcome applications from candidates currently working within other marketing or media agencies, as well as those in client-side marketing teams who are looking to bring their experience into an agency environment. We also welcome CV’s from Senior Media/ Marketing managers looking to step up into an Account Director role.
The Account Director will work closely with internal specialist teams, external partners and senior client stakeholders to shape, execute and evaluate campaigns that deliver measurable results. They will be responsible for nurturing, retaining and growing specifically allocated client accounts, driving client success, account profitability and the identification of new opportunities.
The role requires a commercially minded, culturally aware account leader who can define a clear vision for each account, align the wider project team around that vision and generate solutions for clients’ most pressing business and brand objectives. The Account Director will be viewed as a trusted partner by clients and vendors, maintaining senior relationships while delivering against agreed KPIs.
The role works closely with colleagues across Strategy & Account Management, Paid Media, Audience Insights, Ticketing, Creative and Production, ensuring resources are aligned and campaigns are integrated, effective and commercially successful for both clients and the agency.
New business, proactive growth and client development are core to the role. The Account Director will be expected to lead and participate in pitches, proactive proposals, organic growth opportunities and brand development projects, using their knowledge of the Culture & Lifestyle sector to identify where AKA can add value. They will work with senior stakeholders and internal specialists to shape compelling opportunities, respond confidently to client challenges, convert leads into commercially viable work and expand the scope of existing accounts in line with client needs and agency ambitions.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day management and strategic development of a dedicated Culture & Lifestyle account patch.
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and impactful campaigns that meet client objectives and agency standards.
- Take responsibility for account growth, client success and account profitability, identifying opportunities to increase client spend and deepen relationships.
- Generate effective solutions for clients’ most pressing business and brand objectives through strategic account leadership and strong campaign management.
- Nurture, retain and grow allocated client accounts, taking the lead on strategic direction and being viewed as a trusted partner.
- Demonstrate account accountability by delivering measurable results, practical solutions and clear progress against set and agreed KPIs.
- Maintain and grow client and agency relationships, building trust and engagement with senior-level clients, partners and vendors.
- Define a clear vision for each account, linking with the wider project team to ensure resources, priorities and outputs align with that vision.
- Work collaboratively with internal specialist teams, external partners and client stakeholders to shape and execute integrated campaigns.
- Lead and inspire high-performing pitch and project teams, creating a culture of trust, accountability, commitment and results.
- Mentor and motivate junior account team members, enabling them to develop, take ownership and produce their best work.
Other Duties As Assigned
AKA is a fluid organisation, and advertising is a fast-moving and rapidly changing business; as such you may be required to undertake duties which are in line with the general purpose of this job description, but which are not specifically referred to. Some out-of-hours working may occasionally be required to support pitches, launches, client events, campaign deadlines and time-sensitive activity.
Minimum Qualifications
Skills/experience:
- 6+ years’ experience within a media or marketing agency, or brand-side within a relevant sector, with a proven track record in account management, client growth, retained business and new business processes.
- Strong working knowledge of paid media, marketing campaign planning, reporting and performance evaluation tools, alongside proficiency in PowerPoint, MS Word, Excel, Outlook and confidence in adopting new systems and workflows.
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About you: You are a self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills and are at ease in a fast-paced environment. You multi-task, problem solve and prioritise with confidence, you plan for challenges and bring an agile mindset, cultural awareness and the ability to lead accounts with perspective and pace.
The Account Director will be expected to have strong experience leading complex accounts, growing client relationships and delivering successful multi-channel marketing campaigns across culture, lifestyle, entertainment, events or brand experience sectors. They will carry out their role to the following specifications:
- Proven track record of increasing client spend, identifying new business opportunities and converting leads into growth.
- Extensive understanding of multi-channel marketing with a particular emphasis on paid media & offline media planning and buying.
- Experience in new business processes, pitches, retaining existing clients and expanding the scope of projects or accounts.
- Experience with significantly complex projects or campaigns, including multiple workstreams, senior stakeholders and cross-functional internal or client teams.
- Able to lead and inspire a high-performing team, including building trust, managing conflict effectively and maintaining focus on accountability and results.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to build confidence at senior client level.
- Strong commercial acumen, attention to detail and ability to balance client needs, agency standards and profitability.
- May have one or more direct reports and will be expected to line manage junior team members.
Other Duties As Assigned
AKA is a fluid and rapidly changing organisation. This position profile reflects the general nature and level of work assigned to the role. It does not restrict management's right to reassign duties or responsibilities at any time based on business needs if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday
- ‘Telus Health’ EAP scheme for you and your family. Giving you access to free independent advice on Life, Health, Family, Money and Work matters
- Holiday Buy Back
- Friends & Family Theatre Ticket
- New Business Incentives
- Recruitment Incentives
- Pension Scheme*
- Interest Free Travel Loan*
- Ride to Work Scheme*
- Childcare Vouchers*
- Death in Service
- Flexible/Hybrid Working
- Critical Illness
- Enhanced Parental Leave
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