ROLE: ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
TEAM: MEDIA
LOCATION: UNITED STATES - REMOTE
COMPANY OVERVIEW
At Salt Media, we're on a mission to earn the world's attention. As the media division of Salt XC, we're building a different kind of agency where media, commerce, creative, data and technology work as a single connected team. Our people combine strategic thinking with AI-powered tools, automation and advanced analytics to help some of North America's most recognized brands solve complex business challenges and drive measurable growth. We move quickly, challenge convention, and believe the best ideas come from curious people who are empowered to experiment. If you're looking to do career-defining work alongside smart, ambitious teammates in an environment that's shaping the future of media, we'd love to meet you.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As an Account Director at Salt Media, you’ll take full ownership of a portfolio of accounts or a defined brand/functional pod, serving as the senior client lead responsible for both long-term account health and day-to-day delivery excellence. You operate at the intersection of client strategy and team leadership, setting the standard for how your accounts run.
You’ll own the client relationship end-to-end — driving organic growth, stewarding senior stakeholder relationships, and shaping the strategic direction of your accounts. With ownership of account financials, resourcing, and team development, you act as both a trusted senior partner to clients and an internal leader who builds capability across your team.
You bring a confident, senior presence that clients rely on and colleagues look to for direction. You lead QBRs, guide annual planning, protect margin, and coach junior and mid-level talent with clarity and intention. You move comfortably between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, and know how to align cross-functional teams around a shared goal.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Project & Operational Management
- Own a portfolio of accounts or a defined pod end-to-end, overseeing delivery outcomes across all campaign phases and program types.
- Establish and maintain account and project planning tools, workflows, and operating rhythms; drive cross-functional clarity across creative, media, and integrated partners.
- Oversee resourcing and team capacity; proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks before they impact delivery.
- Set and uphold quality standards across all outputs, ensuring every deliverable reflects Salt Media’s standard of excellence.
- Act as an escalation point for operational issues, partnering with senior leadership to resolve complex delivery challenges.
- Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, delivery quality, and team effectiveness across your accounts.
Vendor Contracting & Financial Management
- Own the contractual and commercial relationship with vendors and media partners, from onboarding and paperwork through renewal and offboarding.
- Negotiate vendor contracts, rate cards, and statements of work, securing favorable commercial terms and clearly defined deliverables.
- Ensure SOW and contract compliance across vendor engagements; flag commercial risks and document variances against agreed terms and budgets.
- Manage vendor billing, purchase orders, and invoice reconciliation, ensuring vendor spend is accurately tracked and reconciled with Finance.
- Provide oversight and guidance to team members on vendor contracting and financial compliance.
Financial Acumen
- Own account budgets across your portfolio; draft and negotiate scopes, model resourcing scenarios, and make allocation decisions to protect margin.
- Monitor financial performance throughout the campaign lifecycle; identify scope creep, flag risks, and implement course corrections with urgency and transparency.
- Partner with Finance on forecasting, revenue recognition, and client billing; lead financial conversations with clients at QBR and planning touchpoints.
- Adjust resourcing to protect margin and balance delivery; collaborate with senior leadership on commercial strategy, contract renewals, and SOW negotiations.
- Uphold integrity, transparency, and professionalism in all financial practices.
Client Growth
- Lead organic growth planning for your accounts; develop and present investment roadmaps, innovation frameworks, and expansion opportunities.
- Build and maintain senior-level client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor who connects client business objectives to media opportunities.
- Lead QBRs and planning sessions; align internal teams around client priorities ahead of each interaction.
- Identify and develop new business opportunities within existing accounts, championing integrated and cross-functional solutions.
- Contribute to new business pitches, RFP responses, and agency thought leadership where relevant.
Leadership, Management & Administration
- Manage and develop direct reports; own performance conversations, goal-setting, and career development planning for your team.
- Build team capability through coaching, structured feedback, and stretch assignments.
- Model the leadership behaviors and professional standards that define Salt Media’s account team culture.
- Contribute to team planning processes and operational improvements in partnership with departmental leadership.
- Champion a culture of accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement within your accounts.
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- 7–9 years of experience in the marketing industry, including 6+ years in account management or a senior client-facing role within a media or integrated agency.
- Proven track record managing large or complex client relationships, including multi-channel programs with layered stakeholder environments.
- People management experience, including direct report oversight, performance management, and career development.
- Strong financial acumen, including ownership of account budgets, scope negotiations, margin management, and revenue forecasting.
- Experienced in vendor contracting, partner management, and SOW negotiation, with a track record of building high-trust, long-term relationships.
- Excellent communicator and confident senior presenter; able to lead client QBRs, planning sessions, and internal alignment meetings.
- Strategically and commercially minded, with the ability to connect media investment to measurable business outcomes and proactively identify growth opportunities.
- Highly organized, decisive, and calm under pressure; able to lead a team through ambiguity while maintaining clarity of direction.
PERKS & BENEFITS THAT SET US APART
We don’t just talk about balance, growth, and culture, we build for it:
- Work-Life Flexibility: Fully remote work, up to 28 paid days off and winter holiday shutdowns
- Comprehensive Coverage: Choice of three Cigna medical plans, dental and vision coverage, employer-paid life and disability insurance, plus HSA, FSA and Dependent Care FSA options, 401(k) with immediate company matching, HSA contributions, and phone reimbursement to support your everyday work.
- Growth-Driven Culture: Dedicated Salt Days, top-tier learning access, and formal leadership development.
- Celebration-First Mentality: Legendary company trips, agency-wide events, and fresh Salt Swag to celebrate our people.
- Real Rewards: Employee referral bonuses, Perkopolis discounts, fitness and travel perks, and exclusive lifestyle savings.
- Culture of Belonging: Employee Resource Groups, an active DEI community, flexible accommodations, and a workplace where every voice counts.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
- Salt of the Earth: We lead with humility, honesty, and heart — always.
- Do What’s Right: No shortcuts. We choose integrity over ease, every time.
- Earn Your Salt: We roll up our sleeves, chase results, and celebrate the journey.
- Make Things Better: We’re solution-seekers, always pushing for smarter ways forward.
- Seek Different Perspectives: Diversity fuels our thinking. Inclusion drives our impact.
The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $100,000–$125,000. Individual compensation within this range is determined based on job-related factors such as experience, skills, level of responsibility, internal equity, and business needs. This range represents the expected base salary for this role and does not include other elements of Salt’s total rewards program.
Salt is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.
