Account Director / Senior Account Director

About VML and WPP

VML, a division of WPP, is a prominent creative agency renowned for blending brand experience, customer engagement, and commerce to build connected brands that stimulate growth. Known for award-winning, human-centred innovative campaigns, VML serves leading clients such as AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Wendy's. It has earned recognition in Forrester Wave™ Reports across multiple marketing service categories. VML Health, its specialized health sector division, stands as one of the largest globally acclaimed health agencies. The group comprises 26,000 professionals operating in over 55 markets with principal offices worldwide including Kansas City, New York, London, and Sydney.

WPP functions as a trusted partner driving growth for top-tier global brands by combining advanced media intelligence, creativity, production, enterprise solutions, and strategic consultancy within a unified marketing ecosystem powered by the WPP Open platform.

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned client leadership professional to join our Wellington team in a flexible capacity at either Account Director or Senior Account Director level according to experience. The successful candidate will lead pivotal client relationships, acting as a reliable partner to senior stakeholders and facilitating commercially viable, creatively exceptional deliverables. The role demands ownership of account health, balancing client satisfaction, financial outcomes, and team growth, while identifying expansion opportunities and enhancing the caliber of strategic and creative work.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain robust, trust-based relationships with senior client executives.
• Serve as a strategic collaborator aligned with clients’ business and communication goals.
• Position VML as a growth catalyst across creative, consultancy, and technology sectors.
• Promote top-tier insight-driven strategic thinking.
• Collaborate with Planning and Creative leadership to produce exceptional outputs.
• Scout and initiate innovative growth and expansion possibilities.
• Manage account profitability, financial forecasting, and performance metrics.
• Formulate and execute account plans aligned with business targets.
• Propel organic growth within client portfolios.
• Lead, nurture, and inspire high-performing account teams fostering creativity and accountability.
• Mentor team members to support career development and progression.
• Implement streamlined processes for efficient work delivery.
• Oversee campaign creation and execution ensuring obstacles are addressed promptly.
• Coordinate smooth collaboration amongst internal and external stakeholders.

Experience and Skills Required

• A minimum of six years’ experience in agency or client-facing roles.
• Comprehensive understanding of complete marketing and communication cycles.
• Proven capability in leadership roles with team motivating and development expertise.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong commercial insight encompassing financial management and forecasting.
• Strategic thinker adept at translating business needs into actionable strategies.
• Confident communicator experienced in influencing senior leadership.
• Highly organised with excellent project management and execution skills.

VML AUNZ Employee Advantages

• Five paid half-days annually to recharge through Energise Leave.
• Paid day off for celebrating birthdays.
• Annual paid day off recognizing work anniversaries (Loyalty Leave).
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for support.
• Access to mental health resources.
• Learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning platform.
• Dedicated Foundation Day fostering community contribution.
• Employee benefits platform, PerkSPACE.
• Support for parental leave.

Work Environment and Culture

VML promotes a hybrid working model encouraging office presence approximately four days per week to stimulate creativity, collaboration, and community connection. Flexibility and accommodations can be discussed during interview stages. The organization is committed to equal opportunity employment, cultivating a respectful workplace where diversity is valued, and everyone has equitable prospects for career advancement.