Wundermanthompson
Senior Account Director
Salary
Job description
Who We Are
VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
Your Role in a Nutshell
As a Senior Account Director, you’ll lead key client relationships in our Wellington team, acting as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders and driving commercially impactful, creatively outstanding work.
You’ll be accountable for the overall health of your accounts - balancing client satisfaction, financial performance, and team development - while unlocking growth opportunities and elevating the standard of strategic and creative output.
This is a leadership role where you’ll shape both client outcomes and internal culture, ensuring your team is empowered to do their best work.
Key Responsibilities
Client Leadership & Partnership
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders
- Act as a strategic partner, contributing to business and communications objectives
- Lead conversations that position VML as a growth partner across creative, consultancy, and technology
Strategic & Creative Excellence
- Champion high-quality, insight-driven strategic thinking
- Partner with Planning and Creative leadership to shape and deliver outstanding work
- Identify and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth
Commercial & Financial Management
- Own account profitability, forecasting, and financial performance
- Develop and deliver account plans aligned to business objectives
- Drive organic growth across your client portfolio
Team Leadership & Culture
- Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing account teams
- Create an environment where creativity, collaboration, and accountability thrive
- Coach and mentor team members, supporting growth and progression
Operational Excellence
- Establish clear processes that enable efficient delivery of work
- Oversee campaign development and execution, removing blockers where needed
- Ensure seamless collaboration across internal and external stakeholders
Required Experience / Skills / Capabilities
- 6+ years’ experience in an agency or client-facing environment
- Strong understanding of end-to-end marketing and communications
- Proven leadership experience, with the ability to motivate and develop teams
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
- Commercial acumen, including financial oversight and forecasting
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable plans
- Confident communicator with experience influencing at a senior level
- Highly organised with strong project management and delivery capability
VML AUNZ Highlights
There are many things that make VML an awesome place to work, but we think there are a few worth mentioning:
- Energise Leave – 5 paid half days off each year to recharge
- Birthday Leave – a paid day off to celebrate your birthday
- Loyalty Leave – a paid day off each year to celebrate your work anniversary
- Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 support
- Mental health support
- LinkedIn Learning access
- Foundation Day – giving back to the community
- PerkSPACE – employee benefits platform
- Parental Leave support
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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