Account Director

Role Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for an Account Director to lead strategic client relationships in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, deliver high-impact communications and advisory support aligned with national priorities and Vision 2030. As an Account director, you will drive business growth through local market expertise, manage high-performing teams, and ensure excellence in project delivery and client service. As a trusted advisor and visible leader, the Account Director will uphold APCO’s values, foster collaboration, and contribute to the firm’s growth and influence in the Saudi market.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Manages client relationships independently to position APCO as a trusted advisor within the Saudi market, aligned with Vision 2030 objectives
• Develops Client’s key messages adequately.
• Manages Crisis Communication
• Organizes teams around business development opportunities and manage proposal process ensuring quality of thinking, APCO’s work standards, and accurate scoping of work
• Develops positive reputation and has visibility in within the APCO network and be viewed as a thought leader in the market
• Establishes strong network across APCO and engages in productive exchanges with colleagues to promote knowledge sharing and business opportunities
• Leads confidently internal and external client meetings, offering knowledgeable observations and suggestions; establishing credibility by insights shared; encouraging and motivating others to communicate ideas
• Serves as principal client contact; knows when to leverage senior level relationships within APCO to further build the relationship within the client organization
• Networks actively to identify new business prospects as routine activity
• Demonstrates consistently APCO’s values in all interactions with colleagues, vendors and clients
• Proactively identifies external meetings and trainings to attend to enhance sector knowledge and contacts
• Demonstrates an understanding of effective project management, can effectively address issues, and understands how managing account engagements tie to APCO’s business success and makes changes as necessary to improve account performance
• Participates in annual business planning, forecasting opportunity with clients managed
• Takes ownership and actively engages in team member development; demonstrating thoughtful planning to increase individual skill sets by setting smart objectives
• Meets or exceeds assigned utilization/AIP targets
• Demonstrates performance in growing clients organically and actively pursues new opportunities with prospects
• Shares opportunities across the network looking for the best resources to service the account (s)
• Develops relationship of trust with clients
• Provides constructive advice and counsel about client issues and, when appropriate, to clients
• Ensures agreement with client at the outset of what can be expected and within agreed timescales
• Seeks client input to better understand needs and develops ideas for how to meet those needs
• Communicates with clients on priorities and deliverables, and ensures team is up to date and has the information required to meet client needs
• Adjusts to changes in scope initiated by client and communicates effectively to project team
• Cautions clients about possible risks or downsides to certain courses of action
• Addresses dissatisfied client or issues by remaining calm and professional
• Anticipates clients’ needs and makes recommendations/proposals that reflect understanding of client issues
• Strives to meet and exceed client expectations and instills the same across the team
• Adjusts to changes in scope initiated by client and communicates effectively to project team
  
  

Teamwork

• Creates environment making all team members feel they are important contributors
• Leads by example and demonstrates respect for all colleagues ensuring team members also understand need for culture of respect
• Conducts inclusive team meetings and fosters an environment where participating is encouraged/expected.
• Communicates and shares individual and team goals
• Sets expectations for team achievements
• Demonstrates appreciation of diversity on teams, and sees this as a strength to the team
  
  

Account & Project Management

• Manages self and team to ensure that projects are progressing on schedule as expected
• Ensures teams have skills and knowledge to deliver to clients expectations
• Identifies resource needs for projects
• Recognizes in good time when a task will not be completed within an agreed and expected timeframe and makes necessary changes to ensure client deliverables are not compromised
• Effectively manages workload for self and team; helps more junior colleagues prioritize work if necessary.
• Reports budget variances in timely manner
• Completes pre-bill and client billing review responsibilities in time frames as determined by finance
• Manages client expectations for deliverables
• Effectively delegates tasks to team members in order to meet project objectives/milestones and deliverables
• Assigns realistic workloads
  
  

Business Management

• Analyses client requirements to scope opportunity and budget projects effectively and profitably
• Uses tools to review project and account performance, making adjustments as necessary to achieve account performance expectations
• Demonstrates understanding of office/practice business strategies and imparts to team members and more junior colleagues.
• Sets self and team priorities on work that accurately reflect needs of business and clients
• Ensures projects are billed accurately, and communicates to team members as need to ensure they have accurate budget and deadline information for their tasks
• Considers, and where appropriate, notifies management of potential opportunities, risks or challenges that could impact the business.
  
  

Leadership

• Provides effective and timely feedback regarding team member’s performance
• Encourages innovation and new ideas
• Allows individuals the autonomy to perform their jobs
• Shares knowledge, experience and expertise to assist project members
• Adopts an appropriate and tailored coaching style when managing staff
• Provides positive and constructive feedback to their team members
• Demonstrates behaviors in line with APCO’s values in their interactions with colleagues, vendors and clients.
• Openly values diverse views and opinions
• Respects and responds to diverse views, opinions and ideas
• Supports company initiatives and communicates value to team members
• Identifies talent within their team and recognizes their contribution
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree
• 10 + years relevant experience in a consulting firm, corporation, diplomatic post or media role
• Crisis Communication
• Client relationship skills
• Customer service skills
• Leadership skills
• Decision making skills
• Analytical skills
• Organizational Skills
• Fluent in both English and Arabic
• Based in Riyadh or willing to relocate
  
  

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.