The Job.

NJI is a wildly creative and strategically disciplined agency with offices in London, Washington, D.C. and Singapore. We work seamlessly across teams and time zones to align and deliver for our clients. 

NJI has U.S. team members located coast to coast as part of our HQ/US team based in Washington, D.C. From farmers to urban forgers, trapeze artists to Mario Kart fanatics, we have colleagues with diverse interests and addresses. The right candidate for this position is located within the greater Washington, D.C. region and has the ability to visit in person with clients at their offices or at NJI’s Alexandria, Virginia office as needed.  NJI does maintain a hybrid/remote work policy for all offices. We are unable to offer work visa sponsorship at this time. 

At NJI, the Account Director is an anchor of the account management team, and leads a diverse client portfolio. In this capacity, they excel at transforming creative ideas into successful realties, provide invaluable mentorship to teams navigating complex projects, and are a champion for the company’s culture and ambitions.

In their role, the Account Director is responsible for fostering effective communication and collaboration with their clients and across various teams, ensuring that both our staff and clients are aligned in their objectives and expectations. They thrive in a culture that values proactive problem-solving, agility, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. 

The Account Director applies their account management expertise to build and maintain robust, trust-based client relationships, and to strategize and execute projects. Collaborating closely with project management and other internal teams, they ensure seamless execution and delivery of work. A deep knowledge of NJI’s services enables the Account Director to expand the agency’s reach, pitching and enhancing offerings to both potential and existing clients.

Central to this role’s success is a deep understanding of communications and marketing, especially for policy-oriented audiences, and the role that creative agencies play in supporting clients across various sectors.

The Account Director goes beyond developing and nurturing client relationships; they are a trusted strategic partner and advisor, leading innovation in our ideas and campaigns, and ensuring that every project reflects NJI’s commitment to excellence. 

Responsibilities.

• Serve as the primary point of contact across a diverse client portfolio, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each client’s needs and industry context, while fostering long-term relationships and positioning oneself as a trusted advisor.
• Cultivate a deep understanding of NJI’s current service offerings and identify opportunities to promote capabilities to potential clients and expand services for existing clients. 
• Facilitate comprehensive client discovery and intake sessions, documenting client opportunities, requirements and expectations to ensure a smooth transition to the project team for kick-off.
• Address and resolve challenges pertaining to project scope, deadlines, and other critical factors, maintaining clear and prompt communication with key stakeholders to align expectations and progress. 
• Elevate team efficiency, accountability, and professional growth through process optimization, clear performance metrics, and continuous learning.
• Provide clear coaching and mentorship for portfolio assigned account managers and coordinators, ensuring they consistently excel both day-to-day and strategically. 
• Collaboratively develop strategic plans, creative concepts, and client-specific tactics.
• Direct and oversee financial aspects of the client relationship, including project and contract budgets, billing, and scope documentation.
• Regularly report to leadership on account health, identifying challenges and strategic opportunities, while upholding transparency and alignment with the agency’s vision.
• Conduct data analysis to create comprehensive metrics reports that serve both NJI’s insights and client reviews. 
• Maintain a keen awareness of global industry trends and assimilate this knowledge into client strategies and NJI’s overall business approach.
• Foster a strong organizational culture at NJI that champions excellence, professionalism, and continuous growth.

Skills & Experience.

• Demonstrated ability to establish trust, credibility, and influence with internal and external parties.  
• Highly results-oriented; skilled at multitasking in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven expertise in developing creative strategies for the diverse needs of clients across various sectors, coupled with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A track record of effective cross-functional teamwork in creating, delivering, and evaluating client projects.
• Experience in leading both direct and matrixed team members to foster their professional growth. 
• Demonstrated success in identifying, securing, and supporting new business opportunities with both existing and potential clients. 
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. political/policy landscape at the federal and state levels.
• Proficiency in tracking individual and team tasks to align with organizational objectives and client/project budgets.
• High emotional intelligence, enhancing client/vendor relationships and team dynamics.

Diversity Commitment.

Authenticity is the foundation of boundless creativity. Rooted in diverse life experience, our team challenges the status quo through our work and culture every day. We are committed to sustaining and improving NJI's inclusive workplace through actively expanding the diversity of our team. We encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please contact info@njimedia.com.

Cover Letter

We think of cover letters more in the old-fashioned pen pal sense. Putting pen to page to share your greatest thoughts and interests. So, keep the job summary and skills list in your resume and write something that personally expresses more about who you are and what draws you to NJI and this role.