ROLE: SENIOR 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 a Senior Account Director at Salt Media, you’ll serve as the senior strategic lead on marquee client partnership, owning the full account relationship from long-term business outcomes to day-to-day delivery excellence. Operating at the intersection of client strategy and team leadership, you’ll set the standard for how Salt Media shows up on its most important partnerships.
You’ll lead a portfolio anchored by a Foundational Tier partner, responsible for driving organic growth, stewarding senior client relationships, and setting the strategic direction for your account pod. With full ownership of financial performance, resourcing, and people development, you’ll act as both the client’s most trusted media partner and an internal leader who builds capability across the account team.
You bring a senior presence that clients trust and teams look up to. You lead QBRs, set annual media roadmaps, protect margin, and develop junior and mid-level talent with clarity and intention. You move fluidly between big-picture strategy and precise execution, and you know how to align cross-functional teams around a shared goal.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Project & Operational Management
- Lead a portfolio of accounts or a defined functional pod end-to-end, owning delivery outcomes across all campaign phases and program types.
- Standardize account and project planning tools, workflows, and operating rhythms within your pod; drive cross-functional clarity across creative, media, and integrated partners.
- Oversee resourcing and team capacity planning; 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 a senior escalation point for operational issues; partner with the Managing Director to resolve complex delivery challenges.
- Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, delivery quality, and team effectiveness at the portfolio level.
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 all vendor engagements; flag commercial risks, renegotiate where needed, and document variances against agreed terms and budgets.
- Manage vendor billing, purchase orders, and invoice reconciliation; ensure vendor spend is accurately tracked against budgets and reconciled with Finance.
- Provide senior oversight and guidance to junior team members on vendor contracting and financial compliance within your team.
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 annual planning touchpoints.
- Adjust resourcing to protect margin and balance delivery; collaborate with the MD and SVP on commercial strategy, contract renewals, and SOW negotiations.
- Uphold integrity, transparency, and professionalism in all financial practices, setting the example for the broader team.
Client Growth
- Lead organic growth planning and strategy for assigned accounts; develop and present multi-year investment roadmaps, innovation frameworks, and expansion opportunities.
- Build and maintain senior-level client relationships, acting as a strategic advisor who proactively connects client business objectives to media opportunities.
- Drive senior-level engagement touchpoints including QBRs, annual planning sessions, and executive briefings; 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 that expand Salt Media’s footprint.
- 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 and bench strength through deliberate coaching, structured feedback, and stretch assignments.
- Model the leadership behaviors and professional standards that define Salt Media’s account team culture.
- Contribute to team-wide planning processes, hiring decisions, and operational improvements in partnership with the departmental leadership
- Champion a culture of accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement within your account pod.
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- 8–12 years of experience in the marketing industry, including 7+ years in account management or a senior client-facing role within a media or integrated agency.
- Proven track record managing marquee client relationships—including large-scale, multi-channel programs with complex stakeholder environments.
- Demonstrated people management experience, including direct report oversight, performance management, and career development.
- Strong financial acumen, including full ownership of account budgets, scope negotiations, margin management, and revenue forecasting.
- Experienced in vendor contracting, partner management, and SOW negotiation, with a reputation for building high-trust, long-term relationships.
- Excellent communicator and confident senior presenter; able to command the room in client QBRs, executive briefings, and internal planning sessions.
- 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 $125,000–$150,000. 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 XC 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.
