Account Director - Activation

Account Director that sits within the Account Management Team at Havas Play, delivering integrated communications activations for sport, culture, and entertainment clients.

Purpose of Role

The Account Director is the most senior day-to-day account support and is responsible for delegating incoming work and overseeing all outgoing work. They are aware of and manage the workload of all team members, flagging capacity issues early. Having in-depth and current industry knowledge, the AD should be a trusted source for both the team and clients for advice on campaign planning, execution, and growth opportunities. The AD is responsible for the team’s response to briefs and the on-time delivery of campaigns and projects, with support from BD/Managing Partner.

Key Responsibilities

• Multiple Account Management
  • Oversee multiple accounts and manage increased workloads through delegation.
  • Work across multiple clients and projects while maintaining high standards, staying calm under pressure, and delegating effectively.
  • Drive projects proactively, involving wider agency expertise, and ensuring all stakeholders are considered in timelines.
  • Connect teams within the business to deliver on client work.
  • Support capacity management, keeping work within scope and monitoring delivery.
• Writing and Presentation Skills
  • Possess strong creative and corporate writing skills for external and internal documents.
  • Adapt communication style based on client and team needs.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
  • Ensure high-quality, detailed written work.
  • Confidently present documents and ideas to clients, demonstrating understanding of their brand/business.
  • Promote high standards of communication and presentation within the team.
• Approach, Initiative & Problem Solving
  • Be positive, proactive, and solutions-oriented, thinking ahead.
  • Take full accountability for daily operations while empowering the team.
  • Anticipate potential problems and plan accordingly.
  • Allocate sufficient time for planning, scope, and budgets.
• Relationships
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with clients, actively listening to understand their needs.
  • Confidently challenge and press agency views with a solutions-focused approach.
  • Be approachable and accessible to the team.
  • Collaborate fluidly with other departments and manage line reports’ development.
• Strategic Skills & Answering Briefs
  • Champion agency processes and demonstrate strategic thinking in work.
  • Handle the full brief process from interrogation to creative execution.
  • Ensure all plans and activations are well-managed and aligned with client objectives.
• Campaign Execution & Administration
  • Oversee all campaign plans, including rights activation, events, content, and influencer engagement.
  • Understand project timelines and negotiate scopes with clients.
  • Ensure the right team capacity and skills are in place.
  • Maintain team motivation and oversee administrative processes like reports and budgets.
• Client Services & Industry Knowledge
  • Understand clients’ businesses deeply to advise and upsell effectively.
  • Stay updated on industry innovations and propose new ideas.
• New Business
  • Identify organic growth opportunities and support achieving a 10% YOY growth target.
  • Nurture industry contacts to generate new opportunities.
  • Help deliver pitches and understand client briefs thoroughly.
• People & Time Management
  • Manage daily team operations, conduct regular check-ins, and assess workloads.
  • Plan logically, communicate clearly, and manage expectations internally and externally.
  • Be aware of team capacity and prevent overloads.
• Finance
  • Be proficient with financial processes, including setting up job numbers, POs, and invoices.
  • Drive profitability, scope, and negotiate fees.
  • Understand client relationships and industry positioning.

Here at Havas, we pride ourselves on being committed to equal opportunities and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We welcome applicants regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability, or other factors unrelated to job ability.