Account Strategy Team Lead

You know how to build relationships that last. We don’t call that a soft skill. We call it the job. At Herdl, strong relationships shape how we work. With clients and with each other. Account Strategy and delivery work side by side. Good ideas get shared, and leadership means staying close to the team. That only works if the relationships are worth having. One of our core values is "No dickheads." That goes for clients and colleagues alike. No one here has to grit their teeth and get on with it. That's why great people join Herdl, and stay.

We're looking for an Account Strategy Team Lead who leads that way. Close to the work. Trusted to make real calls on who joins the team, how it's structured, and where the accounts go.

The Opportunity

This is a leadership role, not an admin one. You're the go-to person for a small team of account strategists. You give them strategic oversight and real backup, not a checklist. You handle escalations, whether they come from a client or from within the team. You're the calm head when something needs fixing.

You hold 1-2 key accounts of your own. You stay close to the actual work, not just the reports on it. Beyond the day-to-day, you shape how the team operates, drive their personal development, and build a real vision for where the team grows next.

What You'll Own

• People Leadership and Coaching: You manage, coach, and develop your team. You run regular 1-on-1s, build personal development plans, and drive the team's growth.
• Organisational Prioritisation: You call the shots on team workload and account reallocation. You keep delivery on track across the team.
• Conflict Management and Escalation: You handle escalations calmly, whether the friction is internal or external.
• Commercial Awareness: You keep an eye on upsells, cross-sells, renewals, forecasting and profitability. You're relationship-first, not sales-driven. You push back on a sale that isn't right for a client.
• OKRs: You collaborate on setting your team's objectives. You take full accountability for hitting them.
• Client Delivery: You manage 1-2 key accounts directly. You apply your own digital marketing knowledge and stay hands-on.

What You Bring to the Table

• Experience: 5+ years in a digital marketing or agency environment, with at least 2 years as a team lead in a client services context. Full-service agency backgrounds are preferred over channel-specialist ones, but not a disqualifier.
• People Intelligence: This is non-negotiable. You build genuine, peer-to-peer relationships with clients and colleagues. You know how to read a room and act on what you see.
• Leadership & Coaching: You've developed people before, not just managed them. You know how to build a personal development plan that actually delivers.
• Commercial Fluency: You understand scoping, forecasting, and profitability. You know the difference between growing an account and squeezing it.
• Digital Marketing Knowledge: Strategic breadth across channels is essential. Hands-on implementation experience is a strong bonus.

Why Choose Herdl? (The Good Stuff)

• 37 Days Total Leave: We combine annual leave and public holidays into a pot of 37 days to ensure fairness across our global team. We use a portion of this for a mandatory Studio Shutdown over Christmas & New Year, ensuring everyone gets a proper, guilt-free break at the same time. The rest is yours to use as you please.
• The “Unlockable” Pension (Up to 14% Total): We take your future seriously. From Day 1, we will match your contributions up to 5%. But loyalty pays. After 2 years, we unlock a 6% Match, and after 5 years, we'll match you all the way up to 7%. That means if you commit to your future, we commit right alongside you.
• Global & Local Culture: We work hard, but we celebrate properly. From overseas team trips to regular in-studio pizza days and paid team lunches, we make sure the vibe is right, whether you're at Herdl HQ or working remotely.
• Flexible Working: Hybrid would work best for this role, ideally spending a couple of days a week in the office with the team.
• Top-Tier Tech: You'll be issued with a MacBook Pro and external monitor to ensure you have the best hardware for the job.
• Sustainable & Ethical: We partner with Ecologi to offset your carbon footprint, and offer an EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme to help you drive electric for less.
• Family Security: A Death-in-Service benefit to provide financial peace of mind for your loved ones.

Requirements

• Mobility: Due to the location of client sites, a Full UK Driving Licence and access to your own vehicle are essential.
• Right to Work: Must have the right to work in the UK.

Ready to actually lead? Close to the work. Trusted with real calls. No dickheads.