Account Director

Work location: Bristol office (Hybrid - 3 days a week minimum in office)

As an Account Director at Hybrid, you will lead our key Strategic Partnership accounts and be responsible for their success and growth. Managing and mentoring a team of Senior Account Managers and Account Managers, you will establish effective working processes to ensure clients' needs are met through responsive communications, excellent delivery, and added value through innovation and new technologies. You’ll work closely with the Group Account Director to ensure the seamless operational running of client accounts, nurturing team dynamics, and fostering inter-office collaboration with Paid Media, SEO, and Analytics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Customer Success: Reporting to and working closely with Group Account Director to ensure client retention and growth. Leading on key Hybrid accounts and managing a team of Senior Account Managers and Account Managers. Foster a culture of training and development, through personal development plans created and implemented across the team, with annual and bi-yearly reviews for every team member. Encourage strategic campaign thinking through up-to-date market and media knowledge, that you will regularly impart on your team and clients. Ensure the Senior Account Managers have operational management of key accounts, ensuring a seamless client experience for Strategic Partnerships. Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, understanding and embedding our services in line with their marketing objectives. Supporting Group Account Director on the implementation of new processes to build time efficiencies and consistency across planning, communication, and reporting. Ensure excellent campaign delivery – through upholding quality standards, testing and optimisation for our digital campaigns and ongoing management and optimisations for third-party activity. Be the primary point of contact for client escalation within your team, with a clear internal and external action plan that is closely managed for quick issue resolution.
• Team Management and Collaboration: Supporting the implementation of planning, communication, and reporting processes that are aligned and understood across teams for time efficiencies, quality, and consistency. Provide supportive leadership and clear development objectives to team members, including conducting performance reviews and facilitating career progression. Encourage a collaborative working environment across offices, leveraging diverse skills and perspectives. Developing strong team morale and setting the standard for work ethic and company values. Supporting the development of reports and dashboards that fully meet the needs of our strategic partners. Working closely with the Group Account Director, Director of Strategy, CEO, and Financial Controller to ensure seamless processes of financial and team performance, fostering AI software across the team.
• New Business Development: Supporting Marketing and Bids team on new opportunities and encouraging SAMs to attend pitches, or attend yourself as required.
• Strategic Client Influence: Position yourself as a strategic guide for clients, helping them to realise their business objectives. Working with Group Account Director to communicate both short- and long-term visions for innovation, whilst ensuring delivery for our client's immediate recruitment needs. Participate in high-level discussions with clients, shaping the direction of the partnership. Demonstrate thought leadership and industry expertise to strengthen client confidence.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Enhance leadership skills with Management Training Programme L3-5. Expand your influence among clients, establishing yourself as a key strategic advisor. Take a long-term client-centric approach to planning. Lead the UK's most successful accounts team in the education sector.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience leading key client accounts in digital media.
• Degree educated.
• Experience of working in Higher Education desirable but not mandatory.

What’s in It for You:

• Work with an ambitious, collaborative, and growing paid and strategic partnerships team.
• Lead delivery for impactful, international web and technical projects across the education sector.
• £25 monthly wellbeing allowance (e.g. gym membership).
• Matched pension.
• Paid training for career accreditations.
• Internal mobility options and established career paths.
• Incentive schemes and company pension contributions.
• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in Bristol office).

The Hybrid Difference: We don’t just run ads, we create change. Join us in driving innovation in how education brands reach and inspire the students who will shape tomorrow. Hybrid Media is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential - regardless of background, identity, or circumstance. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives, stronger creativity, and better outcomes for our people and our clients. If you’re excited about this role but feel you don’t meet every single requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Recruitment Team (recruitment@hybrid.co) to discuss your experience or to enquire about other opportunities across our growing business.