Account Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Account Director

🔹 Company: Dentsu

🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, On-site

🔹 Category: Advertising & Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 10, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Mid to Senior Level (5-10 years)

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading client accounts and generating ideas based on insights
• Managing projects effectively and coaching team members
• Maintaining and growing client relationships
• Ensuring the team meets campaign goals through strategic planning and execution
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, leadership, and client management skills. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in media planning, particularly in digital and social media channels.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Accountable for outputs and the development of account supervisors for assigned group of client(s) to improve campaign process to improve and achieve client goals.

✅ Instils a high-performance, data-driven, continuous improvement culture within a shared service organization.

✅ Coaches team to develop planning strategies that maximize creative and media performance.

✅ Leads the strategic positioning, segmentation initiatives and in areas of holistic program planning and communications idea generation/execution.

✅ Grows the sophistication of the team’s advertising knowledge, including emerging data and technology.

✅ Identifies development areas in team members to help achieve and drive their performance goals for the year.

✅ Supports the media buying teams throughout campaign activation process to maintain performance and resolves any campaign-related issues.

✅ Facilitates the implementation of quality control processes and systems across client groups.

✅ Briefs partner agencies on strategic implementation needs and roles of specific communication channels.

✅ Prepares reporting documentation for clients demonstrating the strategy and rationale executed to deliver on campaign goals.

✅ Drives employee retention by providing feedback to the Leadership and HR team to help retain top talent in Canada.

ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic planning, team management, and client relationship building. Strong communication, leadership, and analytical skills are essential for success in this position.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Post-secondary Degree or Diploma in Media, Advertising, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of media planning experience focused on Digital and Social Media Channels and a minimum of 3 years’ experience leading a team.

Required Skills:

• Advanced analytical skills and proficient with numbers and budgets
• Strong negotiation, presentation and people skills
• Advanced level MS Office skills: Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP), Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and multiple stakeholders

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of bid management, campaign management and optimization process with key Data, Supply and DSP partners
• Previous experience with support new business efforts at the Network or brand level

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in media planning, particularly in digital and social media channels, with proven leadership and team management skills.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD 95,000 - 100,000 per year. The actual salary within the salary range will be based on relevant experience, knowledge, and skills.

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• RRSP
• Paid Time Off

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for project demands.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for an Account Director role in Toronto. The actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience and skills.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Dentsu operates in the advertising services industry, focusing on marketing communications, advertising, media planning, and media buying. They are a global leader in creative, media, and digital marketing communications, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Company Size: Dentsu is a large organization with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size allows for diverse opportunities and a robust infrastructure to support employee growth and development.

Founded: Dentsu was founded in 1901 in Japan and has since grown into a global network with offices in major cities across the globe.

Company Description:

• Dentsu is a global media, creative, and digital marketing communications agency designed for what’s next.
• They help brands predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy.
• Dentsu knows people better than anyone else and uses those insights to connect brand, content, commerce, and experience, underpinned by modern creativity.

Company Specialties:

• Marketing communications
• Advertising
• Media planning
• Media buying
• People-Based Marketing
• Creative
• Innovation
• Data
• and Technology

Company Website: https://www.dentsu.com/

ASSUMPTION: Dentsu's extensive global presence and diverse service offerings provide ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the mid to senior level, requiring a significant amount of experience and expertise in media planning and team leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Account Director reports directly to the leadership team and is responsible for managing a team of account supervisors.

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site, full-time position with a standard workweek of 40 hours. However, flexibility may be required to meet project demands.

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to a senior leadership role, such as Group Account Director or Vice President
• Expansion into other areas of the business, such as creative or strategy
• Opportunities to work on diverse client accounts and gain exposure to different industries

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within Dentsu's extensive global network.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Dentsu's Toronto office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and innovation.

Office Location(s): 1 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5J 2P1, Canada

Geographic Context:

• Toronto is a multicultural, vibrant city with a thriving arts, culture, and entertainment scene.
• The city offers a high quality of life, with excellent education, healthcare, and recreational facilities.
• Toronto is a major hub for the advertising and marketing industries, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and networking.

Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with flexibility for project demands. The role may require occasional overtime or weekend work to meet client deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role is well-suited to candidates who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment and enjoy the energy and diversity of a major urban center like Toronto.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the HR team
• In-person or video interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
• Final interview with senior leadership

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Leadership and team management abilities
• Client relationship management and communication skills
• Analytical and numerical skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of your strategic thinking, leadership, and client management skills to discuss during the interview
• Research Dentsu's clients, industry, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role

ATS Keywords: Account Director, Media Planning, Team Leadership, Client Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Advertising, Marketing Communications, Cross-Functional Teams, Stakeholder Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Campaign Management, Budget Management, Quality Control, Creative Strategy, People-Based Marketing, Emerging Technologies

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, so it is essential to tailor your application materials and prepare thoroughly for the interview to demonstrate your fit for the position.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Media planning and buying platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads)
• Campaign management and optimization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics)
• Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with media planning, buying, and campaign management tools. Experience with data visualization tools is a plus.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Courage
• Curiosity

Work Style:

• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Data-driven and innovative
• Client-focused and results-driven

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
• Are you able to build and maintain strong, long-lasting client relationships?
• Do you have a proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams?
• Are you comfortable making data-driven decisions and using data to inform strategic planning?

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate for the Account Director role will be a strong cultural fit for Dentsu, with a collaborative, innovative, and client-focused work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple client accounts and prioritizing workloads effectively
• Balancing strategic planning and execution with day-to-day client management
• Adapting to the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the advertising industry
• Developing and retaining top talent within the team

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role presents unique challenges that require strong leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability to succeed.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other Account Director roles, this position may require more focus on digital and social media channels
• Dentsu's global presence and diverse client base offer unique opportunities for career growth and development
• This role may have more responsibility for team management and development compared to similar positions in smaller agencies

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role at Dentsu offers a unique blend of strategic thinking, leadership, and client management responsibilities, with ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive media strategy for a major retail client, including digital, social, and traditional channels
• Managing a team to execute a large-scale campaign for a global brand, optimizing performance in real-time
• Conducting a competitive analysis and identifying opportunities for a client to gain market share in their industry

ASSUMPTION: The Account Director role involves a wide range of strategic planning, execution, and management responsibilities, requiring strong leadership and adaptability to succeed.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the team structure and dynamics for this role?
• How does Dentsu support the professional development and growth of its Account Directors?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does Dentsu approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and workplace practices?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare to succeed?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions during the interview demonstrates your interest in the role and provides valuable information to help you make an informed decision about your career.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Dentsu careers portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of your strategic thinking, leadership, and client management skills to discuss during the interview
• Research Dentsu's clients, industry, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.