Senior Client Manager

About Bastion

Bastion is an independent agency that exists to put brands, organisations and people in a position of strength. Our integrated model sees brand, digital, social, influencer, experiential and research experts sitting side by side, working together on major brands to solve their marketing challenges.

We offer a breadth of specialist capabilities across the communications spectrum including Advertising, Social, Communications, Digital, Media, Experiential Insights and Training.

Our model is not just based on the breadth of expertise, but the depth in each capability and out operating model, enabling us to work as seamlessly interconnected specialism. A true one stop shop.

Bastion Advertising delivers compelling messages that capture attention and spark emotion. Our advertising services cover everything from brand and communication strategy to creative design, social media management, and production – delivering impactful campaigns that resonate with audiences.

Role Overview

Working with an energetic team, you will set the standard of work, deliverables, and deadlines to drive strong results for clients. A natural problem solver with fantastic organisational skills and a strong understanding of social platforms, you will identify opportunities for clients to leverage while inspiring your team to success.

Roles & Responsibilities

Client & Account Management

• Is a client's go-to, demonstrating a strong commitment to and understanding of their business, while leading the implementation team to drive fantastic results.
• Has developed a strong understanding of the client industry, the customer journey, market forces and each client's business within it
• Leads the delivery of world-class work across several clients, managing the standard of work delivered, deliverables, deadlines, and scope of work
• Autonomously sets team priorities, deliverables and deadlines and checks in with the team to ensure these are always on track
• Is a strong communicator who can influence clients and team members to get results. Always communicates a clear purpose
• Is a confident presenter in client meetings, with the ability to provide insight into activity
• Forecasts potential issues and works to prevent client dissatisfaction proactively
• Problem solves ensuring a solution is in place before it becomes an issue
• Runs effective and efficient client and internal meetings with a clear purpose and outcomes
• Is a strong project manager who can manage relationships with multiple stakeholders, internally and externally
• Provides articulate and strategic briefs to suppliers that get results
• Drives the successful implementation of Bastion Collective collaborative projects as the client lead
• Manages own time and calendar effectively and efficiently
• Demonstrates initiative and proactivity on accounts, communicating regularly with clients to ensure they are feeling the love

Production

• Demonstrates a strong understanding of production management and how to develop and deliver responses that drive results
• Daily responsibility of running standard requirements of client business including WIP, preproduction, production meetings and documentation
• Triage and manage cross agency business services including social, films and events
• Budget Management, including estimating and liaison with financial managers to ensure accurate reconciliation and billing
• Ensure brand continuity across all deliverables
• Stewardship of external talent pool including but not limited to, photography contracts / talent contracts / including rollovers and negotiations
• Location management - sourcing, negotiations of rates in line with production budgets and timelines
• Works alongside social and digital activity account team, checking in regularly to ensure projects are on track
• Identifies issues quickly and escalates them efficiently to the senior team for collaborative resolution
• Identifies issues quickly and escalates them efficiently to the senior team for collaborative resolution
• Thinks strategically when briefed and can deliver social ideas for clients and new business proposals
• Has a strong understanding of social media channels, ad formats and production requirements for both print and digital

Strategy & Business Development

• Has a strong understanding of the advertising landscape
• Assists with creative thinking when the team is developing client strategies and new business documents
• Builds implementation plans that ensure strategies come to life
• Understands what each client campaign objective is and proactively proposes recommendations on activity that will get results
• Can propose how Bastion can help a client deliver on a new need
• Meets financial targets and looks proactively for opportunities
• Provides proactive ideas on where we could do work better, identifies gaps in offerings and market opportunities

Team Management and Leadership

• Contributes to a highly productive and effective team to deliver great work
• Is a knowledgeable and approachable team member who leads by example
• Develops and nurtures the skills of others in your team
• Takes the lead on team motivation and satisfaction on accounts to drive great results and staff satisfaction at work
• Contributes to the operations of the agency by identifying better efficiencies

What You Bring

• Minimum 5 years in account service or production management underpinned by a degree in Communications or Marketing
• Broad marketing mix knowledge
• Strong understanding of social platforms
• Strategic thinking
• Strong project management, organisational skills and attention to detail
• Able to present confidently and take clients on a journey
• Collaborative by nature
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Highly deadline oriented and able to self-manage and set priorities effectively
• You understand strategic principles, information and trends analysis including competitive considerations with a sound knowledge of consumer behaviors and insights
• Has the ability to work quickly and can see ideas from ideation to delivery
• Experience in retail would be a bonus

What We Offer

• Flexible work in a hybrid work environment with mental wellbeing initiatives
• A supportive culture focused on collaboration and personal growth
• A truly integrated agency network that includes research, data, insights, creative, digital, experiential, reputation management, content production, performance, earned media, etc.
• Robust G&D program training throughout the year
• Happy Days
• Culture Club: a calendar of events that connects our team in creative and fun ways
• The Bastion Evolve mentoring program
• Inclusive parental leave that offers 12 weeks paid leave for primary carers
• CSR leave