Account Director

Position:
Account Director

Contract:
12 months - maternity leave

Who we are:

Willow & Blake is a Melbourne-based creative branding agency, bringing brands to life all over the world.

We're a small team but a hungry one. We don't come to work to do the bare minimum or churn out mediocre brands. We're here to do good work, great work; work that we are proud of. We're all ambitious and hardworking. But we know how to work smarter, not harder. And that there's nothing smart about chaining creatives to their laptops for ludicrous hours a day.

Over the last 15 years, we've built and scaled over $1 billion worth of consumer brands. Our specialty is in the beauty, health, fashion and wellness space. Alongside that, hospitality is fast becoming a key category for us. Which is good for our folio but even better for our stomachs.

In the past 12 months, here's a small example of the work our team has done:

• Rebranded a 150-year-old fashion brand
• Created iconic haircare brand Bouf from scratch
• Created a new secret brand identity for one of Australia's leading health brands
• Launched "For Scale" our business advisory program for consumer brands
• Presented campaign concepts that made our clients blush, laugh and cry (literally).

What you'll be doing:

Your role as the Account Director is to oversee the accounts function at Willow & Blake. You are responsible for leading client relationships at the highest level, ensuring the delivery of exceptional creative work, mentoring the accounts team, and driving agency growth. This role combines strategic oversight, operational management, and commercial leadership, balancing client needs with agency priorities to deliver excellent outcomes.

Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience working in brand and/or agency.
• Track record in winning and growing client accounts, including pitching and business development.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and inspire other teams.
• Deep understanding of agency operations, processes, and production schedules.
• Excellent client management skills, with the ability to influence and advise at senior levels.
• Strong commercial acumen, including budget management, invoicing, and financial forecasting.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery when required.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Account Leadership & Client Relationships

• Oversee the accounts function across the agency, setting high standards for client service and delivery.
• Act as senior contact for key clients, managing complex relationships with founders, marketing leads, and project leads.
• Ability to translate brand and business objectives into actionable creative strategies, ensuring projects ladder up to long-term client goals.
• Provide escalation support for Account Managers when navigating complex or sensitive client challenges.

2. Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor and support the account management team, providing guidance on project ownership, client management, and strategic thinking.
• Help the team develop brand identity and brand strategy projects by reviewing project work alongside the Creative Director and studio project team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth within the accounts team.

3. New Business Development

• Lead new business efforts, from prospecting and pipeline development through to proposal, pitch, and conversion.
• Confidently present Willow & Blake's expertise in brand strategy, brand identity and campaigns to prospective clients.
• Identify opportunities for organic growth within existing accounts, introducing new services and ways of working that add value.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to position the agency competitively in the market and refine business development strategies.

4. Operations & Process Management

• Oversee agency operations with a focus on client services, ensuring production schedules, timelines, and workflows are seamless and efficient. Experience with Streamtime is an advantage, though not essential, as training can be provided.
• Manage resource planning in collaboration with creative and strategy leads, balancing team capacity with project requirements.
• Refine and uphold best practices in project management and reporting, ensuring clarity and accountability across all accounts.

5. Commercial & Financial Management

• Work collaboratively with the Managing Partner and accounts team to reach agency revenue targets month to month.
• Oversee budgets across multiple accounts, ensuring accurate forecasting, quoting, and cost management.
• Ensure invoices are managed and sent in a timely manner.
• Analyse financial performance of accounts and recommend efficiencies or improvements to maintain profitability.