Account Director, Shanghai

Overview

We are looking for an experienced communications professional to lead a portfolio of international clients across the technology, semiconductor, industrial, and B2B sectors. The role will involve managing client relationships, overseeing integrated communications programs, leading and developing team members, and identifying opportunities to grow both existing and new business. The successful candidate should be able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, demonstrate sound judgment in addressing client challenges, and take ownership of both client outcomes and team performance.

The Plot Thickens: Job Description

Client Leadership & Strategic Counsel

• Lead day-to-day relationships with key clients, ensuring strong communication, quality delivery and client satisfaction.
• Develop communications strategies and plans that align with clients' business objectives and market needs.
• Provide proactive counsel on media relations, corporate positioning, executive communications, thought leadership and reputation management.
• Oversee the development of communications materials, including proposals, messaging, media content, executive briefing documents and strategic recommendations.
• Manage client expectations, priorities and challenging situations with sound judgment and practical solutions.
• Identify opportunities to bring new ideas, services and greater value to existing clients.

Account & Project Management

• Oversee multiple client accounts and projects, ensuring deliverables are completed on time and to a high standard.
• Establish clear work plans, responsibilities, timelines and quality control processes.
• Manage team resources and priorities across accounts, balancing delivery requirements and available capacity.
• Ensure effective coordination with clients, internal teams, regional colleagues and external partners.
• Monitor account scope, budgets and resource allocation, and proactively address delivery risks or scope changes.
• Improve workflows and encourage the effective use of AI and other tools to enhance productivity and quality.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and support a team of account servicing professionals, providing clear direction, regular feedback and coaching.
• Delegate responsibilities effectively and create opportunities for team members to develop greater independence and ownership.
• Identify individual strengths, development needs and future potential, and contribute to performance reviews and development plans.
• Build a collaborative, accountable team culture with clear expectations and open communication.
• Support team structure, workload planning and recruitment decisions based on client needs and business priorities.
• Develop the next layer of team leaders as responsibilities and team size grow.

Business Development & Growth

• Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing client accounts.
• Contribute to new business development through research, strategic planning, proposal development, pitching and client engagement.
• Bring fresh ideas and relevant service offerings to both existing and prospective clients.
• Build relationships with prospective clients and identify opportunities in relevant industries.
• Collaborate with Shanghai and regional leadership on new business opportunities and integrated proposals.
• Take increasing ownership of business development activities and revenue growth according to seniority.

Commercial & Business Management

• Understand account revenue, scope, budgets, staffing and resource requirements.
• Monitor account performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Support account planning, revenue forecasting and resource allocation.
• Balance client expectations, team workload and commercial considerations when making decisions.
• Take greater responsibility for portfolio growth, team planning and financial performance at more senior levels.

Attributes of the Protagonist (That’s You)

• Take full ownership of a client portfolio or pod, including client relationships, team performance, and overall business results.
• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to clients, managing complex relationships and navigating high-stakes situations.
• Build and lead a sustainable team structure, including developing the next generation of managers.
• Exercise independent judgment in making people, resource, and business decisions, with leadership support where required.
• Develop and execute a business growth plan with clear revenue targets and new business objectives.
• Lead major new business pitches, strengthen senior-level client relationships, and proactively generate new business opportunities.
• Take ownership of portfolio financial performance, including revenue forecasting, resource allocation, cost management, and profitability.
• Collaborate closely with Shanghai leadership on business planning, growth priorities, and long-term team development.

The Hero’s Background: Qualifications

• Solid experience in a PR or communications agency, ideally serving multinational clients.

• Strong experience in corporate communications, B2B technology, industrial or related sectors.
• Proven ability to manage complex client accounts and deliver high-quality communications programs.
• Strong writing, storytelling, strategic thinking and presentation skills.
• Excellent client communication and relationship management capabilities.
• Experience managing or coaching junior colleagues, with proven leadership experience.
• Commercial awareness and possessing experience contributing to new business development.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and making independent decisions.
• Strong written and spoken English and Chinese.
• Proactive, accountable, collaborative and results-driven, with a willingness to challenge conventional approaches and explore new ideas.

About The Hoffman Agency

We're an integrated communications consultancy that specializes in solving hard problems — the tougher, the better — for tech companies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’ve established a global infrastructure tuned for the tech industry. Toward this end, we operate offices in Boston, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London, Munich, Paris, Portland, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo.   

We’re a company that values diversity and inclusion. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability status, veteran status or any other characteristic.   

For more information, visit https://www.hoffman.com/ and https://www.apac.hoffman.com/.