Group Account Director

ROLE: GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
TEAM: THE KITCHEN NORTH AMERICA
LOCATION: CHICAGO

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The Kitchen brings together a range of disciplines and capabilities. It’s a team of creatives, producers, data analysts and social experts working together to deliver remarkable ideas that live in a variety of mediums, from everything from social to TV. This team moves at the speed of culture. It is built to respond to trends and events as they happen, coming up with the ideas that transcend social media to capture the spirit of the moment, earn media impressions, and get the country talking.

Are you ready to join an award-ambitious team that's making waves in the advertising industry? Our incredible team has been recognized internationally by industry giants like Cannes, One Show and was named Campaign's Global ‘In-House Agency of The Year’, further solidifying our position as a leader in the industry. Join us and be a part of something truly special - a team that's dedicated to creating ground-breaking work and pushing limits.

At The Kitchen, we're not just looking for individuals who want to be a part of the advertising industry - we're looking for trailblazers who are ready to lead the way to the next big thing! We want individuals who are passionate about producing award-winning work and have an innate drive to their craft and are eager to generate innovative ideas both within and outside of the brief.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As a Group Account Director, you oversee a team of Account Directors, Supervisors and Executives, reporting directly to the Head of Operations, with the support of the full Kitchen leadership team.

You’ll ensure that we’re proactively shaping an agency that anticipates Kraft Heinz brands’ needs, constantly innovating, and making best-in-class work come to life every single day.

You’ll need to be passionate about the work and the industry – from the breadth of insights and opportunities it pulls from culture to the ultimate quality of the creative that your team produces.

You are responsible for implementing our ways of working across your Account team and partnering with the Strategy Director, Lead Producers and Creative Directors to ensure the processes of the team are implemented. You will also partner closely with Brand and Business Units (BUs) to ensure the Account team has clear direction and focus for the year, months and day-to-day. You’ll lead the processes that deliver success and own relationships with PR, Brand Comms, and other IAT partners.

You have the experience that allows you to manage processes that balance quick turnaround work with longer-lead creative. You’ve worked across various media with an excellent understanding of what works in social and digital. You have experience managing large scale productions for multiple brands or campaigns at one time and ensuring your team delivers all assets against a media plan.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

INTERNAL RELATIONS: You are the main point of contact for our marketing brand partners within Kraft Heinz. You’ll work directly with marketers in the organization to ensure we’re anticipating the future, and building a team to do incredible work that is unique to The Kitchen.

ACCOUNT TEAM MANAGEMENT: Manage your team’s structure and resourcing, ensuring that we focus on the work that exceeds expectations. You lead teams and ensure strong and non-traditional creative output, collaborating and working with The Kitchen’s Executive Creative Director

WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT: You’ll direct the team’s focus – ensuring that you are helping the team stay on top of their deliverables and are focused against the right work daily, quarterly, and annually.

TEAM LEADERSHIP: You Inspire and direct a team to believe in The Kitchen’s mission and to deliver true success for our brands. You are responsible for growing, retaining, and motivating the Account team to succeed.

COLLABORATION: You act with optimism and a love for the next big challenge, working as one integrated team with your brand partners and the Creative Directors. You are the voice of the brand team inside The Kitchen.

ADAPTABILITY: You demonstrate resiliency in a dynamic, fast paced work environment where ideas and opportunities happen fast and require flexibility.

ORGANIZATION & FOLLOWTHROUGH: You have a process driven heart and like defining new processes and ways of working and can communicate them out to a broader group. You can sit above the work but are able to dive in as needed. You follow through in all you do via clear communication. You help the agency develop a strong and positive relationship within the Kitchen and Kraft Heinz.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• 8+ years of experience working Accounts, Client Service, Project Management, or a related role in a traditional, social, or medium agnostic agency focused on big ideas.
• Significant experience leading large scale productions
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills
• Proven project management & Account management expertise
• Proven strategic thinker.
• Authentic people person with exceptional interpersonal skills
• Confident and experienced with presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational, negotiation skills
• Outstanding critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to oversee, and deliver against, a large P+L.
• Proven ability to identify, pursue and sell business growth opportunities.
• Exceptional relationship building and people management skills.
• A positive and optimistic force, that drives projects forward through relationship-building, collaboration, and clear communication.

At The Kitchen we believe in taking care of our team members and providing a supportive, rewarding and fun work environment. Here’s a glimpse of some of the fantastic perks and benefits you'll enjoy

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Choose from three robust Cigna health plans, including options with low deductibles and HSA savings of up to $750 annually. Enjoy mental health coverage, dental, vision, and other wellness benefits
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Financial Perks: Annual HSA, FSA and DFSA, candidate referral bonus
• Flexibility & Paid Time Off: Paid Time Off + Personal Days + Float days
• Hybrid work policy: (2 days in office in Chicago) and options to work from anywhere.
• Parental Support: 24 weeks of job protected leave, including 8 weeks at 100% pay. Extra cash for baby essentials, and a gradual return to work program
• Fun Experiences: Company Immersion Day, Golden Apron Award, opportunity to work with the worlds leading brands

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $140,000–$165,000. Individual compensation within this range is determined based on job-related factors such as experience, skills, level of responsibility, internal equity, and business needs. This range represents the expected base salary for this role and does not include other elements of The Kitchen’s total rewards program. 

Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. The range listed is just one component of The Kitchen's total compensation package

The Kitchen, Kraft Heinz, and Salt are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, or disability.