Senior Account Director

The Senior Account Director is a senior client leadership role within Merkle’s Account Management function, focused on Digital Transformation. This is a hybrid opportunity based in our Detroit, MI office, reporting to the VP, Group Account Director. In this role, you are the primary steward of one to three digital transformation clients — responsible for the health of those relationships, the commercial performance of your engagements, and the quality of the experience clients have with Merkle. 

Digital Transformation at Merkle spans the design and delivery of web and app experiences, front- and back-end development, UX, commerce platforms, and the ecosystems that connect them. You don’t need to be a technologist, but you need to be fluent enough in how these solutions are built and sold to lead client conversations with credibility, connect client problems to the right capabilities, and identify growth opportunities before they become obvious. 

This role sits at the intersection of relationship depth, commercial discipline, and proactive advisory — the point where client trust is earned and account momentum is built. You will partner closely with Client Partners, Project Managers, and capability leads to ensure seamless execution and an exceptional client experience. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Build and sustain trusted, multi-threaded client relationships that position Merkle as an indispensable partner — understanding each client’s business model, competitive dynamics, and strategic priorities well enough to lead with insight, not just respond to requests. 

• Bring forward-looking perspective to clients to identify emerging needs, flagging risks early, and connecting client challenges to Merkle capabilities and alliance partner solutions. 

• Navigate complex stakeholder environments, managing alignment across client buyers, delivery leads, technology partners, and senior sponsors while serving as the connective tissue between client expectations and internal execution. 

• Own the commercial health of your clients: revenue forecasting, scope monitoring, change order execution, and Salesforce accuracy — ensuring your engagements are financially sound and transparently documented. 

• Contribute to renewal strategy and account growth planning in partnership with Client Partners and Growth teams, including identifying and developing expansion opportunities. 

• Provide clear strategic context to delivery teams, translating client priorities into actionable direction that enables better execution and keeps work connected to what the client actually cares about. 

• Develop and coach junior account team members, sharing knowledge and modeling strong account management practice. 

Qualifications 

• 10+ years of experience in account management or client services within a digital agency, consulting firm, or technology services organization. 

• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading Digital Transformation engagements — including web/app development, UX, commerce platforms, or enterprise technology implementations. You understand how these solutions are built and can discuss them credibly with client stakeholders. 

• Proven ability to manage and grow senior client relationships, with a track record of client retention and organic account growth. 

• Commercial acumen: comfortable with revenue forecasting, scope and margin conversations, and the financial mechanics of a services engagement. 

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills — you can adapt your approach from a day-to-day project conversation to a senior client business review without losing your point of view. 

• Experience partnering with Project Managers or Delivery leads on complex, multi-workstream engagements; you understand how the AM/PM partnership works and know how to make it effective. 

• Proficiency in Salesforce or equivalent CRM for pipeline management, forecasting, and account documentation. 

• Familiarity with one or more leading content management and/or commerce platforms. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop junior talent and contribute to team culture beyond your own client engagements. 

Additional Information:

The annual base salary range for this position is $119,000 - $158,750. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Additionally, this position is eligible for discretionary incentive compensation.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,

• Life insurance,

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,

• 401k,

• Flexible paid time off,

• At least 15 paid holidays per year,

• Paid sick and safe leave, and

• Paid parental leave.

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.  

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For more information regarding dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply" button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps.

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Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to [email protected] by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.