Advantage Unified Commerce is built to be the world’s most effective commerce marketing agency. We bring integration to a layered and siloed landscape, unifying strategy, analytics, creative, media, ecommerce, and trade marketing to unlock commerce potential for some of the world’s best-known brands. From Retail Media Networks and social commerce to last-mile delivery and in-store activation, we are everywhere that people shop and buy.

Our Sr. Director is responsible for developing in-depth knowledge and relationships with retailers within this vertical. Working in lock step with Sales, Media, and Marketing teams to deliver retailer-based strategies that inspire, innovate, and ignite growth for both our Customers and Clients. A seasoned Shopper Marketing expert, the ideal candidate is well versed in the Omni-channel landscape, retailer nuances and important relationship between sales and marketing. S/he is responsible for leading the agency's efforts in driving retail innovation and Shopper Centric Branding that delivers results for our clients.

C O R E  R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

• Manage a book of business comprised of multiple commerce retail media and 3P media
• Lead the partnership management along with Annual Planning Process on behalf of the
• Assist clients in their annual JBP discussions within this retail
• Deliver ongoing thought leadership to assist clients’ business strategies with key
• Act as a change agent/impact player from both an internal and external perspective – contributing to both client and agency performance.
• Lead collaboration across internal and external teams to drive innovation at retail spanning shopper marketers, sales teams, and insights teams.
• Develop annual business plan, setting short- and long-term strategic courses for growth of assigned
• Build strong relationships with both client and retailer while working closely with cross-functional teams including consumer marketing, trade development, operations, merchandising, and category managers, directors, and buyers.
• Identify opportunities within your assigned retailer and share this learning on an ongoing basis with your Retail and Client Leadership teams.
• Embrace the new ONE Advantage mission to unify agency resources and embrace a new model for Shopper Centric Branding

Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S                                                                                                                                     

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field - MBA
• Minimum of 8 years of marketing or advertising experience with grocery retailers
• Dynamic personality able to effectively engage and influence a variety of
• A wealth of industry knowledge including current trends, consumer packaged goods and retailer information, and business philosophies
• Motivational leadership, inspiring team to deliver top performance every day against assigned
• Strategic thinking in the development of Shopper Marketing programs and management of day- to-day business
• Sound decision making
• Passion about business and dissatisfaction with status quo – always thinking of ways to improve/grow assigned client/business.
• Strong listening skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal
• Desire to dig in and do what is needed to get the job done
• Some travel is required

S U P E R V I S O R Y R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

• Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources
• May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

T R A V E L A N D / O R D R I V I N G R E Q U I R E M E N T S

• Travel is an essential duty and function of this Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job.
• Travel up to 20%

A D D I T I O N A L  I N F O R M A T I O N  R E G A R D I N G  J O B  D U T I E S  A N D  D E S C R I P T I O N S

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or another manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the AUC reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign, or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. AUC shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Position Summary

The Senior Account Director functions as multi-client relationship manager of Agency consumer promotion and shopper marketing program deliverables within multiple categories, retail channels or regions in addition to new business development. Primary role is to provide thought leadership as the face of the Agency to the executive-level sales/marketing team as a business consultant while managing the wider client team and engagement of internal agency departments. A successful Senior Account Director will focus on financial health of multiple clients, new business development, proactive associate career path development and Agency product innovation.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Play a strategic role in selling new business efforts with current and new client prospects, providing clear and relevant service offerings based upon ASM Marketing Services mission, culture and capabilities
• Manage client engagement from initial client contact, to defining scope of work, preparing proposals, negotiating fees, and recommending staffing structure to support new business initiatives
• Demonstrate product category or retail channel ownership with Executive level Marketing and Sales client base to show Agency thought leadership as a consultant
• Cultivate strong relationships with Executive level client trade, sales and marketing teams
• Effective recruiting, hiring, training, and development of direct reports
• Manage financial P/L for multi-client business teams
• Design effective programming by leading a cross-functional team that will develop category, channel, customer and competitive brand marketplace insights, identify most value consumer/shopper targets, communication strategy, innovation opportunities, promotion program objectives, strategies and tactical recommendations for programs that ultimately drive behavior change
• Engage, mentor and inspire Agency cross-functional team leadership, empower innovative product development, reinforce Agency revenue goals and considering succession planning/hiring needs
• Mine and sell ASM Marketing Svs revenue-driving opportunities

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports

May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

• Travel and Driving is an essential duty and function of this job 
• Travel up to   30%

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

                          (Preferred): Master's Degree                                    

Field of Study/Area of Experience:  Business, Communications

• 10+ years of experience in the role of leader/manager in agency or brand management, including experience in advertising, promotion, media, or direct marketing with national brands

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Creative self-starter with strong organization, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to present to large and small groups in a variety of settings
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Committed leader who can balance multiple programs and direct resources appropriately
• Team player with a positive attitude
• Able to build and maintain strong client relations
• Flexible and adaptable to change
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Must be willing to travel
• Excellent customer service orientation
• Skill in supervising to include delegating responsibility, training and evaluating performance
• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong prioritization skills
• Conflict management skills
• Decision making skills
• Team building Skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment
• Ability to ensure a high level of service and quality is maintained
• Ability to direct, lead, coach, and develop people
• Ability to work effectively with management
• Demonstrated ability to provide cross-functional leadership
• Ability to develop strategic plans to grow the business
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
• Track record of building and maintaining customer/client relationshipsFlexible and adaptable, able to change and alter according to changes in projects or business environment
• Ability to work independently and prioritize duties with minimal supervision, in order to meet deadlines

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds. 

Additional Information Regarding The Company Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law.  The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes.  Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.