Account Director

About Zapwater 

Zapwater Communications seeks an Account Director to join its collaborative, creative and innovative PR team.

Zapwater Communications is an award-winning integrated communications agency with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. The brands we serve center around the lifestyle categories of travel and hospitality, design and real estate, and consumer and beauty. Our teams are specialists in their fields – they know the platforms, the media, the influencers and the delivery needed to achieve heightened awareness and connect with customers.  

Our employees love working at Zapwater because of the people and our flexible office environment. Here are just a few of the benefits we offer:

• Annual Merit Increase – Based on prior year performance and an annual review provided by the first quarter of the subsequent year.


• Annual Performance Bonus – Potential bonus to be awarded based on the company’s overall performance and the achievement of personal goals.


• New Client Commission – Commission of the client’s monthly retainer for a maximum of one (1) year.


• Insurance – Zapwater offers health, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance. The benefit offerings and employee contribution to the above referenced plans are evaluated annually.


• Expenses – Cell phone paid for by Zapwater Communications.


• Schedule – Flexible.


• Competitive Vacation/Personal Time. In addition, the office is closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.


• WFH – We offer all our employees 40 WFH days a year.


• Sick Time – Unlimited.


• Volunteer Program – Upon completion of one-year employment, you will be entitled to an additional week of vacation to be used volunteering for an organization of your choice.


• Professional Development – Zapwater encourages professional development and supports staff by covering the cost of membership to Professional Associations and continuing education.

Account Director (seven plus years of experience)

An Account Director at Zapwater Communications leads day-to-day operations, serves as senior client contact and executes strategic public relations programming. This person is a key member of the leadership team and will continue to position the agency for growth and success.  The overall objective of this position is to manage and potentially grow client accounts through effective use of human capital and financial metrics.

Responsibilities include:

Account Leadership and Client Management

• Act as the senior engagement lead on almost all accounts


• Conceptualize advanced, integrated and innovative publicity campaigns


• Provide guidance in developing and presenting new industry insights and business trends for client


• Apply extensive experience and understanding of traditional and emerging communications trends and technologies to elevate strategy


• Pitch high-level media such as national business desks and broadcast outlets


• Oversee and monitor ongoing campaign performance to ensure programs are executed properly and according to client expectations


• Conduct post-campaign analysis and provide recommendations for future initiatives


• Develop, mentor and manage team members

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  • Provide continual informal feedback as well as perform timely performance reviews, as necessary, to ensure professional development of staff
  
  
  • Supervise, maintain and lead account dynamic, both internally and externally
  
  
  • Review and ensure quality of all outbound materials including press releases, company collateral, corporate web site copy, e-mail campaigns, etc.
  
  
  • Maximize individual performance and productivity through time management
  
  
  
  

• Display financial acumen and budgeting practices

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  • Be accountable for and maximize profitability at the account level through evaluation of project and retainer fees and implementation of appropriate account staffing structure
  
  
  • Create, approve, communicate, analyze and report results of internal and external budgets
  
  
  
  

Business Development

• Drive organic growth and identify ongoing opportunities for existing client development


• Identify, pursue, negotiate and drive new business development and strategic partnerships that expand our reach and/or increase our revenue


• Assist with brainstorming better business practices for new business documents and presentations


• Provide strategic leadership, direction and management for business development and marketing functions by choosing industries and markets for the agency to pursue


• Create new business proposals as well as negotiate rates and positioning