Senior Account Director - International Clients

About VML

VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

Who We're Looking For:

We're seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Account Director to lead and grow our engagements with some of our most prestigious international clients. Our global client roster includes brands such as UNICEF, HSBC, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and others. This crucial role focuses on nurturing strong client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor, and overseeing the development and execution of highly creative, impactful, integrated, 360° campaigns with a strong digital emphasis, across diverse markets.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced strategic thinker with a passion for delivering exceptional results for global brands, particularly for someone with experience in global hub markets. You will be instrumental in continuing to build on our global mission for VML Lisbon, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to shape and expand our international client portfolio. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader, passionate about creative excellence, and thrives in a dynamic, multicultural business environment.

What You'll Do:

• Lead International Client Relationships: Serve as the primary strategic lead and day-to-day contact for our international clients, building trusted relationships, understanding their evolving needs, ensuring satisfaction, and proactively identifying opportunities to expand our business.

• Drive Strategic Direction & Creative Excellence: Develop and implement comprehensive account plans aligned with global client objectives, championing a digital-first approach and fostering creative innovation. Collaborate closely with strategy and creative teams to deliver high-quality, on-brand campaigns that resonate across different cultures and markets. Drive innovation and best practice across the agency.

• Generate Growth & Manage Financial Performance: Actively seek out new business opportunities within existing client relationships, contribute to pitches and proposals as required, and develop clear commercial plans and forecasts, outlining growth areas and timelines. Own account profitability, ensuring on-budget project delivery and contributing significantly to business growth.

• Lead & Develop Your Team: Inspire, mentor, and provide clear direction to a team of account professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment and supporting their growth and development in managing global clients.

• Oversee Project Management & Communication: Ensure seamless project workflow, adherence to deadlines, and high-quality deliverables across international campaigns. Maintain transparent communication with clients, providing regular updates, proactively managing challenges, and swiftly addressing any negative client feedback with decisive action plans.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

• 10+ years of proven Account Director experience, in a creative agency, with significant experience managing global accounts and international brands.

• A digital-first mindset with extensive experience developing and executing integrated campaigns across various digital channels and international markets.

• Exceptional client relationship management skills with a proven ability to build rapport and long-term partnerships with senior stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.

• Strategic thinking, strong critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, with the knack for translating complex global client needs into actionable solutions.

• Proven leadership skills and experience in team management, with the ability to inspire, mentor, and drive performance.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with native-level English.

• Financial acumen and budget management skills, including developing commercial plans and forecasts.

• A proactive, self-motivated, and entrepreneurial work ethic, coupled with a commitment to excellence and a positive, optimistic approach to achieving team goals and objectives.

• Highly collaborative and adaptable, extremely organized, process-led, and detail-oriented.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and juggling multiple global projects simultaneously.

Please note this job is based in Lisbon, Portugal.

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We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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