Director of Accounts

ROLE OVERVIEW

Peritus’ Director of Accounts is a senior-level role dedicated to strengthening our client experience through relationship-building, results-oriented communications initiatives, mentorship and quality of work. This leader will oversee account teams to consistently deliver results that move our clients’ goals forward while maintaining the highest standards of quality and service. Focused on fostering client trust and satisfaction, the Director will also play a key role in professional development, team accountability and identifying opportunities for client growth.

A team player, our Director of Accounts is a natural relationship-builder, coach and passionate advocate for our clients’ businesses and industries.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• High level of personal accountability – commits to deadlines, owns projects, does what they say they will, communicates clearly with teammates and clients on progress  
• Innate project manager – detail-oriented, proactive, deadline-driven, manages moving parts/teammates/budgets efficiently, predicts cause and effect, understands workflow/capacity/what it takes to achieve a deliverable
• Master of strategy – quickly gains an understanding of new industries or issues, deep knowledge of goals and develops actionable plans to achieve them, applies the bigger picture
• Resourceful – starts every project with research, consults experts, reviews past work or industry examples to save time  
• Lifelong learner – naturally curious, hungry for continued professional development, news/book/podcast junkie, active listener, asks intuitive questions
• Communications anthropologist – understands human behavior and the dynamics of a group, intuitive people reader, asks smart questions to dig deeper, bridges cultural gaps, seeks meaningful relationships  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Impact & Strategic Counsel

• Serve as the firm’s primary manager of client service, building relationships with clients and ensuring client satisfaction.
• Maintain an understanding of Peritus clients' businesses and industries, serving as a resource for strategizing, overcoming challenges and ultimately, growing client relationships across the firm.
• Oversee the creation and execution of strategic communication plans and deliverables, with measurable goals and objectives.

Project & Capacity Management

• Master of capacity planning and forecasting through auditing teammates’ workloads to help solve problems, minimize inefficiencies and streamline approaches.
• Ensure projects are well planned and on track through monitoring of project management software.
• Partner with leadership team and client leads to plan and monitor firm’s workload with current and incoming clients, identifying recruitment or contractor needs to fill in gaps.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor account team members, proactively offering guidance on strategy, client deliverables and tactical execution.
• Hold weekly 1:1s with Line of Business leaders to coach professional development goals and business growth within Advisory, Amplification and Advocacy services.
• Support professional development and soft skills by coaching team members, offering regular feedback and identifying firmwide opportunities for training or upskilling.

Client Growth & Retention

• Cultivate relationships with community influencers and actively participate in community initiatives, strategically connecting your involvement back to the firm.
• Foster strong client, community and industry relationships, leading efforts to retain and expand existing clients.
• Regularly scan industry trends and potential opportunities for client growth and agency innovation.

Peritus Culture

• Embrace feedback, demonstrating a growth mindset and willingness to learn. 
• Understand teammate behavioral drivers and communicate in the best ways to foster individual growth.
• Lead the agency’s value-aligned Impact Pillar (i.e. how we are making an impact through our work), ensuring alignment firmwide goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Recommended 7-10 years of experience in public relations or a related field, with at least two years in a client service management or leadership role.
• Strong understanding of strategic communications plans and deliverables.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide high-level client counsel and troubleshoot complex issues.
• Experience managing and growing client accounts year-over-year.