Digital Account Director @ Highwire

About us: Highwire is a modern strategic communications and digital marketing agency designed for disruptive companies. We work with high-growth technology companies and established brands looking to reinvent themselves.

At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. And the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.

We ensure every Highwire Walker has unique support to climb to success. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is permanent and foundational to our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.

Our people-first culture is driven by four core values:

Inclusion Always

Growth Mindset

Team Empowerment

Fierce Distinction

We’re looking for individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life. If you thrive in an environment that values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation, this is the opportunity for you. Be part of our award-winning culture and contribute to an exciting and growing business where you can make a real impact.

We are based in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Boston, and Chicago. However, we are also open to hiring in the following states: Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.

About the job: Highwire Digital Account Directors help deliver best-in-class strategies for some of the world’s biggest technology and healthcare brands. They are part of an innovative team and work in partnership with our clients to lead impactful social media and digital marketing programs.

Account directors are both competent leaders and hands-on practitioners. They are comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment across multiple accounts, sometimes at differing levels of maturity, sophistication or with varying communication styles and collaboration requirements.

About you: As a leader on our digital team, you are expected to mentor and direct our growing group of talented team members. You will provide oversight, direction and ensure high standards of accuracy, timeliness and completeness to all deliverables. Where necessary, you will be prepared to step in to help teams, acting as a player-coach to show them what good results look like, not just instruct or guide.

You contribute directly to new business, supporting pitches with strong ideas and creative approaches to client challenges. You always know what’s new, what’s interesting and are equipped to educate others on the reasons why.

You are a strategic and data-driven leader who understands the technology industry, including key players and trends relevant to your clients and our prospects. You create quality work, have an eye for detail and can juggle several projects at once.

You understand the critical value of client service. You form strong working relationships with our client contacts, pay attention to their needs and anticipate their challenges. You are driven by ensuring their success, and understand our reputation is inextricably linked to that of our client interactions, not just our delivered work.

Essential Functions

Be familiar with required deliverables, contracted service levels and client expectations on each of your accounts. Be able to communicate these to more junior team members, adding clarity where necessary
Always anticipate client needs - ask the questions which put us one step ahead and keep teams on track to meet client goals and objectives
Ensure our collective work product is high quality. Serve as final or near final approver for day-to-day work
Keep a close eye on team hours against planned capacity, proactively communicate/work with team leads and members to anticipate account overages, take action to remedy them early, and plan ahead for underages
Show a comprehensive understanding of financials behind accounts, ensure billability and utilization of team members
Guide the development of digital workflows that ensure effective team management and delivery to expectations

Client Relations

Take the lead on client calls - placing the emphasis on ‘take’ by being proactive, making recommendations before being asked and constantly remaining a step ahead of the situation
Show an appreciation of client urgency and an ability to prioritize based on context
Serve as day-to-day contact, ensuring prompt acknowledgement of requests and questions (usually within the hour, but never longer than four)
Be a trusted counselor to clients, consistently anticipating client needs and acting proactively
Lead by example to showcase being flexible with priorities and having open and direct communication with clients
Drive strategic planning efforts (campaigns, QBRs, etc.) with other senior team members, acting as the key Highwire contact/owner where necessary

Social Media and Influencer Relations

Provide proactive strategic counsel and recommendations for program optimization and growth, including creative activations, channel/content strategy adjustments, influencer partnership concepts and more
Ensure work is aligned with strategy and delivers outcomes that meet and exceed client expectations
Have deep knowledge and understanding of social platforms - primarily LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube - including both organic and paid strategies and capabilities
Proactively flag relevant social media and influencer trends/news to digital team, agency and clients with recommended action and impact (if applicable)
Share your knowledge with the team proactively, through training, show-and-tells, lunch-and-learns and other teach-in sessions

New Business and Marketing

Support the vetting of new business opportunities within practice groups
Active participation in an agency cornerstone or committee
Participates in new business proposals and proactive outreach efforts
Contribute to social and influencer ABM content development
Proactively bring new ideas to practice meetings and encourage junior team members to participate as well

Team Leadership and Growth

Be a patient coach to teammates and direct reports
Support teams by managing up and down
Help the team effectively prioritize responsibilities based on impact, timelines, workflow, and client goals
Maintain a respectful, enthusiastic, and professional attitude towards coworkers, clients, and outside colleagues and lead the team by example
Being a diplomatic leader that is able to ease tension in a team, without playing favorites.
Manage 1-2 direct reports [as team structure allows]

Success Factors

7+ years of client facing social media experience (B2B experience preferred)
Agency experience is a plus
Demonstrable success at securing new business and increasing client revenues
The ability to quickly and smartly adjust digital strategy, voice and tone based on client and audience
The ability to take initiative, keep organized and handle multiple projects at once
Strong strategic client consultancy skills gained in an agency environment
Well-versed in social media and content marketing as an important awareness and lead generating element in the PR and Marketing mix
Experience running both paid and organic social campaigns from a content perspective
Some experience with SEO/SEM strategy desired, but not essential
Track record of retention and the profitable growth of existing accounts
Demonstrate strong leadership skills and aptitude to develop and motivate a team
The ability to provide social input on PR campaigns as well as broader marketing strategy

Highwire Perks

Competitive salary
Merit-based bonuses and promotions
Hybrid work model to suit your schedule and lifestyle
Excellent vacation policy including an extended break for summer and winter holiday
Participate in Empower Hours on Fridays; Team has the ability to log off by 3 pm
401K Match
Medical and dental benefits/ FSA
Paid Parental Leave
Commuter Benefit
Home office equipment stipend
Growth Mindset Stipend of $100 annually for books, exhibitions, etc.
Technology reimbursement
Wellness benefit
Donation Match
Full-time writing Coach
Mentorship
Monthly recognition programs
Employee referral bonus
New business referral bonus
Quarterly Highwire fun events – Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday
Dog-friendly work environment
Extremely supportive, nurturing environment with many opportunities for learning and growth

The duties delineated above will vary depending on the needs of each specific account, and in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. This individual will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisors.

We are actively seeking candidates who possess a genuine passion for tech PR and are excited to expand our team. As we continue to grow our agency, we are proactively building a pipeline of exceptional individuals to connect with and consider for future opportunities.

If you are enthusiastic about the world of tech PR and are eager to embark on a rewarding career in this field, we encourage you to start the conversation by applying today. We value your interest in our agency and look forward to hearing from you.

Apply now and let’s explore the possibilities together!

Job Alert

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