Account Director

Account Director

Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) · London, United Kingdom (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-11

Workplace: hybrid

Department: John Lewis

Description

Position Overview

We are looking for a strategic Account Director to lead our JLP client services team. You will oversee projects from initial brief through to delivery, keep ownership of client communication throughout.

You will lead the project management (PM) team to deliver right-first-time service in line with the client’s contractual requirements and ITG’s KPIs, providing both strategic and operational leadership. You will also be responsible for identifying and delivering automation and AI efficiencies, in production and operationally, as a team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project oversight: Oversee the project lifecycle from early brief request to final delivery. Shape briefs to make sure they are complete, upload them to STQ, and bring in the right experts at the right time.
2. Client management: Be the main point of contact for the JLP Marketing team and other brief owners, and lead all client communications. Understand their plans and objectives and make sure outputs align with them.
3. Cross-departmental collaboration: Work with the Marketing Campaign Lead, Creative Director, Head of Production and others to keep delivery smooth and aligned to the client’s strategic goals.
4. Team integration: Be the "glue" that keeps campaigns moving, bringing in resource managers, traffic managers and senior leadership at the right moments.
5. Automation and AI efficiencies: Identify and deliver automation and AI opportunities across production and day-to-day operations. Build and own an efficiency roadmap with the team, working with production and traffic management. Report progress and savings monthly to the Senior Account Director.
6. Budget and commercial management: Lead on estimating costs and making sure budgets and timelines are achievable. Work with production to drive agency profit and efficiency, contribute to the account P&L and annual budgeting and forecasting, and stay within the client’s commercial agreements. Report key savings monthly to the Senior Account Director.
7. Time awareness: Make sure the team is realistic about how long jobs take and how their time is spent (for example, meetings they don’t need to attend). Work with production and traffic management to define "what good looks like" for each brief type, and use this to align JLP behaviours with ITG ways of working. Report learnings monthly to the Operations Director.
8. Process adherence: Make sure processes and best practice are followed so projects are right first time, on time and within SLAs.
9. Reporting: Support the Managing Partner with monthly packs for the client and ITG senior team, covering account performance and client priorities.
10. People leadership: Line manage and develop the PM team. Direct and delegate so you can focus on strategic oversight rather than admin.

Requirements

•  A service-minded approach with proven customer management skills.

•  Strong project management and organisational skills in a fast-paced, changing environment.

•  Strong problem-solving skills under pressure.

•  Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.

•  Highly numerate, with strong commercial awareness.

•  Interest in, and ideally experience of, applying automation and AI to improve ways of working.

What We Need from You

•  Leadership: A visible, inspiring leader who takes full ownership and encourages the team to do the same.

•  Customer focus: Customer-centric thinking, commercial acumen and attention to detail.

•  Collaboration: An engaging approach with internal and external teams, setting your own agenda and prioritising well.

•  Proactive problem-solving: Spot opportunities and issues before they arise.

How You Will Succeed

•  Partnering with clients: managing delivery expectations and challenging constructively when needed.

•  Building strong relationships with colleagues for smooth handovers across every process.

•  Coaching the team to gather accurate information from clients and write complete briefs.

•  Delegating effectively so you can oversee multiple projects and cut admin time.

•  Delivering measurable time and cost savings, including through automation and AI, and reporting them monthly.

Benefits

Work’s a treat!

On top of a competitive salary, you can expect a whole load of perks:

• 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays – we understand the importance of you getting some down time.

• Annual Wellbeing Day – enjoy an additional day on us to look after your physical and mental wellbeing.

• Pension Scheme – helping you save towards your retirement home in the sun!
• Corporate Medical Cash Plan – claim back the cost of your medical treatments.
• Smart Working Options – spend up to 40% of your working week from home.

• So many savings – through our online community platform, you can access dozens of daily deals, from money off top brands to discounts on days out.

• Employee Assistance Programme – our people are at the heart of everything we do, so if you’re happy, we’re happy.

• Cycle to Work Scheme – save on the cost of biking to work.
• Monthly Employee Awards - Employee of the Month programme with £250 bonus
• Raising money for charity including a paid Volunteer Day – we’re all about giving back… and having lots of fun in the process!

• Referral scheme – know the perfect person to join the team? You could bag £1,500 for a putting a good word in.

• Wellbeing Programme – giving you the opportunity to join regular, interactive Wellbeing Workshops or join our 30 plus Wellbeing Champions.

• Enhanced Family Friendly Leave – support for you and your family to help you navigate through the craziness of family life.

We Value Diversity

We champion and welcome diversity in our workforce and ensure all job applicants receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.

We are not only committed to increasing the visibility and recognition of talent from under-represented groups within our organisation, but the wider industry too.

At the end of the day, we make sure we take time to look after ourselves, each other, and the planet, because we’re always stronger together.

ITG have a number of community groups (ERGs) available to employees which offer a safe space for like-minded colleagues, with shared interests to connect, socialise and check in with each other. These include Black ITGers Together, LGBTQ+ Together, Mens Health Together, Muslims Together, Neurodiversity Together, Working Parents and Carers Together and Women In Tech Together.

What next?
If you found yourself interested in knowing more, drop us your application and someone from our team will be in touch.

LI-NW1

Apply

Apply at Inspired Thinking Group (ITG)

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