Account Manager

The Role:

To proactively manage key internal/external relationships to deliver revenue for all aspects of Insight to Communication’s (i2c) communications offering with relevant suppliers of Sainsbury’s, in line with commercial communications targets

Responsibilities:

• Develop a deep knowledge of the i2c business, communications capabilities and Sainsbury’s in order to confidently manage client relationships and deliver presentations with a view to achieve annual client targets
• Develop a deep knowledge of the Clients businesses in order to confidently share performance internally/externally to both leverage opportunities and mitigate risks
• Provide daily support to line manager and senior management, which include but, are not limited to In/Around Store media (e.g. Entrance Gates, Trolley Media, Bollards etc), targeted communications (e.g. Coupon at Till, Direct Mail, Email etc) and campaign evaluation of all i2c media channels
• To foster insight led communications, manage and develop strong, productive relationships:
  • with agreed Client base
  • across the i2c team, particularly with commercial insights team and the delivery team; customer insights, planning, media operations & analytics
  • across the various cross functions throughout Aimia, e.g., Nectar team, Campaign Services, Digital team, Intelligent Research and Print and Production
  • with key personnel at Sainsbury’s, TMW, Valassis and other relevant agencies
• Establish a regular communication platform with the insights commercial team to understand and leverage any communication or insights opportunities Manage generation of activity pipeline through to conversion, looking at proposal conversion rate for key clients to track progress and identify potential issues
• Obtain and apply detailed understanding of client sales and marketing objectives
• Support annual planning process for key clients both internally and with clients
• Support ways of working and relationship from a tactical to strategic integrated planning approach across key clients
• Support the senior team with establishing/driving the senior contact strategy across the communications platform
• Manage all activity for your client base and deliver against agreed budget and timelines, working with (and managing where appropriate) key contacts
• Utilise appropriate processes and document templates to ensure that all parties are briefed correctly to facilitate efficient project management
• Work alongside Business Unit Planners, Data Planners and Analysts to deliver strategic, tactical and integrated campaigns with quantitative and qualitative analysis. Ensuring delivery against agreed timings
• Manage financial aspects from forecasting through to invoicing to ensure maximum profitability against annual targets, pipeline management, month end process, invoicing, accruals and aged debt
• Close the loop: Ensure timely delivery of results to clients, reporting against the individual requirements of the brief with a recommendation for future investment based on learnings from the campaign evaluation
• Proactively provide managers with regular (min. weekly) updates on the status of all projects and communicate problems as appropriate with solutions
• Manage/Support the management of (Graduate) Account Executive against specific objectives, ensuring quality and timely delivery of work; offering on-going day to day support and identifying training needs, ensure direct report has a development plan and coaching needs are provided as required
• Proactively provide managers with input to senior client meetings as required and lead client campaign reviews involving other functions as appropriate
• Remain up to date on industry trends and competitive threats, leveraging opportunities where appropriate

Requirements:

• University degree –(marketing major desired); or equivalent business experience
• Relevant previous client-related marketing experience, ideally in retail or FMCG
• Experience in direct, in-store and digital marketing practices as well as media evaluation (desired)
• Excellent project management/communication/presentation skills, well organised with attention to detail
• Ability to manage suppliers at peer level; proven negotiation skills, articulate and confident
• Self-motivated with an understanding of analytics and the creative development process
• Experience of working to monthly targets across multiple channels and financial management
• High energy, proactive and a team player with a ‘can do’ attitude