Account Supervisor

At GSD&M, we’re on a mission to build First & Only brands, meaning the first to do it and the only ones who can. We’re able to do this because we set a high bar for ourselves and our work. We care about what we put out in the world. We’re humans who like other humans. Our ideas make a difference. Shift culture. Create a smile. Inspire change. Initiate belly laughs. Deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves. We grow. We learn. We get better. We do it all over again. Because that’s what it takes to build and be First & Only.

• DEPARTMENT : Account Leadership
• REPORTS TO : Account Director or Group Account Director
• TRAVEL : 30-40%
• FLSA STATUS : Exempt
• SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes
• LOCATION : Austin

POSITION FUNCTION

As an Account Supervisor, you are the day-to-day Idea Team leader and key agency representative. You have an intimate understanding of the internal and external components that lead to the manifestation of courageous work and the daily development of the team. You play an integral role in managing all aspects of your account, both up and down. It is your responsibility to understand the big picture of a client’s brand and connect it to individual initiatives. You keep your team motivated to achieve overall goals and deliver on specific initiatives. You are the conductor of an orchestra made up of collaborators from both the client and agency sides, and it is your job to make sure they are all working harmoniously.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

BE A FEARLESS LEADER.

You are the backbone of the team overseeing the creative process, from briefing to presentation and production to implementation. You have a strong grasp of when to tackle it yourself, when to delegate and when to manage. You lead the majority of client calls and meetings, and the day-to-day growth of the account is in your hands. Be courageous and be vocal. Imagine yourself in the Account Director role. How would you lead this client’s brand into the future? Always challenge yourself to push the Idea Team in directions that will win for the agency based upon your unique relationships on the client side. Become adept at the art of managing up (to your supervisor), down (to your team/direct reports) and sideways (to your peers/client team).

CHAMPION INTELLIGENT AND INSPIRING STRATEGY.

Be proactive in helping to develop insightful briefs that translate into day-to-day account activity. Be passionately devoted to understanding the problem we are really trying to solve, and once established, be able to effectively evaluate creative against that inspiring strategy.

FUEL CREATIVITY.

Creative is not a department. Run the wall: Engage in the work and partner with creative directors. Inspire ideas and build on others. Stoke the fires with the client. Talk to them about great ideas outside of their business and set the stage for presentations. Manage the art of delivering client feedback to creatives. It’s a critical part of the idea development. Always build momentum. Once the work is sold, the process is just beginning. You relentlessly look for ways to cultivate a great idea from production through market implementation. Everything you do is in service of the work.

REPRESENT.

You are the face of the agency on a daily basis. Build proficiency in writing concise, articulate, client-facing communications and POVs. The majority of all client interactions run though you. Make us look good.

BE A TRUSTED CLIENT PARTNER.

Our primary goal is to build our client’s business. Understand how your client makes and loses money. Know what keeps them up at night. You consistently look for ways to help them be heroes in their organization. Most importantly, always do what you say you’re going to do. = Ensure the agency delivers.

OWN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

The agency’s money is your money. You are responsible for the daily financial components of the business and proper management of internal resources. You have an intimate comprehension of the P&L, scope of work, and staffing plan and how each contributes to the health of the account.

REMAIN CURIOUS.

Cultivate an insatiable appetite for understanding. Seek knowledge of the changing marketplace and emerging technology/media and how they impact opportunities for our clients. Be a student of our business and your client’s business.

MAXIMIZE TALENT.

Train, guide and empower the team. Provide radical, generous and ongoing candor. Be a relentless motivator and a champion for the agency. Work to diversify our teams to ensure we have diverse perspectives and voices within GSD&M. You are responsible for shaping the future leaders of our agency. Don’t forget to build your own skill set and seek out opportunities to do so.

BE UNFLAPPABLE.

The team feeds off of your mojo. Be the level-headed voice of reason, especially during the difficult discussions. Optimism is contagious.

OWN THE MOMENTUM.

Continuously find ways to keep the Idea Team involved, informed and inspired. Setting agendas, meeting objectives and assigning responsibility for deliverables are all critical components that foster group collaboration and help cultivate a winning environment. Be the eyes and ears on the ground. Develop relationships with influential people on the client side and the agency side (not just at GSD&M but also the other agencies we must collaborate with). Be the leader in getting the right SWAT team in place. You have a unique perspective in understanding what the client is really trying to achieve. Ask yourself each and every time, “Who are the best people—inside and outside of GSD&M—we need to bring together to solve this problem?” And this goes beyond people. You need to marshal the right resources in terms of all the syndicated research and case studies the agency has at its disposal. Identify areas of needed change within the agency and begin to effect that change.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of agency experience (preferred) or related communication-industry experience that provides an understanding of advertising, marketing, paid and social media, creative, production, research, direct marketing, finance, etc.
• BA required with a preferred concentration in advertising, communications or marketing
• Strong presentation and writing skills
• Strong listening and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinker
• Management and team-building skills
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented in a production intensive environment
• Proficient in MS Office Suite or Mac equivalent

At GSD&M, inclusion is our superpower. An inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are encouraged and empowered makes the work better, makes our agency better and ultimately makes the industry better. That’s why we’re proud to be recognized by the Advertising Federation’s Mosaic Awards year after year for our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion.

We consider ourselves lucky. Every day we wake up and get to build First & Only brands in an inclusive environment where everyone matters, all while enjoying generous benefits, plenty of time off, and opportunities for growth whether you’re just starting out or have been in the biz for a while.

GSD&M is an equal opportunities employer and will never favor or discriminate against anyone based on their age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, gender identity, expression, or realignment. If you require a medical or religious accommodation during the job application process, please reach out to [email protected] for support.

This role requires regular in-office presence with a minimum of three days per week, to engage and collaborate in in-person team interactions and meetings as required.