Account Director

*This role is a HYBRID role, requiring onsite presence M/W/TH in our Milwaukee or Chicago office.

Morning Walk is a Performance Branding Company that seeks to create healthy brand ecosystems through a balance of purpose, experience, and performance to drive growth. We’ve built a team of insatiably curious thinkers and makers, relentlessly dedicated to craft, unapologetically optimistic, and always moving forward. Our core disciplines include strategic consulting, creative design, content development, experience design, performance marketing, Integrated Comms, CRM and Analytics. Our "Walkers" or employees are the best in the business.

We are fortunate to have a portfolio of passionate, purpose-led clients, and are privileged to work on their exciting, dynamic brands across myriad industries and sectors – from Kalahari Resorts & Conventions to innovative doors from Masonite, from car batteries (Clarios/OPTIMA) to snowplows (Toro/BOSS). We are powered by data and ideas and fueled by the energy of our people and clients. Our relentless and persistent optimism means we put our best foot forward, build on our solid foundation, and start each day new with the goal of creating an environment of growth and discovery – both personally and professionally. Motion is contagious, and we’re going places. Won’t you join us?

What We’re Seeking

Morning Walk is seeking an strategic and forward thinking Account Director responsible for championing client relationships and ensuring the delivery of innovative marketing solutions that achieve objectives and drive brand growth. This role sets the vision for client success by translating business goals into integrated strategies that harness creativity, technology, and performance.

At Morning Walk, the Account Director - Account Services, is more than a strong strategic organizer and day-today communicator, they are the growth architect, driving momentum and performance branding for both the client’s business and our partnership.

Key responsibilities include providing strategic advisory, guiding creative and operational delivery, ensuring financial stewardship through effective budget management and profitability, analyzing critical data and growth metrics, and fostering collaboration across disciplines to unlock opportunities and elevate results. *This role is a HYBRID role, requiring onsite presence M/W/TH in our Milwaukee or Chicago office.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

Client Partnership & Strategy: Serve as a trusted strategic partner to clients and senior executives, advising them on business challenges and architecting solutions that leverage Morning Walk’s full capabilities in performance branding, data, design, and media.

Category & Client Expertise: Act as the agency expert in your clients’ businesses and the broader categories they compete in:

• Routinely incorporate industry, consumer, and competitive knowledge into your planning and recommendations.
• Proactively analyze performance, anticipate challenges, and identify opportunities, ensuring Morning Walk is always advancing the client’s agenda.
• Manage not only the day-to-day movement of their operational goals, but plan and project long term operational success.
• Lead consultative conversations that go beyond campaign execution, providing ongoing strategic counsel and forward-looking recommendations.

Creative & Deliverable Oversight: Lead the development of creative work with Morning Walk teams, ensuring high quality, strategic alignment, and innovative thinking that meets client objectives and leverages emerging platforms.

Account Growth & Profitability: Drive organic growth within existing accounts, contribute to new business development, manage account profitability, and oversee contract negotiations, scopes of work, and financial administration.

Resource Leadership: Mobilize internal and external resources, manage, and help lead cross-functional teams, and foster a collaborative environment that supports creative experimentation/ideas and client success.

Team Leadership: Foster a supportive and high-performance team culture. Articulate a clear vision for accounts, inspire teams, and set the tone and pace for innovative ways of working that balance client needs with agency growth ambitions. Manage and mentor internal account service executives, fostering their growth, knowledge, and skillset.

Job Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Leadership & Client Management: Extensive experience in client-facing roles, with a proven ability to lead teams, manage and mentor internal employees, manage complex relationships, and inspire client and internal confidence.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand both macro and micro business context, translate insights into actionable plans, and anticipate challenges and opportunities several steps ahead.
• Financial Acumen: Experience managing account financials, budgets, and profitability, including developing staff growth plans, briefs/SOWs/fee proposals, and managing all contractual aspects.
• Creativity & Innovation: A passion for culture, creativity, and technology, with experience in developing innovative solutions and exploring non-traditional platforms (AI, CRMs, and other platforms).
• Data Literacy: Expertise Proficiency in reading and applying performance data to optimize outcomes. Confident in using data to support recommendations and measure success.
• Business Acumen: Expertise in understanding client industries, competitive landscapes, and business drivers, leveraging digital marketing and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities, optimize performance, and create long-term value for both clients and the agency.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in client-facing or strategic account management roles, preferably in creative, marketing, or tech-driven environments.
• Proven experience leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering results for complex client accounts.

Physical Requirements:

This role involves spending time at a desk and working on a computer for extended periods, using standard office equipment, reviewing documents, and communicating regularly with others by email and phone. Team members may also occasionally need to move around the office (if on-site) or their home workspace to access materials and should be able to travel as needed for client meetings, team collaboration, or industry events.

Equal Opportunity & Accommodations:

Morning Walk is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations are available to help individuals with disabilities perform the essential functions of the job.

Disclaimer: This job description provides an overview of the role but is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may evolve over time. Employment with Morning Walk is at-will.