Overview

Reporting to the country MD, the Associate Director (AD) runs a number of clients and a team at Cognito. The AD is essentially responsible for the profitable performance of their team and client accounts in line with standard company metrics. Further, the AD is responsible for critically supporting to build, maintain and closing a pipeline of new business opportunities with existing clients and prospects, for the retention and development of key staff members and for upholding and improving company systems and processes. The AD is also responsible for helping Cognito improve its business through the development of better services, programs and other offerings and their delivery to clients.

• Act as senior counsel to clients, and the day-to-day strategic lead supporting the development of their communications programmes as a whole
• Work with senior account leads to take responsibility for client servicing and performance, profitability, resourcing, forecasting, billing and account planning
• Oversee account teams, providing leadership and guidance to colleagues whilst also identifying development and training opportunities for the team
• Shape and steer the strategy for clients’ ongoing engagement with internal and external audiences in line with their marketing strategy
• Work with the senior team to grow existing and win new business, leading on pitches, networking for leads and developing opportunities to extend our relationships with clients where appropriate
• Hone and develop managerial and commercial acumen to drive the long-term retention and success of accounts

General Responsibilities

Planning, Budgeting & Financial

· Manage the delivery of client work profitably i.e. manage over and underservicing working with Directors and the finance team

· Maintain a healthy pipeline of new business to bring in to the agency

· Manage your team in line with their HR objectives and to ensure their workload is balanced and rewarding

· Plan campaigns and strategic programs for clients and oversee execution, ensuring that the right skills are aligned to the work

· Ensure prompt and accurate billing

Delivery

· To oversee all delivery within the business ensuring that day-to-day contacts as well as senior management of the client organization are happy with the services and results they are paying for

· To review monthly time allocation, team capacity and over/under-servicing for each client

· To ensure that delivery on accounts is as profitable as possible and accurate time records are kept in the company system

· To ensure marketing projects are managed on time and budget with appropriate client approvals in place

· To help ensure that Cognito continues to evolve its services to keep in line with, and ahead of, industry best practice

· To ensure excellent quality of work and presentation of work across all mediums

Sales and Marketing

· To focus on the sale of PR, marketing and social services to clients

· To work with the Director to maintain a healthy pipeline of new business that leads to closed business

· To ensure lead generation and awareness programs are well planned and executed throughout the year that are in line with corporate brand and messaging standards

· To ensure the company builds a thorough and accurate database of prospective customers in the region across the financial and tech sector

· Over time, to ensure Cognito’s brand and message is well known, understood and respected in the region within target markets

Cognito Process, Services and Practices

· To work closely with Director/MD as needed to help review, improve and develop company practices, processes and working routines and roll these out across the organization

Management

· To professionally recruit, retain and manage staff

• Ensure clear job descriptions, review procedures and development plans for team members
• Implement professional management practices for the team and everyone

· Further to fulfil a motivational role for staff in addition to their task-based work.

Standard tasks and responsibilities requested of ALL Cognito employees

Improved service delivery

· To recommend and implement procedures, policies and standards to improve and enhance the quality and efficiency of the service Cognito delivers to its clients thereby establishing structured and scalable service delivery

Committed and motivated staff

· To help colleagues in delivering excellent service to clients

· To help develop a working environment that attracts, retains, challenges and enthuses employees

· Proactively look for opportunities to transfer your skills and knowledge to other team members.

· Be alert to workload pressures around you and proactively offer to help others when they need it

Excellent client relationships

• Deliver the services commissioned by clients
• Understand clients’ business and needs and adapt and deliver our service to meet them whilst managing profitability for us
• Contribute positively to keeping existing business and winning repeat business and extensions

New/expanded client base

• Where appropriate, help secure new clients and ensure service delivery to them meets what we have promised
• Make sure that existing clients you work with are aware of the full range of our capabilities and services

Strong reputation and brand

• Over time, to improve the service method, quality and level of professionalism across all of the services Cognito provides and where appropriate help devise, implement and deliver new services
• To present the professional face of Cognito to the broader market

Profitability

· Actively manage down costs without compromising our delivery standards