SGS & Co
Account Manager (Design)
SGS & Co, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Who are we?
Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum – from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.
A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world’s biggest brands connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today’s consumer landscape.
About the team
This Marks Packaging Design team is a talented agency-within-an-agency. Constructed to service an exclusive retail client engagement – this group lives and breathes packaging craft across a versatile collection of brands and categories – from food & beverages to household essentials. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, you’ll work alongside client service, creatives, copywriters, CGI artists, photographers, and production artists alike, to bring new packaging designs, extensions, adaptations, and updates to life.
This role is designated hybrid – working 3 days a week from our Chicago studio (located in the bustling Fulton Market neighborhood), as well as from home.
The role:
The Account Manager partners with the full dedicated full team – from creative, to project managers, production artist to CGI artists - to provide brand perspective and creative recommendations to clients. The Account Manager is responsible for the day-to-day on projects, while also building and maintaining meaningful client relationships to ensure continued success with our client.
Core Expectations:
As an ambassador for MARKS externally and internally, you are expected to:
Always conduct yourself with professionalismRepresent and project the values of MARKSBe able to articulate what MARKS does and our competitive points of differenceSeek opportunities to position the organization for competitive advantageAs a key team player for MARKS, you are expected to:
Fully own your responsibilities and deliverablesHave a foundational understanding of MARKS services, products, processes, and protocol and proactively continue to learnMake a meaningful contribution to your team’s assignments and initiativesVoluntarily pitch in to support the efforts of your management and peersRegularly communicate with your team(s) and managementStrive to achieve and exceed the MARKS standards of excellenceMaximize your productivity and support the productivity of othersAccept responsibility for your actionsInstill trust and confidence in your peers, and managementYour Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Client Consultation
With direction, ability to create and present category analyses and market audits that provide a clear perspective to support creative directionProvides client with distinct point of view on their portfolio of brands, their role in the broader landscape, and opportunities for expansion.Relationship Building/Maintaining
Seeks out opportunities to provide additional information on brand that is outside of project scope. Obsessively client focused, always looking for ways to surprise and delight clients.Provides “added value” through the strength of the relationship and personal association.Develops relationships with clients (associate and brand manager level) to ensure continued success for the agency and to support the procurement of repeat business.Project Management
Serves as the direct contact liaison between the client and creative, strategic and production teams.Receives and provides all client direction, questions, and relevant information to teams.Partners with senior Client Services team members to drive and influences the project process from initial briefing through implementation.Provides input and coordination of creative brief development.Coordinates internal review meetings and client meetings and conference calls as appropriate.Partners with senior Client Services team members to determine “readiness” of work for client presentations with the senior creative and strategy teams.Ensures smooth transition of the creative/strategic process to the production process.Organizes content, flow, and materials with creative team to create a compelling, thought-provoking presentation and representation of MARKS.Aids in gathering information needed to ensure a successful project (dielines, print specs, etc.)Understands and helps Project Managers with tasks in our project management system – opening jobs, entering estimates, creating task links for creative assignmentOpens folders and files project information on our server for ease of access for the full teamFinancial
Ensures projects align to agreed upon overarching SOW; works with Account Director to determine if projects are out of scope.Reviews financial performance against approved fee and expense budget.Manages project deliverables and requests addendums for out-of-scope work.Submits invoice requests, review/approves invoices, and tracks receivables.Competencies we like:
Strong project management and brand consultation skillsSelf starter that demonstrates initiative and proactivityCreative and analytical thinker who is detail orientedAbility to apply discretion and judgment to actions internally and externallyAbility to develop client-ready thinking and presentationsStrong communication skillsExcellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage priorities and timelines
A few Qualifications that will help:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college3 years of related experience (experience managing a retail client a plus)Experience in packaging – from creative through to productionStrong background in client relationship building and team leadership (agency experience a plus)Ability to present effectively to clients and internal teamsAbility to work across multiple brands and projects simultaneously.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum – from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.
A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world’s biggest brands connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today’s consumer landscape.
About the team
This Marks Packaging Design team is a talented agency-within-an-agency. Constructed to service an exclusive retail client engagement – this group lives and breathes packaging craft across a versatile collection of brands and categories – from food & beverages to household essentials. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, you’ll work alongside client service, creatives, copywriters, CGI artists, photographers, and production artists alike, to bring new packaging designs, extensions, adaptations, and updates to life.
This role is designated hybrid – working 3 days a week from our Chicago studio (located in the bustling Fulton Market neighborhood), as well as from home.
The role:
The Account Manager partners with the full dedicated full team – from creative, to project managers, production artist to CGI artists - to provide brand perspective and creative recommendations to clients. The Account Manager is responsible for the day-to-day on projects, while also building and maintaining meaningful client relationships to ensure continued success with our client.
Core Expectations:
As an ambassador for MARKS externally and internally, you are expected to:
Always conduct yourself with professionalismRepresent and project the values of MARKSBe able to articulate what MARKS does and our competitive points of differenceSeek opportunities to position the organization for competitive advantageAs a key team player for MARKS, you are expected to:
Fully own your responsibilities and deliverablesHave a foundational understanding of MARKS services, products, processes, and protocol and proactively continue to learnMake a meaningful contribution to your team’s assignments and initiativesVoluntarily pitch in to support the efforts of your management and peersRegularly communicate with your team(s) and managementStrive to achieve and exceed the MARKS standards of excellenceMaximize your productivity and support the productivity of othersAccept responsibility for your actionsInstill trust and confidence in your peers, and managementYour Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Client Consultation
With direction, ability to create and present category analyses and market audits that provide a clear perspective to support creative directionProvides client with distinct point of view on their portfolio of brands, their role in the broader landscape, and opportunities for expansion.Relationship Building/Maintaining
Seeks out opportunities to provide additional information on brand that is outside of project scope. Obsessively client focused, always looking for ways to surprise and delight clients.Provides “added value” through the strength of the relationship and personal association.Develops relationships with clients (associate and brand manager level) to ensure continued success for the agency and to support the procurement of repeat business.Project Management
Serves as the direct contact liaison between the client and creative, strategic and production teams.Receives and provides all client direction, questions, and relevant information to teams.Partners with senior Client Services team members to drive and influences the project process from initial briefing through implementation.Provides input and coordination of creative brief development.Coordinates internal review meetings and client meetings and conference calls as appropriate.Partners with senior Client Services team members to determine “readiness” of work for client presentations with the senior creative and strategy teams.Ensures smooth transition of the creative/strategic process to the production process.Organizes content, flow, and materials with creative team to create a compelling, thought-provoking presentation and representation of MARKS.Aids in gathering information needed to ensure a successful project (dielines, print specs, etc.)Understands and helps Project Managers with tasks in our project management system – opening jobs, entering estimates, creating task links for creative assignmentOpens folders and files project information on our server for ease of access for the full teamFinancial
Ensures projects align to agreed upon overarching SOW; works with Account Director to determine if projects are out of scope.Reviews financial performance against approved fee and expense budget.Manages project deliverables and requests addendums for out-of-scope work.Submits invoice requests, review/approves invoices, and tracks receivables.Competencies we like:
Strong project management and brand consultation skillsSelf starter that demonstrates initiative and proactivityCreative and analytical thinker who is detail orientedAbility to apply discretion and judgment to actions internally and externallyAbility to develop client-ready thinking and presentationsStrong communication skillsExcellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage priorities and timelines
A few Qualifications that will help:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college3 years of related experience (experience managing a retail client a plus)Experience in packaging – from creative through to productionStrong background in client relationship building and team leadership (agency experience a plus)Ability to present effectively to clients and internal teamsAbility to work across multiple brands and projects simultaneously.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)