cornerpost careers

CornerPost Marketing, a creative agricultural-based marketing and communications agency based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, is looking for a talented and committed Director of Client Services to join their growing team. This role is critical to our business and agency, managing teams and client relationships and contributing to the strategic direction and longer-term vision of the agency.

As the Director of Client Services at CornerPost, you will support and develop the strategic direction of multiple clients and brands, independently manage and or support the client services team through project implementation, processes, and new services development. You will be responsible for independently leading all aspects of account teams from client-agency relationships to flawless execution of projects, to profitability. Your role will also be responsible for revenue growth for existing clients and new business development.

We are looking for an exceptionally creative and dedicated leader in this role as Director of Client Services with strong professional networks. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of creating notable marketing strategies that not only move the needle but foster long-term trusted client partnerships. The ideal candidate will be a strong/high-level strategic thinker as well as a natural leader and team player - unafraid of rolling up their own sleeves and collaborating for success.

We creatively solve challenges.
We never stop learning.
We are passionate about agriculture.

Duties & Responsibilities (will include, but are not limited to):

• Lead operations client services team (account managers/coordinators) to build trusted client partnerships and ensure satisfaction is not only met but exceeded on a daily basis.
• Steer the team to ensure all projects are always delivered on time, on budget and at the highest quality with an indispensable brand strategy.
• Drive value through highly strategic and trusted client relationships - acting as the internal team’s catalyst for award-winning creative, innovative solutions, and client services.
• Work closely with leadership team, acting as a new business pitch lead, defining client strategy and vision for new and existing projects.
• Partner with leadership to manage and help develop internal processes for highly effective internal brainstorms and “think-tanks” for priority clients and projects that challenge the status quo and incite big, bold thinking.
• Drive and support clear communication between internal account management & creative teams to ensure overall efficiency.
• Continually evaluate and drive the advancement of agency services, both in efficiency, pricing and to meet industry needs.
• Work with the team to manage and improve onboarding plan for clients.
• Thrive on change and industry disruption - you see this as a challenge and opportunity for growth!

Strategic Business Stewardship:

• Makes client/business decisions in-line with broader CornerPost business goals with a focus on agency growth
• Organically grows current business, by developing and executing account growth plans
• Provides guidance on and executes client brand strategy
• Cultivates and maintains a unique wide network of valuable relationships (clients, thought leaders, industry reps) that can significantly help strengthen the agency's network
• Proven ability to drive the progress of the agency successfully and significantly contributes to overall company marketing and promotion
• Leads innovation by evolving offerings and identifying new opportunities based on industry landscape
• Conducts themselves as an ambassador of CornerPost value and culture

Client Relations:

• Builds solid relationships with clients to ensure transparent feedback and successful partnerships
• Ensures and owns client satisfaction and actively works on solutions and improvements to better business
• Ensures appropriate resource allocation for team
• Oversees all aspects of team execution to ensure quality and efficiencies
• Seen as strategic partner by clients

People Management:

• Owns and ensures peer collaboration across client services team, setting positive cultural tones, and proactively and effectively works with leadership to maintain positive atmosphere
• Models' exemplary leadership communications; is inclusive and open
• Successfully develops talent into positions of increasing responsibility at the individual and team levels
• Works with direct reports on client services team to further career development plans
• Proactively partners across departments to resolve talent-related issues and challenges
• Acts as a role model for agency talent interactions; in partnership with HR identifies, recruits, mentors, shapes, and retains talent

Financial Management:

• Proactively develops and owns forecast, revenue, overages, profitability, and growth of client business/accounts
• Contributes to agency-wide forecast management, troubleshooting, and upside opportunity development
• Actively recommends plans or processes to positively impact bottom- and top-line revenue management for agency

Client Management:

• Supports the accounts team in daily management of multiple clients’ marketing and communication programs and projects
• o May include onsite visits and travel to clients or industry events
• Coordinates alongside account team the creative strategy, implementation, planning of client projects and brand strategies
• o Includes leading internal teams and outside services or contractors
• o Facilitate and schedule meetings
• o Administrative duties such as reports, project documentation, client billing, emails and phone calls
• o Remain detail-oriented and highly organized with the ability to oversee internal teams, delegate tasks, manage print production, and assist with general account administration including budgeting and billing
• Execute marketing communication skills and tasks to complete projects which may include, but not limited to: writing, designing, digital marketing, social media, public relations, event planning and website management
• Manages project fulfillment via project management software

Skills & Expertise:

• 5+ years of experience in a strategic leadership position and/or account management position who has works with a team of direct and indirect reports.
• Exceptional operational and relationship skills with a thirst for problem-solving, efficiency and collaboration.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to author and deliver high-quality presentations
• Social competency with demonstrated ability to function as an industry representative and thought-leader
• Solid understanding and appreciation for the agriculture industry is a must for this position
• Ability to facilitate client communication, showcase strong presentation skills and foster long-term relationships that help grow CornerPost and their services
• Proven project management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines
• A self-starter, who is comfortable managing multiple priorities and working with flexibility, growth, and change
• Creative and collaborative problem solver with a demonstrated open-minded approach to identifying solutions
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with cross-functional teams to ensure efficiency and execute on ideas
• Excellent written, verbal, visual/presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to prioritize against core objectives to meet deadlines
• Ability to work well under pressure and in a fast-moving environment with multiple projects
• Self-motivated with the ability to recognize where to take initiative and take next steps to solve problems in a timely manner
• Remain creative and energizing while also detail-oriented and organized
• Ability to manage teams and inspire motivation and continual improvement
• Proficiency in Google Workspaces (Google Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc) & Adobe Creative Cloud

Travel: Some travel will be necessary for projects, client meetings and events. Mileage will be reimbursed at the regulated rate. Other travel costs are normally covered by the employer.

Compensation & Benefits:
+ competitive salary
+ group health insurance options- percentage covered by employer
+ dental and vision insurance coverage
+ 401(k) program with employer contribution
+ cell phone stipend
+ flexible PTO/paid holidays
+ Work hard + Play hard and purpose-driven team culture

Submit Resume to:
Afton Holt, President