Job Information
Publicis Groupe Account Director in Toronto, Ontario
Company description
A three-time SABRE Canadian Agency of the Year winner North has achieved unprecedented success since launching in 2011. North disrupts the industry with its approach to PR, influencer and social and digital, establishing itself as a Canadian agency leader.
Where other agencies begin to stagnate, North has found the sweet spot between boutique and large agency: this ‘fourteen-year-old start-up’ is running on fresh momentum. What’s the secret? While new clients are tapping the team for their unique blend of expertise, many of North’s "OG" clients are expanding their work with the agency too.
We're an agency all about taking risks, thinking big and a true belief that good ideas can come from anywhere.
Overview
As an Account Director, PR, you will be working as part of a collaborative account team that partners with internal and external stakeholders, as well as other client agency partners, to drive smart, disruptive and unique earned PR ideas. With a focus on executing flawlessly and developing client relationships, an essential ingredient of your success is to critically think, under tight timelines to mitigate brand risk, while also standing out. From developing corporate reputation plans, to identifying key target and brand narratives, you are passionate about storytelling and committed to shaping some of Canada’s most admired brands.
We’re looking for a team player with an entrepreneurial spirit who can pair strong creative, strategic thinking and organizational abilities. As a senior lead you can work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and consistently contribute to North’s inclusive culture and high-performing team as a manager, coach and mentor.
You’re skilled at client service, owning key relationships and building trust quickly with key senior client stakeholders that helps you always unlock new organic opportunities and positions North as our client’s favourite agency. You are also a budgeting guru, who understands the importance of accurate and transparent management of budgets and time to drive efficiency for the dollars spent.
Please note this is a 12-month contract.
Responsibilities
Big picture strategist but able to keep a pulse on the details to ensure executional excellence from the team and self
Mentor, coach and guide agency team members taking on direct reports after onboarding successfully
Influential communicator, demonstrating excellent written and verbal presentation mastery
Contribute to agency new business, leading and supporting with influencer strategies and related RFP processes
Drive excellence in senior client CRM, communications and account management and growth
Inspire, excite, challenge and motivate through coaching, career development and mentoring of agency team members, both direct reports and beyond. Ability to manage up and down with ease.
Rigorous in forecasting, managing budgets and team resources for a specific set of client accounts
Proficiency in data and insight gathering to enhance and sell in bold ideas
An understanding of how AI is reshaping modern day public relations
Ability to foster strong relationships with Integrated Agency Team partners, but not afraid to disagree or change course if the collective strategies aren’t aligned with meeting client outcomes
Play a key role in planning, strategy and guiding teams to execute exceptional PR programming.
Qualifications
We’re looking for an Account Director who brings strong leadership, sharp thinking, and a passion for building smart, integrated communications programs. The ideal candidate will have:
8–10 years of agency PR experience , with a strong focus on CPG and/or Beauty brands.
Experience working on integrated agency teams , confidently championing earned media while collaborating closely with creative, digital, media, and other partners to deliver impactful, connected programs.
Proven client and account leadership , managing fast-paced accounts, guiding PR strategy across channels, overseeing budgets and timelines, and building trusted client relationships.
Excellent writing and editing skills , with hands-on experience developing high-quality media materials including press releases, advisories, editorial content, and briefing documents.
Strong media relationships , particularly across consumer, lifestyle, retail, and beauty media, paired with thoughtful, strategic outreach.
Influencer strategy experience , with a clear understanding of how influencer programs support broader communications goals and how to manage campaigns using modern tools and platforms.
Strategic and critical thinking skills , consistently bringing insight, perspective, and practical ideas that drive strong results for clients.
Curiosity and industry awareness , with a solid understanding of howAI,social, digital, and community engagement fit into a broader communications ecosystem, and a pulse on emerging trends.
A collaborative leadership style , with experience coaching teams, contributing to a positive agency culture, and building high-performing, inclusive teams.
Strong business acumen , including identifying new opportunities,expertise in forecasting, and overseeing budget profitability across multiple brands. Skilled negotiator when working with vendors.
Calm, confident, and adaptable , able to lead through change, manage competing priorities, and perform well under pressure.
Additional information
Why North Strategic? Something we’re most proud of at North is our level of employee engagement. Our employees love coming to work but also see relationships that extend beyond the work week. As a team we celebrate our company and employee milestones and encourage quality time together. We take pride in our entrepreneurial, creative and empowering culture, a result of our strong commitment to employee engagement.
What we're offering:
Meaningful work where you can have a direct impact working on some of the biggest brands out there!
A culture of entrepreneurship, creativity, growth and collaboration.
Work with top talent at an award-winning agency on a serious growth trajectory.
A focused commitment to career development and personal success – let us help you.
Access to thousands of on-demand e-learning opportunities, and a suite of leading AI tools and resources.
Highly competitive compensation and benefits package including substantial time off policies and mental wellness resources (like really. It’s a big deal).
Oh, and did we mention the perks?! Hybrid work environment, parental leave top-up program, regular social events, cell phone & internet allowance, professional development or wellness allowance, Business Resource Groups, Private health and Dental insurance, Life and Disability insurance… Just to name a few… #workperks.
Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year.
All staff meetings so you’re always in the know.
This is a hybrid role tied to our Toronto office.
Salary
Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is CAD$100K-$115K per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data.
AI Use
We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analyzing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognized by people.
North Strategic is committed workplace diversity and will provide accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.