Account Executive, Client Relationship Lead

The Directions Group is redefining how insights power client decisions, shifting from one‑off research projects to a connected intelligence engine that actively shapes strategy. Within this model, our client service "pods" blend relationship leadership, synthesis, analytics, and flawless execution into a single, integrated team.

Every client-facing pod at The Directions Group is built around four distinct yet tightly connected roles, all operating with shared ownership for client success and intelligence quality.

• Client Relationship Lead (CRL): Owns the client business relationship from first conversation through final delivery, ensuring every engagement is designed around what the client truly needs - not just what was initially requested.
• Intelligence Lead (IL): Acts as the synthesis and storytelling engine, integrating findings across methods and projects to create an integrated intelligence story that makes the "so what / now what" unmistakably clear.
• Analytics Lead (AL): Serves as the chief data explorer, defining data needs, leading analytic planning and execution, and creating visualizations and findings that fuel the broader narrative.
• Logistics Lead (LL): Functions as the operational backbone, orchestrating timelines, partners, and workflows so work happens at the right time, in the right way, with the right quality.

Pods operate with flexibility, so while each person leads from their lane, team members may periodically flex into adjacent responsibilities to maintain a seamless client experience.

As a Client Relationship Lead, you will be the primary strategic partner for your accounts, owning and growing senior-level client relationships and designing intelligence solutions that address real business needs. You will connect client priorities to The Directions Group's full capabilities, shaping engagement agendas that deliver measurable impact over time.

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• 5+ years of experience on the client side or within a marketing, insights, or consulting agency, with a clear track record of owning and expanding complex client relationships.
• Willingness to work within the tabacco industry is a must have.
• Strong business acumen and a consultative presence – comfortable with senior stakeholders, shaping conversations, and translating insights into business outcomes.
• Proven strength in solution design, proposal development, pricing, and leading engagements from brief through delivery.
• Fluency with core research methods and AI-enabled tools, plus the judgment to apply them responsibly and effectively.
• A growth mindset, strong organization, and the ability to juggle multiple accounts while staying calm, constructive, and focused on impact.

Directions is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO), including disability/vets.

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