Account Manager (Pet)

Woodruff - Full Time

Hybrid (Kansas City, MO, office; Columbia, MO, office; or remote)

Description

The account manager has a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses and is buttoned up on every detail. In this role, the account manager functions as a brand manager on multiple product brands and is the internal brand expert. This position will focus primarily on clients in the pet industry, so experience working with pet brands or related categories is a plus, though not required. The account manager steers the daily management of these brands, serving as the primary client contact on select accounts and supporting senior account leads on others. In this role, the account manager oversees all work flowing through the accounts to ensure quality, consistency and alignment with client objectives. They are the go-to team member on market knowledge and competitor intelligence and partner with senior team members on strategic and financial planning. While this role has no immediate supervisory responsibilities, it may involve overseeing junior account staff as the team grows. They share information early and often. They are an active listener who can predict client needs, bring unexpected ideas to them and exceed their expectations, all while managing teams, budgets and timelines.

This person could be located in the Kansas City, MO, office; Columbia, MO, office; or remote.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Account Management:

• Set clear expectations with clients and internal teams, addressing questions, conflicts or confusion promptly to keep projects on track.

• Capture and organize key details from internal discussions and facilitate communication to ensure all team members are aligned.

• Develop internal documents and communications that guide projects, including kickoff briefs, meeting notes and updates in our project management tools.

• Collaborate with project managers to establish timelines and monitor progress from start to finish, proactively guiding teams to solve problems and keep projects moving efficiently.

• Contribute to agency initiatives and special projects as requested, executing assigned action items, following through and reporting results to supervisors and relevant stakeholders.
  
  Client Relationships and Business Growth:
  

• Maintain a deep understanding of each brand’s business, industry, competitors and market trends, as well as each client’s organizational structure, key stakeholders, individual needs, motivators and working preferences. Share relevant insights with internal teams to inform strategy, execution and relationship management.

• Understand how each brand brings its products and services to market and identify how Woodruff’s capabilities can support their business goals.

• Contribute to the development of marketing, communications and advertising strategies that drive measurable results.

• Build trusting client relationships through a client-centric, solutions-oriented approach and by confidently delivering Woodruff’s extraordinary outcomes.

• Strengthen relationships and support the execution of growth and development plans that drive long-term partnership and success, in collaboration with senior team members.

• Present proposals, new ideas and strategic recommendations to clients, serving as the primary contact on select accounts and partnering with senior team members on others.

• Build client confidence and reinforce Woodruff’s role as a trusted advisor.

• Identify and pursue opportunities for client expansion by capturing client and market insights and collaborating with senior team members to translate them into new actionable initiatives.

• Consult with clients on business and marketing challenges, providing strategic recommendations and identifying opportunities to cross-sell or expand Woodruff services where appropriate.

• Participate in agency new business efforts, when appropriate, contributing to proposals and presentations that demonstrate Woodruff’s strategic insight, creativity and client-first approach.
  
  Team Leadership and Internal Relationships:

• Build rapport and trusted relationships across internal teams, collaborating to ensure projects are delivered on time and meet Woodruff and client standards.

• Onboard new team members and orient them to the client’s business, priorities and workflows.

• Understand when and how to involve internal team members in client interactions to maximize impact and efficiency.

• Provide guidance, support and leadership (when appropriate) to junior account team members as needed, helping them navigate project questions, solve problems and maintain workflow efficiency.

• Model and encourage adoption of account management best practices through example, positive reinforcement and timely course correction.

• Partner with internal teams to plan project scope, workflows and resourcing, ensuring all aspects (value, timelines and pricing) are accounted for.

• Keep agency staff informed of client news and project highlights, including goals, workflows, outcomes and results.
  
  Financial Management of Accounts:

• Participate in budgeting and planning discussions, collaborating with senior account leads when supporting accounts and taking the lead on others. Ensure budgets are aligned with client objectives and strategies.

• Prepare scopes of work and scope of value descriptions, providing detailed and accurate information to support pricing and financial planning.

• Communicate proactively with internal teams and clients regarding project scope, deliverables, timelines, and pricing to ensure expectations are clear and met.

• Support project changes and scope adjustments, working with internal teams and junior account staff as needed, and ensure clients are informed transparently and promptly.

• Review invoices and monitor billing schedules, providing oversight and support to junior team members on billing explanations and recaps when appropriate.

• Contribute to quarterly forecasting and financial analysis, building understanding of gross revenue, agency fees, out-of-pocket costs, AGI, and profitability metrics, whether in a supporting or lead role.
  
  Knowledge and Skills:

• Highly organized, able to manage complex information and multiple priorities effectively.

• Advanced verbal and written communication skills, able to clearly convey ideas to clients and internal teams.

• Exceptionally thorough, with strong attention to detail and a focus on delivering high-quality work.

• Proactive problem solver, anticipating challenges and taking initiative to find solutions.

• Collaborative, able to work seamlessly with diverse personalities, disciplines, and roles.

• Active listener who translates insights into actionable recommendations that drive results.

• Resourceful and adaptable, capable of executing with minimal direction, often under tight timelines.

• Market savvy, with the ability to develop strategies tailored to clients’ businesses, industries, and competitive landscapes.
  
  
  Leader Behaviors:
  At Woodruff, leadership is defined by how you show up every day, regardless of your title. These behaviors guide how we work with clients, collaborate with colleagues and drive the business forward. They reflect our commitment to living the company’s vision, fulfilling our brand promise and embodying our values. Every team member has the opportunity to lead through their actions, decisions and collaboration. The following behaviors capture what it means to lead at Woodruff:

• Open-minded and active listener

• Continually grows people and business

• Truthful and transparent

• Decisive and accountableForward-thinking

• Proactive and communicates in a positive manner
  
  Education/Experience/Certification(s):

• B.A. or B.S. degree; a degree in a discipline related to advertising, marketing, journalism or communications or comparable experience

• 5+ years of agency experience

• Pet industry experience preferred but not required.

• Background in mid-level marketing positions and/or demonstrated superior performance as an account executive.

Woodruff's Perks That Support Growth and Flexibility:

We offer a range of benefits designed to support your work-life balance and empower you to stay creative, curious and courageous:

• Flexible work setup – Choose remote work, or join us in our Kansas City or Columbia, MO offices

• "Freedom Fridays" – No meetings on Friday mornings / Friday afternoons to use as you see fit

• Diverse, meaningful work – Support a client through a variety of projects and initiatives 

• Collaborative, growth-focused culture – Work with a supportive team that helps you build new skills

• And more – From wellness support to peer recognition, we value and invest in our people