Group Account Director - Media + Growth - San Jose (Hybrid)

WHY DEPT®?

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world. 

ABOUT YOU

The Group Director, Client Partnerships — Growth & Media is a senior client and commercial leader at DEPT®, responsible for building consequential relationships, growing our clients’ businesses, and bringing the right combination of media, creative, data and technology together around their biggest opportunities.

This is not a traditional account-management role.

We’re looking for someone who has helped high-growth businesses go from uncertainty to signal to scale — someone who understands what it means to build a growth system when the audience, message, channel mix and even category may still be taking shape.

The immediate opportunity includes partnering with one of the most ambitious emerging companies in consumer AI, where success will require moving rapidly from early market learning through scaled acquisition and launch. More broadly, you will help shape DEPT®’s growing portfolio of commerce and technology clients.

Ideal candidates will be:

• Proven leaders in startup, scale-up or high-growth consumer businesses, with meaningful experience in technology, AI, hardware, marketplaces, DTC or adjacent categories.
• Deeply fluent in modern growth media across paid social, search, programmatic/video, creators and emerging channels.
• Comfortable building a growth engine from the ground up — measurement, audiences, experimentation, creative learning, acquisition and scale.
• Commercial thinkers who understand CAC, LTV, conversion, attribution, incrementality, and how media ultimately connects to enterprise value.
• Equally comfortable discussing brand building and performance, and able to help clients understand how the two reinforce one another.
• Strong executive partners who can operate effectively with founders, CMOs, growth leaders and senior investors/stakeholders.
• Naturally curious about technology and consumer behavior, including the rapidly evolving impact of AI on discovery, media and marketing.
• Able to move quickly with incomplete information without becoming reckless or superficial.
• Collaborative leaders who know when to lead, when to challenge and when to bring specialist expertise into the room.

What you’ll do:

• Own senior client relationships and overall commercial success across a portfolio of high-growth accounts.
• Serve as a strategic business partner, helping clients decide where and how to invest rather than simply managing an agreed scope.
• Lead clients from early testing and market learning through scaled acquisition and full-funnel growth.
• Partner with media, creative, strategy, data and technology leaders to build integrated growth systems.
• Ensure measurement and learning agendas are built into the work from the beginning.
• Connect media performance to broader business outcomes, including customer acquisition, retention, revenue and lifetime value.
• Identify and shape organic growth opportunities before they become formal briefs.
• Lead commercial planning including scopes, staffing models, forecasting, profitability and account investment decisions.
• Create clarity across fast-moving multidisciplinary teams and ensure DEPT® feels like one integrated partner to the client.
• Contribute actively to new business, especially opportunities involving growth, emerging technology and consumer transformation.
• Mentor Client Partners and Directors across the organization and help evolve DEPT®’s standard for modern client leadership.

What you’ll bring:

• 10+ years of relevant agency, consultancy, startup or client-side experience.
• Significant experience leading large or strategically important client relationships.
• Demonstrated success growing early-stage or rapidly scaling businesses through media and marketing.
• Strong understanding of performance marketing, measurement, experimentation and full-funnel growth.
• Experience working across meaningful media budgets and scaling investment based on demonstrated signal.
• Proven commercial ownership including scoping, negotiation, forecasting and account growth.
• Exceptional communication, presentation and executive storytelling skills.
• A track record of building trust quickly in complex, high-pressure environments.
• Meaningful contribution to organic growth and/or new business.
• The ability to understand specialist disciplines deeply enough to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions and connect them around a business problem.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our  benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture. 

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

#LI-Remote

The anticipated salary range for this position is listed below. Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we’re flexible.

US Remote Range$175,000—$240,000 USD