Principal, Strategy & Accounts
This position is not a part of the bargaining unit.
Reports to : Vice President, Client Strategy
Location : Preference for New York City / Washington, DC / Philadelphia, PA
- Occasional in-person work and travel required
The Client Service Department is seeking an experienced Principal, Strategy & Accounts to oversee a portfolio of 4 to 6 full-service client accounts. Principals drive fundraising and paid media strategy, manage execution across internal departments, mentor client teams, and ensure outstanding client service and satisfaction.
In addition to leading client delivery, the Principal plays a key role in implementing and maintaining client service processes across the firm (including onboarding, reporting, and cross-vertical coordination) and is empowered to set and enforce expectations with clients and internal teams.
This is a senior client service role ideal for someone who has driven digital strategy and directed a team for a statewide program. Applicants must have successfully served as an Account Lead on a major cross-vertical client for at least 1 cycle at a comparable agency or as a Digital Director level role (or adjacent) on a statewide campaign. An understanding of agency processes, digital best practices, and cross-vertical projects (i.e. campaign launches, new client onboarding, end-of-cycle cash flow) is preferred.
Job Responsibilities
Client Leadership
Own day-to-day leadership of 4 to 6 full-service client accounts, ensuring quality of service and strategic alignment.Lead strategic conversations with clients, guiding program planning, deliverables, budget, and pacing.Serve as the final internal reviewer for major deliverables before client presentation.Set and maintains client management norms, including timelines, scopes, approval processes, and communications.Manages client projections and budget : Works across verticals to set projections (both raise and spend) goals and ensures that client team is maximizing ROI, pitching new budgets, and scaling when appropriate.Internal Team Leadership
Act as the primary internal leader for assigned client accounts, coordinating across email, ads, texting, branding, web, and other service departments.Delegate tasks, set priorities, and manage workflows across internal teams to ensure work is delivered accurately and on time.Set and enforce internal boundaries e.g., establishing daily deadlines for deliverable reviews, protecting lead time for client approvals, and communicating clear expectations around timing, quality, and collaboration.Escalate issues proactively if internal misalignment threatens client timelines, satisfaction, or program success, and serve as a feedback loop for Leadership Team.Process Implementation
Implement Client Service Department SOPs across assigned accounts, including onboarding, reporting, offboarding, and cross-vertical processes.Identify opportunities to improve client-facing processes based on experience and feedback from internal teams and clients.Contribute feedback to the development of department-wide SOPs and best practices.Mentorship + Professional Development
Contribute to the mentorship of Account Leads and staff across the firm, including supporting professional growth, sharing best practices in client services, and encouraging cross-team collaboration.Revenue Growth & Business Development
Support internal revenue growth by identifying upsell opportunities (i.e., pitching new services or scaling client budgets) within current client accounts.Assist with new business development by participating in client pitches, supporting proposal development, and helping identify new leads.Attend selected in-person events (from conferences to networking meetings to client events) to represent Middle Seat and build relationships.Support panels, trainings, or sessions as a co-presenter or logistics lead to grow comfort with external-facing opportunities.