Associate Account Director

Job Description
About Us
Dotted Line is an award‑winning, strategically inspired creative agency focused on brand, creative, and content. Our clients are ambitious, and they trust us to help drive growth through clarity, craft, and execution. We are a team that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and pride in the work. From national brands to regional leaders, we build ideas that connect, perform, and endure. Learn more at www.dottedline.agency.

Role Overview
As Associate Account Director, you will lead several of our largest and fastest-growing accounts across industries like tech and healthcare, with a significant focus on our automotive portfolio. You will own senior-level client relationships, lead strategy, protect margins, and oversee the hybrid team in Richmond, VA.

Automotive experience is strongly preferred. Candidates with experience in multi‑rooftop dealer groups with the tier structure, co‑op economics, OEM compliance requirements, and monthly offer cadence are preferred.

About You

You know automotive. You have experience leading dealer group or OEM relationships, including a deep understanding of tier structures, co‑op economics, and the monthly offer cadence of multi‑rooftop groups.

You are a seasoned agency leader with 5+ years of account leadership experience. You earn trust through consistency and have a track record of organically growing accounts through delivery excellence.

You think like an owner. You see the opportunity inside an existing relationship before the client does, and you know how to build the case for it.

You are equally comfortable leading a strategy conversation with a CMO or dealer principal and rolling up your sleeves to make sure a timeline holds. You know when each is required.

You bring calm to complexity. When priorities shift, budgets tighten, inventory moves, or an escalation lands, you are the steady one in the room.

You Likely Have

Automotive agency or dealer group experience (strongly preferred)

5+ years of account leadership experience in an agency environment

A track record of organically growing accounts through relationship building and delivery excellence

Experience leading integrated campaigns across multiple channels and touchpoints

Command of scope, budget, and resourcing - you can protect margin without sacrificing the work

Exceptional presentation, verbal, and written communication skills

Comfort working across all levels of a client organization, from coordinator to C‑suite

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Role Description & Responsibilities
Client Leadership

Serve as the day‑to‑day leader on several growing accounts, establishing and deepening senior‑level client relationships

Build trusted relationships across client organizations

Initiate timely, strategic, proactive dialogue with clients

Bring recommendations, industry insight, and points of view to your clients on a consistent cadence

Develop and lead client presentations in partnership with our strategy, creative, and media teams

Manage escalations and difficult conversations with transparency and professionalism

Strategy & Account Growth

Develop marketing strategies and lead annual and campaign‑level planning on behalf of your clients

Identify new opportunities that align to client goals and build the business case to pursue them

Partner with agency leadership on scoping, proposals, and contract renewals

Nurture and expand account relationships to drive sustainable, organic growth

Delivery & Execution

Lead delivery strategy to ensure work ships on scope, on time, and on budget while meeting our quality standards

Own budget management across your engagements, flagging risk early and course‑correcting before it becomes a client conversation

Lead internal teams and facilitate cross‑functional collaboration between account, project management, strategy, creative, and media

Oversee the day‑to‑day execution of campaigns, tactics, budgets, and schedules

Ensure timely follow‑up, reporting, and communication on every account

Partner & Team Collaboration

Create and maintain strong relationships with partners and vendors to ensure we deliver what we promise

Model Dotted Line's values and leadership behaviors across every team you touch

Tools

Google Workspace

Productive, Asana, or similar project management and resourcing platforms

Constant Contact or similar email platforms

Familiarity with dealer‑side platforms, OEM co‑op portals, and digital reporting tools is a plus

What Success Looks Like
In This Role, Success Means

Clients consistently rate their satisfaction at 85% or better, and they call you first when something important is happening in their business

Your accounts grow organically year over year through relationship strength and delivery excellence

Work is delivered on time, on scope, and within budget variance targets

Zero compliance strikes, and co‑op dollars are captured in full across automotive accounts

Cross‑functional teams across the agency point to your accounts as well‑run and well‑communicated

Risk surfaces early and gets solved internally before it reaches the client

Competencies for Success

Strategic and creative thinking

Proactiveness and strong initiative

Calm under pressure

Flexibility and adaptability

Detail orientation and high standards

Listening and communication skills

Personal presence

Work ethic

Enthusiasm

Dotted Line Benefits

Hybrid work environment

Monthly culture‑building activities

Performance‑based, profit‑sharing opportunities

Health, Dental, and Vision benefits

Simple IRA Retirement Plan

Unlimited paid time off with 4 weeks minimum

14 paid company holidays including the week between Christmas and New Year’s

2 company‑organized paid volunteer days

Company Values We Live Every Day

Treat team members, clients, and partners like you want to be treated

Always be improving, learning, and growing

Collaborate and be a team player

Go the extra mile

Do work we are proud of

Focus on client results

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