Account Director (Charity sector)

apartmentBluestep Solutions Limited placeNorthampton descriptionPermanent scheduleFull-time calendar_month 

About the Company

Bluestep was incorporated in 2010 and is based at Blisworth Hill Farm in the lovely Northamptonshire countryside, commutable from Northampton, Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. The business operates in design, merchandise, storage and fulfilment services providing varied solutions to a wide range of clients in the charity, healthcare, outdoor education, corporate and sports sectors.

We are a progressive, forward-thinking company that prides ourselves on a first class service.

 

Main purposes of job

As our Charity Account Director within the Client Services team, you will play the lead role in driving business growth across the Charity sector in line with our 4-year plan that we launched at the start of this new financial year (April 2024).

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management, leading, inspiration and coaching of our Charity Account Management team (from Senior Account Managers to Account Executives, possibly Apprentices down the line), while at the same time looking after a select number of high value Charity partners.

This responsibility will involve you being constantly immersed in the daily activity, providing on the spot advice and coaching to our team, making a concerted effort to get to know each of our clients and an expert knowledge of our portfolio of services on offer.

Due to the experience and network of the successful candidate, we expect you to bring opportunities our way.

We are looking to appoint a candidate with the commerciality, leadership and ambition to push us to the next level.

 

Main responsibilities

Client Strategic Influence: Will play a huge part in creating, influencing and implementing strategy for a very small number of extremely high value, lifelong clients surmounting to a multi-million pound portfolio. Without your involvement, our clients would struggle.

Inspiring, Mentoring, Coaching: We expect the successful candidate to have a huge passion for developing teams and individuals. You should gravitate towards people and be an inspirational figure that the team will want to seek knowledge and support from.

You should have the ability to help integrate and intertwine individuals with their clients, making them an indispensable extension to their team.

Reporting Lead duties: All members of the Charity team will report into this role and the individual will be responsible for all aspects of people management.

Living in the Detail: With such a huge client base within the Charity sector, offering a variety of services (Merchandise, Design, Storage & Fulfilment), we expect the successful candidate to have the capacity and ambition to immerse themself in the detail, investing an incredible amount of time getting to know individual accounts and clients alike.

Much of this will take place in “real life” through discussion with Account Managers and clients, though detail will also come from Synergist, our CRM platform.

Strategic Implementation: Able to support the development and implementation of commercial strategy with the aim being to accelerate the growth of Bluestep as a business and industry player. Adaptability will be required as trends and needs develop over time.

Client Relationship Management: Love & Care is central to everything we do (Net Promoter Score is a key metric that we have introduced to the business) and your philosophy must be focused around this. Our Love & Care Manager is the key to unlocking the rewards of this and a resource that must be utilised to the best of your ability.

This role will require management and delegation of clients when the team are on leave.

Sales and Revenue Generation: This role will require integrated working with our Client Services Director and Marketing team to ensure that sales support is directed in the right areas at the right times. This ties in with our recruitment strategy and demands.

With the candidate’s standing within the Charity community, we also expect this person to unlock significant opportunities within the sector.

Collaboration: This role works very closely with our Client Services Director, who has overall responsibility for all Client Services related activity, and our Love & Care Manager, who will underpin and support all operational and client requirements for the team.

Generally, this role requires collaboration across the business in order to guarantee success.

Budget Management: Responsible for creating and monitoring annual, quarterly and monthly sales and GP margin budgets across the Charity sector by individual. Responsible for communicating and agreeing budgets across the team.

Reporting: Develop and update reporting tools that keep the team and management abreast of performance, including presentations within our fortnightly “Scrum” meetings. Prepare and present regular reports and updates to leadership.

Drive change on Industry Trends: Not only offering solutions both internally to Management and to clients in order that these are addressed, but playing a huge role in ensuring they are implemented. This person should be an influential member of the sector community.

The above list is not exhaustive and duties relevant to the post or the individual’s experience may be required from time to time. Variation may occur to the duties and responsibilities at the request of the Managing Director without changing the general character of the post.

Any variation will always be discussed first.

 
Charity Account Director Experience
Proven experience in Senior roles within a merchandise and design agency or similar environment
Experience working with Not-for-profit organisations or in-house roles including Senior Fundraising Manager/Director (essential)
Proven track record of winning significant new business, developing customer relationships and spend
Evidence of inspiring, coaching and mentoring teams of people to achieve success
Track record of creating positive, values-based cultures
Client-facing experience and extremely comfortable in presenting environments
Strategic thinker

Technology proficient (CRM systems such as Synergist)

 
Charity Account Director Skills & Attributes
A natural leader and inspirer
People-person
Superb teamwork skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Capacity to take on a lot of information in a short space of time
Adaptable across many areas of a job role
Problem-solver and adaptable to certain situations
Time management

Strong commercial acumen: results orientated with a focus on achieving and exceeding sales goals

High standards of integrity, service delivery and customer care

Personable and fun to work with

 

On offer for the Charity Account Director

We allow one day of remote working each week (increases to two days once 6 month probation period is complete)
Some travel/overnight stays will be expected

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum depending on experience

Inclusion in our Profit Share Scheme (paying out up to 15% of basic salary) upon completion of 6 month probation period
NEST Pension scheme (Bluestep contribution of 5%)
29 days of Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
Free onsite gym membership

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity pay (upon completion of 2 years’ employment)

Plus many more benefits included in our Perks Guide (including Private Medical Healthcare through Vitality on your 2-year anniversary)

 
To apply for the Charity Account Director Role

Please follow the Indeed process for applying.

Application deadline: Friday 15th November 2024
Stage 1 Interviews (Teams): Once application received and successfully through initial screening process
Stage 2 Interviews (Face-to-Face): if successfully through Stage 1 interview

Stage 3 Presentation (Face-to-Face): If successfully through Stage 2 interview.

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