Vice President, Accounts

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• Engage in critical client discussions — including strategic shifts, contract renewals, scope enhancements, and executive escalations — with assuredness and attention.

• Foster relationships at the cabinet level that facilitate cross-service growth, mapping each institution's power structure and establishing the senior access necessary to broaden the agency's influence beyond the marketing office into enrollment and advancement.

• Proactively identify client concerns and pivotal moments before they arise — maintaining a comprehensive overview of relationship health across the portfolio, flagging at-risk accounts early, and managing escalation resolution at the senior level.

• Personally conduct or supervise business reviews and routine check-ins to directly evaluate satisfaction and address concerns before they escalate.

• Transform institutional priorities into new scopes of work, monitoring expansion objectives by client and service area, and collaborating with Business Development on significant renewals, expansions, and new business initiatives.

• Be accountable for defined annual revenue targets within the accounts division, with clear expectations for year-over-year growth, ensuring complete pipeline visibility across renewals, expansions, and at-risk accounts.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounts team — establishing high standards for client experience and strategic insight while supporting hiring and team structure decisions in line with the division's growth trajectory.

• Take direct responsibility for one to two major accounts, exemplifying the standard of partnership the agency aims to achieve across the portfolio.

• Provide an accounts-side perspective on how SimpsonScarborough's products and services are positioned, priced, and marketed.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of senior leadership experience in higher education, agency settings, or both, with a proven record of operating at the executive level.

• Strong credibility with senior institutional leaders — including presidents, provosts, boards of trustees, and cabinet members — along with the ability to earn and maintain their trust.

• A forward-thinking, anticipatory approach to client relationships with a history of transforming early intervention into growth.

• Proven experience in building peer-level relationships with presidents, provosts, and chiefs of staff, leveraging that access to expand engagements beyond the marketing office.

• Demonstrated success in increasing client revenue through strategic relationship management, upselling, and scope expansion.

• Experience in leading and developing high-performing account or client service teams within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

• Strong understanding of enrollment strategies and the institutional dynamics influencing enrollment-related decisions; advancement experience is a plus.

• Experience managing division-level pipeline and revenue forecasting, with the analytical capability to translate data into actionable insights.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities, with the executive presence to lead high-stakes discussions.

• High emotional intelligence and the capacity to build trust across diverse teams, client organizations, and leadership contexts.

• Background in agency leadership, with insights into how professional services firms grow, scale, and retain clients over time.

• Bachelor's degree and/or a relevant combination of education and experience; advanced degree preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package that includes nationwide health, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401(k) plan with employer contribution.

• Employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability coverage.

• Flexible time off (FTO) policy with additional leave options, including sick leave, volunteer & bereavement leave, paid parental leave, and a day off for your birthday.

• Two agency-wide closures during summer and winter.

• Monthly lifestyle stipend to assist with routine wellness expenses such as streaming subscriptions, gym memberships, or phone/internet costs.