Associate Director, Client Management (mfd)

About Interbrand

Interbrand understands what it takes today to build the worlds most iconic brands.

To support our clients in an ever more complex and fascinating world we have renewed our commitment to both common global standards and greater empowerment experimentation and entrepreneurialism.

Interbrand is its people. We are a global team of highly diverse thinkers makers and collaborators. We are proud of our heritage and often regarded as the university of branding. Over the past four decades we have pioneered iconic work and invented many of the brand building tools that are now commonplace.

In collaboration with many of the worlds leading brands we are pioneering the future of brand a world where peoples expectations are moving faster than businesses we give our clients the confidence to make Iconic Moves that create desire and utility reshape the competitive landscape and drive extraordinary results.

The Interbrand Best Global Brands study/rankings are resources to our clients and the industry providing proprietary data and insight for our role as client partner and commentator. We have published 18 books on brands and are often the reference point for university curriculum and professional associations. Today through our own Academy we aim to be the most impactful learning environment in the marketing world.

Our Behaviours

Our culture is informed by a set ofbehaviourswe co-created as a business. Ourbehavioursgive us space to experiment permission to speak out and a model of leadership that anyone in the business can adopt. Our behaviours are Lead with love Be Brave Listen First and Make it are proud of ourbehaviours. They make us us.

LOCATION: Cologne Germany

POSITION: Fulltime

FLEXIBILITY: Hybrid (3 days office attendance per week)

DEPARTMENT: Client Management

START DATE: April/May 2026

The opportunity
You lead client engagements across medium and large-scale projects locally and globally. You set a clear account plan manage commercial performance and create conditions for great work to land by mentoring the team and strengthening senior client trust.

What youll be doing

• Own numerous client accounts end to end setting plan for growth and profitability directing team members and managing resource allocation
• Develop and lead account plans that balance year on year growth on existing business with new opportunity identification
• Lead senior client relationships at multiple levels navigating organisational dynamics and building trust across stakeholder group
• Build and develop a team setting standards for work quality client relationships and career progression
• Work with New Business and Delivery Management to translate inbound opportunities into viable workstreams that fit our capacity and margin expectations
• Define how work gets done on your accounts setting rituals governance and decision making so delivery is consistent and excellent
• Interrogate briefs and reframe through strategic lenses pushing back where needed and shaping what success looks like
• Manage account profitability actively working with Delivery Management on resourcing scheduling and spend control
• Partner with Brand Economics and other specialists to build impact cases that justify investment and drive client confidence
• Represent account needs at global level coordinating with other regions where required and ensuring consistent approach

What were looking for

Experience - Proven track record of leading and growing client accounts with measurable commercial outcomes and strong client endorsements.

Relationships - You build genuine partnerships with senior client leaders across different functions. You understand their business ambitions and advocate for how we can help achieve them. You manage peer relationships within Interbrand to get what your clients need.

Curiosity - You stay alert to whats shifting in your clients worlds and the broader market. You use these insights to shape our approach and identify where we can expand our work.

Commerciality - You think like a business leader about account health and trajectory. You make smart decisions about investment pricing and resource allocation. You balance ambition with profitability and know when to push and when to be pragmatic.

Communication - Youre a confident storyteller who adapts to different audiences. You move senior leaders to decision and inspire your team to raise their game.

Team Leadership - You build and develop people. You set clear standards give candid feedback and create an environment where your team can do their best work and grow.

Why Interbrand

For over 50 years weve been shaping the worlds most iconic brands. We solve brand challenges through our Thinking & Making approach combining Human Truth Brand Economics and Experience to help our clients make the moves that unlock growth and define whats next.

We nurture a global community of thinkers and makers with the curiosity and confidence to create iconic work. Here youll find transparent career pathways on-demand learning honest feedback real collaboration across borders and a culture that champions difference and wellbeing.

We dont do ordinary. And we dont expect you to either.

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