Head of Accounts

Overview

FWD People is a full-service strategic marketing agency delivering meaningful and measurable results in the health and health non-profit sectors. We take pride in being our clients’ trusted strategic partner — staying ahead of the curve, and leveraging our expertise and foresight to help them navigate change and seize opportunities. We approach every challenge with a commitment to FWD Thinking, excellence, and empathy, and we seek the same qualities in our team. As a fast-growing, senior team, we're excited to welcome more forward-thinking individuals who will help us drive growth, foster positive change within our clients’ industries, and have fun along the way.

As Head of Accounts, you will shape Account Management and project management at FWD. In collaboration with the team, you’ll build the standards, practices, and processes that enable great client work, drive clarity across teams, and create consistency in how we partner. You’ll create accountability, coach new habits, and support the team in delivering excellence across both client services and project management. As a manager and mentor, you’ll help high performers build their skills, confidence, and strategic thinking to navigate ambiguity and foster trusted client partnerships. And because we believe in staying close to the work, you’ll also lead key accounts, bringing strategic perspective to complex challenges and partnering with clients and teams to uncover growth and opportunity.

What You’ll Do

• Manage the Account Team

  • Lead and inspire the Account Management team, creating a functional team culture with clear goals and helping drive positive client experience. 

  • Codify and operationalize the Account Management practices at FWD, collaboratively setting the standards, practices, and processes that enable great client work and drive clarity across teams. This includes both client service and project management practices.

  • Provide coaching, mentorship, and feedback that supports individual development while reinforcing operational excellence and client partnership fundamentals.

  • Manage and mentor the Account Team, specifically Account Directors and Associate Account Directors, offering strategic guidance, coaching, and feedback to drive their professional development. 

• Principal Accounts

  • As the primary point of contact for senior clients and the internal leader of projects, you’ll be responsible for the successful delivery of numerous fast-paced projects across 1-2 key accounts exceeding $2M yearly. 

  • Set the direction, vision, and strategic goals for principled accounts to ensure alignment with organizational objectives. 

  • Act as the primary C-suite contact, representing the project at the executive level and maintaining strong relationships with senior leadership.

  • Serve as the key account and project decision maker, driving strategic direction and resolving complex challenges. 

  • Take ownership of the project’s success, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to the highest quality. 

What You’ll Bring 

• 14+ years of experience with a proven track record of Account & Project Management leadership, team management, process development, and small agency leadership. 

• Proven ability to lead large accounts ($5M+), driving growth and evolving client relationships with intention and care.

• Experience developing account leaders and account teams grounded in excellence, accountability, respect, and candor. Direct management of 5+ team members and oversight of multi-functional portfolios.  

• You thrive in small agency environments and bring a builders mindset to new challenges, processes, and possibilities. You have an entrepreneurial spirit.

• A demonstrated ability to drive organic business growth, with clear examples of expanding client relationships through insight, trust, and strategic partnership.

• You’re a doer. You aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get to work; you are excited to impact a growing agency. 

• You’re an incredible communicator and lead with clarity, warmth and solutions.

• You are passionate about growth, yours and your team’s, and are genuinely excited about mentoring, developing talent, and fostering team success. 

• You approach strategic decision-making with clarity and confidence, navigating ambiguity while staying closely connected to the agency’s vision and values.

• You value collaboration, and you know how to bring people in, build trust, and create space for ideas and creativity to thrive.

What You’ll Love About This Role: 

• Creative Challenge: Shape the future of our account practice by building the standards, processes, and systems that will drive our next stage of growth.

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of high performers, celebrating their successes and providing the guidance and tools for them to thrive.

• Expansive Opportunity: Principal your own account(s) exploring new areas in health innovation, technology, and care — work that’s meaningful, fast-moving, and constantly evolving.

Interviewing at FWD People

We believe in transparency and respect for your time. Our hiring process is designed to be open, fair, and as straightforward as possible, giving you a clear picture of what to expect while also giving us a chance to get to know you. Here’s how it works:

1. Initial Conversation: A friendly chat to learn about your background, goals, and what excites you about this opportunity (and in general).

2. In-Depth Interview: A deeper discussion about your skills, experiences, and how you envision contributing to our team.

3. Take-Home Task: A real-world assignment (designed to take no more than 2-3 hours) that allows you to demonstrate your abilities in a practical way.

4. Final Interview: An onsite conversation with some additional folks on our team and leadership to explore how your unique talents align with our mission and values.

We know that interviewing can sometimes feel overwhelming, which is why we’re committed to keeping the process clear and communicative every step of the way. We’re excited to learn more about you and appreciate you taking the time to get to know us!

Working at FWD People

We are a senior team that champions integrity, adaptability, excellence, and growth. Here, you’ll collaborate with solution-focused colleagues to advance both our clients and our teams.

Our office is located in Brooklyn Heights, and we offer a flexible hybrid work schedule. We value in-person collaboration and connection but also understand the importance of offering the flexibility to work from home.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome differences in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and more. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and fostering a culture of respect and collaboration.

Benefits & Comp

At FWD, we believe in supporting our team both personally and professionally.  We offer excellent benefits, including 25 days off per year + 16 paid holidays, matching 401(k), medical, dental & vision, paid maternity & paternity leave, home office setup, yearly team retreats, and a comprehensive professional development program including executive coaching and a yearly professional development stipend. As we continue to grow, we enhance our benefits package to meet the needs of our team.  The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $195,000 and it is based in NYC (Brooklyn Heights) with a flexible hybrid work schedule.

Don’t match this exactly? If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.