Director - Account Development

The Director of Account Development at NIQ requires a unique blend of expertise in account management, sales strategy, and consumer insights, typically honed over 7+ years in relevant industries such as CPG or consulting. A solid understanding of sales techniques, analytical thinking, and exceptional communication skills are essential to effectively engage senior-level stakeholders and drive business growth.

As the Director of Account Development at NIQ, you will lead commercial strategies that fuel the growth of our key client, Purina. Your responsibilities will range from developing joint business plans and achieving sales objectives to representing the voice of the customer to our internal teams. You’ll also be involved in uncovering competitive intelligence and collaborating with cross-functional partners to enhance our service delivery.

The Director of Account Development at NIQ is not just a role but a pathway to grow your career in consumer intelligence. With the chance to spearhead sales strategies and engage in high-level negotiations, you’ll gain invaluable experience and insights that can propel you into senior leadership positions within the company and the industry. Moreover, the culture of continuous learning at NIQ supports your professional development.

NIQ fosters a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture for its employees, including the Director of Account Development. As a mission-driven organization, we emphasize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to contribute and thrive. Our flexible work environment and commitment to employee wellness further enhance this supportive culture.

NIQ offers various resources for continuing education and professional development for all employees, including the Director of Account Development. With options like LinkedIn Learning, you have the freedom to explore courses that align with your career goals. Additionally, our employee-assistance program provides resources for personal well-being, ensuring you balance your professional and personal life effectively.

To qualify for the Director of Account Development role at NIQ, candidates should ideally have over 7 years of relevant experience in industries related to Consumer-Packaged Goods, account management, or analytics. Familiarity with research techniques, syndicated POS data, and proven business development skills are highly valued, along with excellent negotiation and communication abilities.

The Director of Account Development role is crucial in advancing NIQ’s mission of delivering comprehensive consumer insights. By driving commercial strategies and enhancing client relationships, you will play a pivotal role in our objective to understand consumer behavior thoroughly and reveal pathways to growth for both our clients and NIQ.

When asked this, outline the importance of understanding the client's business model and market position. Explain your process for conducting a thorough situation analysis and competitor research, which informs your strategy. Discuss how you'll align NIQ’s capabilities with the client's needs through effective communication and collaborative planning.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide a detailed response. Outline the context, the task at hand, your specific actions to facilitate collaboration, and the outcomes achieved. Highlight your understanding of team dynamics and how you leveraged different skills among team members to achieve a common goal.

Discuss proactive communication with clients, regular check-ins to assess satisfaction, and continually finding ways to provide added value. Emphasize the significance of tailoring solutions to client needs and leveraging analytics to showcase how NIQ’s services have performed. Your goal should be to position client outcomes at the center of your retention strategy.

Explain that effective negotiation revolves around understanding the stakeholder's perspective, using data to support your points, and finding mutually beneficial solutions. Mention the importance of building trust and rapport over time to facilitate smoother negotiations.

Highlight your use of analytics tools, attending industry conferences, and subscribing to relevant publications. Discuss how integrating these insights into your sales strategies can drive better results and enhance decision-making for account development.

Talk about your approach to effective time management techniques, such as using project management tools and setting clear priorities based on urgency and client needs. Discuss the importance of being adaptable and responsive as things change with client requirements.

Use a specific example where you collaborated with a client to create a joint business plan that yielded significant results. Be sure to highlight your role in the process, the target objectives, and the ultimate outcome that benefited both parties.

Be prepared to talk about NIQ’s comprehensive approach to consumer insights and data analytics that outshines competitors. Highlight aspects like the Full View™ analytics and deep market understanding, and relate how these elements might appeal to the key clients you’ll be working with.

Discuss your ability to adapt communication styles to suit different audiences, more effectively engage stakeholders. Use specific examples to show how these techniques have led to strong, positive relationships that benefit account development.

Articulate the critical role that data plays in shaping your strategies. Discuss how data-driven insights guide decision-making in areas ranging from account planning to performance measurement, proving compelling narratives to both internal teams and clients on how to move forward collectively.