Associate Vice President, Client Engagement

Associate Vice President

We're looking for an experienced Associate Vice President with economic development and/or public interest experience to lead client relationships and drive marketing programs that create measurable business impact.

This is an ideal role for an integrated marketer who thrives in complexity. You'll serve as the strategic and operational lead across a curated portfolio of client accounts with a specific emphasis on economic development and public interest, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional work while building trusted client relationships.

Many of our clients operate in highly nuanced industries, including economic development, public sector, tourism, and public interest initiatives. Success in this role requires someone who can quickly understand complex subject matter, distill it into clear strategic recommendations, and help clients navigate challenging business opportunities.

This is a hybrid work from home/office position (in-office attendance is required on Tuesdays & Thursdays) and the candidate must live near Columbus, OH.

At The Shipyard, we know that it's your unique talents, backgrounds, and perspectives that make you who you are, just like our team, who come from various career paths and experiences. We believe we can't be truly diverse without bringing your most authentic self to the agency.

Studies show that people from marginalized communities may not always apply for positions if they don't meet every single requirement in a job posting. At The Shipyard, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the requirements. We believe that your passion for what we stand for — our values and purpose — is just as important as meeting every checkbox.

What You'll Do

• Client Leadership
• Serve as the day-to-day strategic and operational lead for a portfolio of integrated client accounts
• Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders
• Lead client meetings, presentations, and planning sessions
• Anticipate client needs and identify opportunities to create additional value
• Integrated Marketing Leadership
• Lead cross-functional teams spanning strategy, creative, paid media, PR and communications, social media, analytics, digital, and program delivery
• Translate complex business objectives into integrated marketing strategies and actionable plans
• Connect work streams across disciplines to ensure campaigns are cohesive, effective, and aligned to business goals
• Help clients understand sophisticated marketing recommendations through clear, concise communication
• Bring clarity to ambiguity by simplifying complex topics into compelling recommendations and plans
• Business Management
• Own account financial performance, including budgets management – tracking and reporting, forecasting and hours projections, scopes of work and invoicing
• Partner closely with program delivery team to ensure work is delivered on time, on budget, and at a high standard
• Balance multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
• Identify opportunities for account growth and contribute to long-term client success

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrated success leading integrated marketing engagements with increasing levels of strategic responsibility
• Experience in economic development or other public interest sectors, particularly within the state of Ohio
• Outstanding listening skills, written and spoken communication skills and presentation abilities
• Proven ability to simplify complex ideas into compelling, digestible narratives for diverse audiences
• Experience managing account financials, including budgets, forecasting, scopes of work, and profitability
• Comfortable working across multiple industries and quickly becoming fluent in complex subject matter