Guiding Vision & Growth

Senior Account Strategist – Central Oregon (Bend) or Portland

Watson is a research-based creative studio looking for a Senior Account Strategist to join our account services team.

As a Senior Account Strategist—think of it as a Senior Account Manager with added strategic depth—you’ll be the connector between our clients and every part of the Watson team. You’ll lead multiple accounts, shape thoughtful strategies, and help bring work to life that makes a measurable impact. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced agency environment and can confidently navigate the nuances of B2C, B2B, and government work. Experience across diverse sectors is important, but a strong background in tourism and outdoor brands will set you apart. You’ll need the ability to see both the big picture and the fine details, balancing creative vision with practical execution. In this role, you’ll report directly to our Director of Accounts and Growth, collaborating closely to build lasting partnerships, uncover opportunities, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Essential Functions

You’ll immerse yourself in our clients’ worlds—understanding their business, their goals, and their challenges—so you can help craft strategies that spark results and uncover new opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Accounts, you will:

• Contribute to both short- and long-term client strategies

• Keep budgets on track and aligned with approved parameters

• Facilitate smooth communication between clients and all agency teams to ensure consistency of message, brand, and quality

• Maintain clear, consistent client communication, keeping them in the loop on progress and next steps

• Research brands, categories, and competitors to add value to the strategic and creative process

• Build trust with both clients and internal teams through responsiveness, reliability, and expertise

• Present SOWs and estimates for client approval

• Share written weekly status updates and conference call recaps to ensure alignment

• Manage account profitability and identify ways to collaborate on new and existing projects

• Initiate creative briefs, change orders, estimates, schedules, and strategic decks

• Keep agency leadership informed on major developments

• Define, track, and present success metrics for marketing plans

• Balance client needs with agency goals to create win-win outcomes
  
  

Skills & Experience

• 7–15 years in account management within a creative advertising agency (retail experience preferred)

• Bachelor’s degree or higher

• Proven ability to earn trust through sound thinking and composure under pressure

• Strong understanding of how project and budget management impact profitability

• Excellent organizational and time management skills

• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and AI tools

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and analytically minded

• Quick to integrate into teams and contribute meaningfully

• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

• Committed to the growth of the Account Services department and the agency as a whole

• High integrity, strong work ethic, and a proactive mindset