Account Director (Maternity Cover, Fixed-Term)

About the role

Element Search is supporting a leading Dubai-based creative and digital agency in appointing an Account Director on a full-time maternity cover contract to lead a prestigious, multi-faceted Abu Dhabi Government account. The agency's identity will be shared with shortlisted candidates. You will own the client relationship at senior level, acting as the client's key strategic advisor and setting the direction for integrated delivery across Social Media, Performance and Media Buying, Website, SEO/GEO and Content Marketing.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the relationship with senior government stakeholders, managing complex expectations, multi-layered approvals and high-priority requests
• Chair monthly steering reviews and lead weekly status meetings and working sessions, virtually and on-site in Abu Dhabi
• Provide strategic counsel on integrated communications and digital transformation
• Direct multidisciplinary teams across Social Media, Paid Performance and Media Buying, Website, SEO/GEO and Content Marketing
• Turn government mandates into account plans, scopes of work and creative briefs, and own quality across all client-facing deliverables
• Own the account P&L: retainer utilization, scope burn, margins, billing, media spend reconciliations and vendor costs
• Report account performance, forecasts and resource needs to agency leadership and identify growth opportunities

Required profile

• 8+ years of agency account management experience, including at Account Director level or as a senior lead on integrated, multi-channel accounts
• UAE or Abu Dhabi Government experience strongly preferred
• Based in the UAE with your own means of transport
• Arabic fluency (written and spoken) is a significant advantage

Required skills

• Hands-on understanding of Social Media, Performance and Media Buying, Web Development, SEO/GEO and Content Marketing
• Confidence with formal protocol, layered government approvals and fast-turnaround announcements
• Commercial acumen: P&L ownership, retainer burn and margin management
• Executive presence, strong communication and a structured, detail-oriented way of working

The contract is fixed-term, from mid-November 2026 to 31 March 2027 (about 5.5 months), reporting to the Group Managing Director. It is hybrid and remote-first, mostly remote during UAE business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM GST), with regular in-person client meetings. To apply, share your CV, notice period or earliest start date and salary expectations.