Senior Account Manager (Maternity Cover, Fixed-Term)

About the role

Element Search is supporting a leading Dubai-based creative and digital agency in appointing a Senior Account Manager on a full-time, fixed-term maternity cover contract. The agency will lead a prestigious, multi-faceted Abu Dhabi Government account, and its identity will be shared with shortlisted candidates. You will act as the client's key strategic advisor and operational anchor, turning complex government stakeholder directives into clear delivery plans across Social Media, Performance and Media Buying, Website, SEO/GEO and Content Marketing.

The contract runs from mid-November 2026 to 31 March 2027 (about 5.5 months), is hybrid and remote-first, and reports to the Group Managing Director. It is mostly remote during UAE business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM GST), with regular in-person client meetings, workshops and steering reviews in Abu Dhabi. You must be based in the UAE with your own means of transport.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the primary senior contact for the government client, managing complex expectations, multi-layered approvals and high-priority ad hoc requests
• Lead weekly status meetings, monthly steering reviews and working sessions, virtually and on-site in Abu Dhabi
• Coordinate and direct multidisciplinary teams across Social Media, Paid Performance and Media Buying, Website, SEO/GEO and Content Marketing
• Turn client briefs and government mandates into scopes of work, sprint plans and creative briefs
• Maintain a high standard of quality across presentations, campaign reports, digital deliverables and strategy documents
• Own the account budget: retainer utilization, scope burn, project profitability, billing, media spend reconciliations and vendor costs

Required profile

• 6 to 8+ years of agency account management experience leading integrated, multi-channel accounts
• UAE or Abu Dhabi Government experience strongly preferred
• Strong commercial acumen: P&L, retainer burn and margin management
• Excellent organization, attention to detail and communication, at ease in executive-level client meetings
• Nice to have: Arabic fluency (written and spoken) and familiarity with Abu Dhabi Government brand guidelines and protocol
• Applications from sales, business development, finance or other non-agency backgrounds will not be considered; Account Director-level candidates with the right experience are welcome

To apply, share your CV and answer the short questions on expected monthly salary (AED), notice period and earliest start date; applications without this information will not be reviewed.