Account Director, Trade Communications & Activations (Oil & Gas)

Role Overview

The Account Director leads the strategy, development, and execution of all trade communications and activation programs for an oil & gas brand. This role requires a highly agile, efficient, and independent leader who can convert business challenges into solutions, not just service requests. The Account Director builds strong, trusted client relationships by bringing clarity, problem-solving, and proactive thinking to every workstream — ensuring trade-facing materials and programs drive measurable commercial impact.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Shape the trade communications strategy across distributors, workshops, retailers, fleets, and OEM partners.
• Convert product and brand strategies into clear, compelling trade narratives and toolkits.
• Demonstrate agility and independent judgement when advising clients on communication choices that strengthen commercial outcomes.

Content & Materials Development

• Oversee development of sell-in decks, product guides, POSM, mechanic toolkits, retail comms, and distributor enablement materials.
• Ensure information is technically accurate, market-relevant, and simple for trade partners to use.
• Drive efficiency in workflows, ensuring briefs, creative direction, and production move swiftly and with quality.

Trade Activations & Events

• Design and deliver trade activations such as mechanic engagement programs, partner summits, loyalty campaigns, and motorsport-linked experiences.
• Ensure operational excellence: planning, budgeting, logistics, and on-ground execution.
• Work with channel sales teams to integrate activations seamlessly into commercial plans.

Client Relationship Management

• Build strong, trusted relationships through clarity, responsiveness, and reliability.
• Position the team as solution partners — not just a servicing function — by anticipating issues and offering practical, commercial answers.
• Act as the senior escalation point, maintaining stakeholder alignment across brand, technical, sales, retail, and partner teams.

Performance & Operations

• Track KPIs for communications and activation effectiveness; turn insights into actionable improvements.
• Drive disciplined financial management: forecasting, budget stewardship, and profitability.
• Maintain operational control across timelines, approvals, compliance, and asset quality.

Traits & Mindsets

• Agile: Adjusts quickly to changing client needs, business priorities, or market shifts.
• Efficient: Streamlines processes, removes clutter, and keeps projects moving without drama.
• Independent: Operates with minimal supervision; confident in decision-making and prioritisation.
• Problem Solver: Sees beyond tasks to diagnose root issues and present solutions.
• Relationship Builder: Instantly builds credibility, trust, and partnership with clients and internal teams.
• Commercially Sharp: Understands how trade communications influence revenue, loyalty, and channel performance.
• Calm Under Pressure: Maintains focus and good judgment in high-stakes or fast-moving situations.