ACCOUNT MANAGER — RETAIL, FOODSERVICE & OMNICHANNEL MARKETING

DACS Marketing | Toronto, Ontario

Permanent, full-time | Hybrid: minimum 3 days in office

Reports to: Account Director, Retail, Foodservice & Omnichannel Marketing

Experience: 4+ years in agency account or project management

Occasional client or partner travel within Canada and the U.S. may be required.

THE ROLE

DACS is an independently owned omnichannel marketing agency driving shopper conversion and sales lift through insight-led, data-driven marketing for clients in Canada and the U.S.

We are seeking a proactive, hands-on Account Manager to deliver exceptional client service and manage assigned retail, foodservice and omnichannel projects. You will translate client requirements into clear briefs, coordinate specialists and external partners, and keep deliverables, timelines, budgets and approvals on track.

Lead routine and moderately complex projects within approved scope and support larger integrated assignments. This individual-contributor role requires independent judgment, commercial awareness and confident follow-through.

HOW YOU WILL WORK

The Account Director retains senior client leadership and overall delivery, scope and commercial accountability. You manage assigned day-to-day relationships and projects within delegated authority.

Media specialists own planning, buying, DSP strategy and performance recommendations. The media lead approves plans and material changes internally; client authorisations remain separate.

Where assigned, a project manager/producer owns detailed scheduling and task administration. You own client inputs, brief clarity, feedback and approvals. Otherwise, agree scheduling responsibilities and capacity with the Account Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIESClient Relationships

• Build trusted day-to-day relationships across client shopper, brand, sales, foodservice/on-premises, procurement and studio teams.

• Learn the client’s business, brands, priorities and approval processes; coordinate retailer and operator communication through agreed channels.

• Prepare agendas, lead routine status discussions, record decisions and follow up on actions.

• Consolidate feedback into clear instructions, identify authorised approvers and keep stakeholders informed of progress, risks and next steps.

Project Management and Workflow

• Clarify objectives, deliverables, audiences, budgets, timing and success measures at intake; help assess complexity, priorities and resourcing.

• Maintain current project records, dependencies, decisions, status updates and approvals in the agency’s project-management system.

• Contribute to project workbacks or maintain agreed schedules directly where no project manager is assigned.

• Keep estimates and actual hours current, manage concurrent assignments and flag incomplete briefs or conflicting deadlines.

Strategy, Briefing and Research

• Research categories, competitors, retailers and media vendors to support planning.

• Help develop creative and media briefs, copy decks, messaging maps and presentations.

• Translate approved strategy and creative thinking into clear deliverables with internal leads and external experts. Internal discipline leads retain strategic and creative ownership.

Retail, Foodservice and Omnichannel Activation

• Help connect approved campaign ideas across pre-shop, digital, in-store and on-premises experiences.

• Coordinate retailer- and operator-specific briefs and toolkits across grocery, convenience, liquor, quick-service restaurants, restaurant groups and independent venues.

• Account for shopper missions, guest occasions, promotional calendars, menus, point-of-sale materials, staff communication and chain/franchise versus independent rollout needs.

• Identify regional, language and Quebec-market requirements early and involve the appropriate specialists.

Media and Digital Collaboration

• Align requirements, specifications, landing pages, deadlines and approvals with media, creative and development teams.

• Track dependencies and approved asset handoffs; support specialist-owned schedules, trafficking, launch checks and optimisation. This role does not own media buying or DSP platform operation.

Creative, Production and Approvals

• Support studio workflow and creative status meetings, coordinate reviews, proof copy and artwork against the brief, and communicate revisions accurately.

• Maintain version control and documented brand, legal, language and technical approvals with the appropriate owners before release.

• Coordinate final pre-shop assets and master-toolkit handoffs to DACS and client studio teams.

• Support French adaptation, microsites, contest administration and prize planning with qualified specialists and brand procurement.

• On the major account, the client’s studio and suppliers own in-store/on-premises versioning, physical production and deployment; DACS supports reviews. Brand retains prize fulfilment and field execution. Coordinate dependencies within these boundaries.

Budgets, Scope and Financial Administration

• Prepare estimates, budget trackers, statements of work, purchase-order information, vendor invoice records and billing inputs for Account Director review.

• Work with finance and discipline owners to reconcile costs and track actual hours, commitments and forecast cost-to-complete.

• Keep agency fees, external delivery costs and media spend distinct; identify over-servicing, scope changes, discrepancies and margin risks early.

• Prepare scope updates and change orders, securing required internal and client authorisations before additional work or spending.

• Keep supplier commitments and fee, scope or deadline changes within delegated authority.

Reporting, Collaboration and Growth

• Coordinate campaign updates, presentations and post-program reports with media, strategy, client and measurement teams.

• Report against agreed objectives, including shopper/guest conversion, operator participation, promotional response and sales outcomes where data is available. State measurement limitations and distinguish campaign results from internal delivery and financial reporting.

• Coordinate specialists, partners and vendors against agreed outputs and deadlines.

• Challenge gaps constructively, resolve day-to-day issues and escalate material disagreements or capacity risks.

• Keep briefs, files, approvals and handover notes accessible so colleagues can provide reliable cover.

• Identify growth opportunities and support retention, proposals and pitches.

• Take on other client assignments and agreed special projects, including agency-owned start-up brands, with clear scope, priorities and capacity.

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL

• Agency experience: 4+ years in relevant agency account or project management, supporting multiple clients or concurrent programs, with direct client contact and ownership of assigned projects.

• Shopper and channel knowledge: Deep working knowledge of retail, pre-shop and shopper behaviour, retailer-specific programs and approval processes. Ability to apply foodservice/on-premises requirements to briefs and delivery; practical experience in these channels is strongly preferred.

• Omnichannel understanding: Familiarity with digital and social marketing, paid social, search, programmatic, retail media, CRM and the e-commerce funnel. Understand how channels connect; specialist media buying or Amazon DSP execution experience is not required.

• Delivery and commercial discipline: Strong understanding of agency workflow, creative and art production, proofing and approvals. Proven ability to manage priorities, budgets and change control across concurrent assignments, with meticulous attention to detail.

• Communication and judgment: Excellent writing, presentation and interpersonal skills. A proactive, independent thinker who learns brands quickly, collaborates well, handles pressure calmly, asks constructive questions and knows when to escalate.

• Tools and education: Strong Excel, PowerPoint and project-management platform skills. A relevant marketing or communications degree, or equivalent experience. Relevant experience and learning gained in any country will be considered.

ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS

CPG, food and beverage, beverage-alcohol, foodservice or hospitality experience; U.S. client exposure; French-language capability; and familiarity with Quebec execution or category-specific approvals. Copywriting, social content, website content and CRM management are useful additions, not substitutes for core account-management capability.

SUCCESS IN YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS

• First 30 days: Learn the brands, stakeholders, approvals, active briefs, delivery boundaries and workflows. Establish reliable records and working relationships.

• By 60 days: Manage assigned projects and routine client communication with clear briefs, current schedules, accurate cost information and documented approvals. Raise risks and changes early.

• By 90 days: Deliver reliably within approved scope, coordinate effective specialist handoffs and provide useful reporting. Recommend improvements based on workload, client feedback and project learnings.

ABOUT DACS

Founded in 1999, DACS combines brand and agency expertise across CPG, technology, produce, food and beverage, serving start-ups through major brands. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds and can discuss accommodation needs during recruitment.

A NOTE FOR APPLICANTS

Thank you for your interest in DACS. Only candidates whose experience and capabilities most closely align with the role will be contacted for an interview. We appreciate your time and encourage you to consider future opportunities.