Account Director (3-month freelance mission)

ABOUT OGILVY SOCIAL.LAB

Ogilvy Social.Lab (OSL) is a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Brussels’ WPP Campus. As part of the international Ogilvy network, our operations span four continents with over 15 nationalities within our 130-strong team - our mindset is borderless.

We proudly collaborate with prominent international and regional clients, including Unilever, Absolut, Mondelez, Ford, IKEA, Vans, EU and Belgian institutions, fueling their success internationally.

Entrepreneurship pulses through our veins, embodying our name with a “lab” mentality. We constantly innovate and experiment, staying in sync with the ever-evolving digital media landscape we specialize in.

ROLE

We are looking for an experienced Freelance Account Director for a 3-month mission starting in May, to lead one of our most loved and established global brands while driving excellence across social-first and intelligence-led initiatives. Based in Belgium or the UK, with flexibility to travel between the two countries if required for the project.

You will act as the strategic and operational lead on the business, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong client relationships, and seamless internal collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• You take full ownership of the client relationship at a senior level, acting as the primary strategic partner.
• You oversee multiple 360° and social-first content projects from briefing to delivery, ensuring excellence in execution, timing, and budget control.
• You guide and challenge the creative, strategy, intelligence, and production teams to deliver impactful, culturally relevant work.
• You ensure strong alignment between internal teams (creative, intelligence, traffic, finance) and external stakeholders (production partners, media agencies, international network partners).
• You proactively identify risks, resolve challenges, and maintain clear communication with both client and internal leadership.
• You play a pivotal role in strengthening and scaling social intelligence capabilities within the client ecosystem.
• You contribute to identifying growth opportunities within the existing scope of work.

Client Leadership

• You demonstrate a deep understanding of the client’s business, category dynamics, and global market context.
• You build trusted senior relationships and confidently navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• You provide strategic guidance grounded in cultural insights and data-driven intelligence.

Creative & Strategy

• You elevate creative output by setting high standards and ensuring briefs are sharp, inspiring, and strategically sound.
• You confidently sell creative work and strategic recommendations at senior client level.
• You champion intelligence-led thinking and social-first storytelling.
• You oversee monitoring, reporting, and intelligence projects, ensuring insights translate into actionable recommendations.

Financial Oversight

• You maintain strong control over revenue, forecasting, scoping, and profitability.
• You oversee billing, POs, and financial follow-up in collaboration with finance and account teams.
• You ensure projects are delivered within agreed scope and budget.

Operational Excellence

• You implement structured ways of working and ensure smooth interagency coordination, particularly with UK and international partners.
• You guarantee efficient workflow and high-quality delivery under tight timelines.
• You provide leadership and mentorship to the account team members during the mission.

PROFILE

• 10+ years of experience in account management within an agency environment, with strong international exposure.
• Proven experience at an Account Director level, leading global social-focused campaigns and content production.
• Strong background in managing senior stakeholders and multi-market projects.
• Deep understanding of social-first strategy, cultural insights, and intelligence-driven campaigns.
• Solid financial acumen and experience managing forecasts and profitability.
• Native or equivalent level of English. Fluent French or Dutch is a nice-to-have.
• Autonomous, solutions-oriented, hands-on, and comfortable stepping into an ongoing setup quickly.

OFFER

• Freelance mission for 3 months, with potential extension depending on business needs.
• Work alongside a team of diverse and people-focused individuals, on impactful projects and with an array of local, regional, and global clients.
• We thrive on transparency - Our words and promises produce actions.
• As an Ogilvy Social. Lab employee, you will be provided with continuous opportunities to grow through training and career conversations, while doing strong work that works.