Account Director

United States (remote) | Full-time | Up to 10% travel

About Hamster Garage

Hamster Garage is a partner management agency based out of Chicago. Our expertise spans the partnerships and affiliates channel, encompassing affiliate marketing, AEO and AI visibility, brand partnerships, podcasts, influencer marketing, and more.

We work with leading brands that are in a high-growth phase, like Tesla, Coinbase, Slack, Uber, Xero, and Masterclass. Faced with an increasingly global client base, we are looking to expand our footprint globally as we look to expand our coverage and business model.

Role Overview

As an Account Director, you will own a portfolio of client relationships at different leading brands, and lead the Account Managers who run them. You will set the strategic direction for each account, hold the team to a high bar on quality and execution, and be the advisor clients turn to. Client results, retention, and account profitability across your portfolio sit with you.

You'll report directly to the Director of Client Success and work closely with the COO and the CEO, with a real hand in building HG: improving how we operate, supporting new business, and developing the people on your team. If you've led affiliate programs and teams at scale and want to shape an agency's client practice, not just run accounts, this role is for you.

What You Will Do

Portfolio Strategy

• Set the strategic direction for every account in your portfolio, making sure program goals tie back to each client's broader business objectives.

• Analyze performance across ROI, ROAS, conversion rates, and partner performance, and coach your team to turn those insights into stronger strategies.

• Oversee forecasting and projections so the team can track performance to goal and set client expectations early.

• Bring new strategies to clients, including tactics beyond traditional affiliates, and win their buy-in to test them.

Client Management

• Act as an advisor and the point of escalation for your clients, resolving difficult issues with solutions that reinforce HG's values.

• Lead key client presentations, explaining strategic recommendations and growth opportunities clearly and persuasively.

• Proactively seek client feedback and address concerns before they become problems.

Account Economics

• Manage monthly budget-vs-actual hours for your portfolio, and share the story behind the numbers with leadership.

• Own performance bonus calculations for client invoicing.

• Track renewals and opt-out dates, and identify upsell and scope expansion opportunities.

Team Management

• Lead a team of Account Managers and Associates, coaching them to grow in their roles.

• Hold the team accountable to client SLAs and quality standards.

• Manage performance, feedback, and workload across your team.

Who We Are Looking For

• Minimum bachelor's degree.

• 6+ years of direct affiliate marketing experience with recognizable brands.

• Hands-on experience with platforms like Impact, ShareASale, CJ, or Partnerize.

• Experience managing and developing teams, including feedback, promotions, and underperformance.

• A strong grasp of account economics, including contracts, SLAs, and keeping accounts profitable for the agency.

• Strong Excel skills and fluency in metrics beyond revenue, like ROAS, incrementality, and LTV.

• A track record managing client relationships, ideally with enterprise, Fortune 500, or VC-backed brands.

Nice to Have

• Experience running programs across multiple regions.

• Agency or brand side experience

• Exposure to influencer, podcast, or brand partnerships beyond traditional affiliates.

• Strong PowerPoint or Canva skills.

• Industry visibility through speaking, panels, or conferences.

Why Hamster Garage?

HG brings an in-house marketing incubation team approach to Partnership Marketing. We exist because our founder worked internally for one of the largest tech hospitality brands in the world and worked with the top agencies in the space, but couldn’t find the talent necessary to meet the highest standards required by the best brands. Our mission is to provide best-in-class service and quality to our clients through top-tier talent and strategy.

If you join our team, you’ll be part of a fast-growing team that is passionate about marketing and be able to make an impact on not only your clients but the company. We’re small enough that you will be part of special projects and task forces to help build the company while working on client portfolios for some of the fastest-growing brands in the world, and helping them cultivate strategies on how to acquire users.