This position is not a part of the bargaining unit.

Reports to: Vice President, Client Strategy

Location: Preference for New York City / Washington, DC / Philadelphia, PA

Occasional in-person work and travel required

The Client Service Department is seeking an experienced Principal, Strategy & Accounts to oversee a portfolio of 4 to 6 full-service client accounts. Principals drive fundraising and paid media strategy, manage execution across internal departments, mentor client teams, and ensure outstanding client service and satisfaction.

In addition to leading client delivery, the Principal plays a key role in implementing and maintaining client service processes across the firm (including onboarding, reporting, and cross-vertical coordination) and is empowered to set and enforce expectations with clients and internal teams.

This is a senior client service role — ideal for someone who has driven digital strategy and directed a team for a statewide program. Applicants must have successfully served as an Account Lead on a major cross-vertical client for at least 1 cycle at a comparable agency or as a Digital Director level role (or adjacent) on a statewide campaign. An understanding of agency processes, digital best practices, and cross-vertical projects (i.e. campaign launches, new client onboarding, end-of-cycle cash flow) is preferred.

Job Responsibilities

Client Leadership

Own day-to-day leadership of 4 to 6 full-service client accounts, ensuring quality of service and strategic alignment
Lead strategic conversations with clients, guiding program planning, deliverables, budget, and pacing
Serve as the final internal reviewer for major deliverables before client presentation
Set and maintains client management norms, including timelines, scopes, approval processes, and communications
Manages client projections and budget: Works across verticals to set projections (both raise and spend) goals and ensures that client team is maximizing ROI, pitching new budgets, and scaling when appropriate

Internal Team Leadership

Act as the primary internal leader for assigned client accounts, coordinating across email, ads, texting, branding, web, and other service departments
Delegate tasks, set priorities, and manage workflows across internal teams to ensure work is delivered accurately and on time
Set and enforce internal boundaries — e.g., establishing daily deadlines for deliverable reviews, protecting lead time for client approvals, and communicating clear expectations around timing, quality, and collaboration
Escalate issues proactively if internal misalignment threatens client timelines, satisfaction, or program success, and serve as a feedback loop for Leadership Team

Process Implementation

Implement Client Service Department SOPs across assigned accounts, including onboarding, reporting, offboarding, and cross-vertical processes
Identify opportunities to improve client-facing processes based on experience and feedback from internal teams and clients
Contribute feedback to the development of department-wide SOPs and best practices

Mentorship + Professional Development

Contribute to the mentorship of Account Leads and staff across the firm, including supporting professional growth, sharing best practices in client services, and encouraging cross-team collaboration

Revenue Growth & Business Development

Support internal revenue growth by identifying upsell opportunities (i.e., pitching new services or scaling client budgets) within current client accounts
Assist with new business development by participating in client pitches, supporting proposal development, and helping identify new leads
Attend selected in-person events (from conferences to networking meetings to client events) to represent Middle Seat and build relationships
Support panels, trainings, or sessions as a co-presenter or logistics lead to grow comfort with external-facing opportunities

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in digital strategy for clients or on political campaigns
- 1-2 cycles of experience leading digital programs - either leading cross-vertical accounts in an Account Lead level role at Middle Seat (or a comparable agency) or serving as a Digital Director for a Tier 1 or 2 statewide race (or comparable senior leadership role)
Demonstrated leader, natural relationship builder, and strong verbal and written communicator (both in client copywriting and in the ability to communicate tasks and goals to clients and staff)
Digital strategist who understands the ins and outs of online fundraising, digital content, and paid media
Strong project management skills and proven ability to set expectations, manage timelines, and strategic alignment across teams, and drive forward complex projects
Self-starter who can pick up new programs/tools quickly
Comfortable with tools like ActBlue, Google Workspace, Slack, Google Looker Studio, and CRMs like ActionKit
- Creative tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or Canva are a plus
Experience working with fundraising projections, cash flow, and client budgets preferred
Prior agency or consulting experience preferred but not required
Demonstrated commitment to progressive campaigns and causes

Benefits

Salary starts between $98,000 and $108,000 with additional compensation based on performance
100% premium coverage for health, dental and vision
Zero deductible health plan
Profit-sharing plan: share in the growth and success of Middle Seat
Mobile phone reimbursement up to $50 per month
One Medical health service: video call or chat with doctors, no wait-time appointments
Health Advocate: the nation's leading healthcare advocacy and assistance company
6% employer match on your 401k retirement account
20 paid vacation days off, plus your birthday and your Anniversary at Middle Seat
Unlimited sick leave
Commuter benefits for public transportation
Office Space (WeWork, etc) Stipend for Remote Employees
12 weeks of paid leave for new parents
$100 monthly student loan reimbursement
$350 monthly mental health benefit
$1,000 annual professional development reimbursement

We are committed to building a diverse and passionate team. We encourage creative-minded individuals with a strong technical aptitude to apply for this position. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals are encouraged to apply. Our firm is values-driven. We are intentional with the decidedly left-of-center clients we work with— and we strive to make our work environment and benefits reflect that, including salary transparency, healthy work-life balance, and consistent employee feedback and communication. We're happy to talk more about our company culture with prospective applicants.

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Principal, Strategy and Accounts

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