Social Media - Associate Director (AsD)

This role sits within Freuds' Social & Influence team – an award-winning specialist social media unit within Freud Communications. At Freuds, we combine the art of influence with the speed of social. We are looking for a senior leader who can bring together creative thinking, client service excellence, operational integration and commercial acumen to help shape the next chapter of our social offering.

The team exists to service clients across the agency through social strategy, campaign development, content planning, channel management, paid media, influencer marketing and creative activation. We partner with our earned teamsacross consumer, corporate, purpose-led, government and B2B briefs, helping brands and organisations navigate an increasingly social-first communications landscape.

As Associate Director, Client Services Lead, you will be the most senior client services specialist within the social team, acting as the operational and commercial engine behind some of the agency's largest and most strategically important accounts.

Reporting into the Head of Social, you will oversee a portfolio of high-profile retained and project-based clients including McDonald's, Prosus, You Can Adopt, government departments (DCMS and DHSC) and other ad hoc consumer briefs, while helping shape the future direction of the social team.  

This is a role for an experienced social specialist who combines outstanding client leadership with strong creative instincts. You will bring a consumer-first mindset to every brief, helping clients create campaigns, content and social experiences that cut through culture, influence behaviour and deliver measurable business outcomes.

You will be equally comfortable leading senior client relationships, navigating complex stakeholder environments, managing large integrated teams and helping transform ambitious ideas into executable programmes of work.

The successful candidate will be viewed internally and externally as a trusted senior adviser, able to bring clarity to complexity, elevate creative thinking and drive exceptional standards of account leadership.

Client Leadership

• Lead senior client relationships and provide strategic social counsel.
• Drive growth, innovation and reputation-building opportunities.

Strategy & Creativity

• Develop integrated social strategies and impactful campaigns.
• Lead culturally relevant, socially-led creative work.

Account Leadership

• Oversee complex accounts, budgets, resourcing and delivery.
• Ensure high-quality work delivered on time and budget.

Agency Collaboration

• Champion social thinking across integrated teams.
• Embed social expertise into wider communications planning.

Commercial Growth

• Grow existing accounts and support new business pitches.
• Maintain strong commercial and financial performance.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor and develop the social team.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Embrace our cornerstones of Love & Work, which require a passion for what we do and an ability of persevere.

Industry Expertise

• Stay ahead of platform, creator and technology trends.
• Help shape and evolve Freuds’ social offering.

Essential

• Extensive social media experience, ideally at Head of Social level.
• Proven agency experience leading major client relationships.
• Strong expertise in social strategy, content and campaign development.
• Experience managing complex accounts, stakeholders and budgets.
• Excellent communication, leadership and team development skills.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Desirable

• Government, public sector or behaviour change campaign experience.
• International brand and stakeholder management experience.
• Knowledge of earned, owned and paid social.
• Strong industry network and profile.