About Studio Ongarato For 30 years, Studio Ongarato has challenged the conventions of branding, wayfinding and placemaking. Founded always on a rigorous, strategic interrogation of brand and context, our ideas connect on an experiential level that elevates clients to the forefront of cultural influence. Like the concepts they create, the people of Studio Ongarato are diverse and fiercely original.

Renowned as designers, curators and editors, architects, art directors and craftspeople, we seek unique, compelling outcomes for each project, often in close collaboration with leading artists and artisans. Based in Australia, Europe, Asia and Americas, the studio operates without borders for clients drawn principally from the realms of hospitality and hotels, retail, property and arts and culture.

About the Role

Studio Ongarato’s Brand Account Management team consists of Account Managers, the Business Development and Strategy Director and the General Manager. This team is primarily responsible for managing all client relationships, supporting business development, project administration and the financial viability and growth of the business.

The SAM is expected to establish a strategic approach to the development of our client’s business / brand; through this enhancing the relationship and realising a level of innovation that allows our clients to lead and influence in their respective fields. The SAM works across projects with existing clients and will be responsible for maintaining the overall quality of our creative projects.

Reporting to the Senior Account Director, the SAM will be responsible for:

- Managing a portfolio of clients day to day
- Managing the creative process internally
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on budget and on time





Our Senior Account Director, General Manager and Directors will continue to be involved at the high level of the client relationships for an initial period of induction and will mentor the SAM through existing projects to ensure continuity of the client’s experience working with Studio Ongarato. The SAM position is for our Melbourne studio.

Responsibilities

Client & Project Management The SAM is responsible for day to day management of their client relationships. Working closely with the SAD, GM and Directors, you will be expected to:

- Nurture and grow client relationships
- Understand and deliver on clients' project objectives
- Set and manage client expectations
- Build and manage client project schedules
- Prepare task briefs, meeting agendas, and meeting notes
- Keep communication open and explicit — troubleshooting and negotiation are key
- Develop a deep understanding of clients' businesses, sectors and competitors
- Drive organic growth by identifying new opportunities, expanding scope and influencing clients

Workflow Planning & Traffic Management You will be responsible for the management of your projects in the studio. You contribute to weekly workflow planning and monthly long range workflow planning and resource allocation. In this capacity you will be expected to:

- Manage the design team on your projects,



helping prioritise tasks and budgeted hours
- Plot project workflow against timing and budget
- Do weekly workflow planning and update project status notes for WIP meetings (via Scoro)
- Proactively inform GM of medium to long-term resourcing requirements for all projects with respect to managing staffing levels (full-time and freelancers).

Financial Management & Administration You are responsible for day to day monitoring and management of all project finances,

including development of estimates, managing out of scope works/author’s corrections,

monthly invoicing of client projects and monthly forecasting. You are expected to:

- Estimate project fees for existing clients, with input from the SAD and GM to ensure pricing meets SO requirements
- Keep financial administration in order, with regards to purchase orders, running costs and daily timesheets via Scoro
- Manage supplier invoices, project scope and fee variations
- Handle end-of-month forecasting and monthly invoicing
- Achieve or exceed project profitability

About You

- Minimum 4 years' experience as a Senior Account Manager within a design consultancy
- Experience across diverse sectors and disciplines; architectural and brand design experience highly regarded
- Strong graphic design project management skills
- Proven client relationship management
- Solid understanding of project finances, including forecasting, management and reporting
- People management skills
- Exceptional communication skills
- Understanding of, and ability to contribute to, strategy process

How to Apply If you fit the above criteria please submit your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]

📌 Senior Account Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Studio Ongarato
📍 Melbourne