Account Director

THE JOB / Account Director

The Account Director (AD) is a strategic leader responsible for the overall development and management of large-scale or multiple client accounts. They have a high level of client interaction, overseeing the client relationship and taking the lead in selling and developing new programs. ADs actively participate in new business development, generating leads, and engaging in presentations and meetings. They also play a leadership role in internal initiatives, such as management committees and staff events. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, multitasking abilities, and excellent communication and presentation skills are essential for this role.

The ideal candidate for the Account Director position is an experienced brand marketer who excels in building positive relationships with clients, colleagues, and third parties. They possess expertise in project planning and management, brand marketing advisory, and integration of channels and stakeholders. The right candidate enjoys problem-solving, collaborating with a team, and has agency experience. They bring innovative thinking, a willingness to explore new territories, and a drive to challenge the status quo. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong organizational, time management, and communication skills, contributing strategically and creatively during planning and execution stages while overseeing account budgets.

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

Client Relationship Development:

• Serve as a senior client partner of one or more key Octagon client account teams, demonstrating the relevant expertise, gravitas and charisma to cultivate and manage relationships in order to be seen and respected as a trusted leader and point-person by the client while driving business/projects forward
• Work with our clients / rights holders to leverage their partnerships/sponsorships with the goal to meet client business objectives and shared goals
• Lead day-to-day client interface to ensure sound comprehension of and adherence to brand guidelines, business objectives, budgetary parameters, delivery timelines and impactful results and help set the strategic vision and plan for our client
• Drive the client relationship reviews and analysis of client objectives

Account and Program Leadership and Delivery:

• Lead from the front with a ‘can do’ attitude and proactive ownership of projects and process, upholding the highest quality standards, both in service and deliverables.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the account team which includes leading client status meetings, managing programming tracking documents, developing informative & thoughtful POVs, crafting insightful wrap-up reports that will advise sensible marketing plans and real-time campaign improvements, and strategic budget management capabilities
• Manage multiple projects on a daily basis, with a proactive approach
• Conduct pre-planning, management, and implementation for events, including vendor vetting and selection, contract review and negotiation, and requisite event activation plans and supporting communication documents (i.e., Work Plans, Event Overviews, Event Guides, etc.)
• Oversee the management of consumer-facing programming – including channel integration, vendor management, budget management, program and event execution, and recapping
• Create and inspire relationships with partner agencies to drive regional interconnected programming
• Develop a deep understanding of local market teams’ needs & objectives
• Maintain strategic partnerships, identifying sponsorship and collaboration opportunities that drive client’s business growth.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, best practices and emerging technologies.

Business Development:

• Actively identify, create and pursue new opportunities across the client’s brand portfolio
• Participate in new business development efforts via prospecting and contributing to the development of proposals
• Generate forward-thinking, creative ideas to improve sponsorship-led programs and develop differentiated use of existing partnerships

Financial Acumen:

• Oversee and drive financial health of accounts: maximizing long and short-term profit opportunities, remaining financially aware and ensuring that the company’s profit margin is achieved
• Review of actual v SOW fees on a monthly basis, lead client discussions and update on expenses / fee overages whilst negotiating payment, resulting in additional revenue

Team Management:

• Effectively manage direct reports, inspiring loyalty, and commitment, providing relevant level of support while instilling confidence, motivation and empowerment, while providing feedback on a regular basis and ensuring career progression is supported, allowing team members to become effective, independent and increasingly capable of working well with less supervision
• Continually build, grow and maintain our culture, demonstrating our All in Play attitude and values in all colleague, client and stakeholder interactions
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Creative and Strategy

Growing Agency Expertise:

• Additional projects as assigned, which may include: assistance on other events and hospitality programs, sponsorship evaluations, competitive reviews, POVs, white papers, property research, etc.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and 6 - 8+ years’ experience working in account management, project management or client service with a brand, agency and/or team or sports or entertainment property; experiential, sponsorship activation or content production experience is a plus
• Extensive experience of owning and growing positive and effective relationships with senior client stakeholders, resulting in account growth and evolution; ability to cultivate strong relationships with staff, other internal stakeholders, vendors and partners
• Understanding of sports marketing, sponsorship and partnership development
• Ability to develop and execute tailored partnership strategies aligning with business objectives and brand values.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills to establish and maintain partnerships.
• Strong knowledge in negotiating and managing sponsorship contracts.
• Ability to develop and implement co-branded marketing campaigns.
• Experience working with creative, PR and media agencies
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Software (specifically PowerPoint, Excel and Word)

Skills:

• Strong client management skills and possesses the confidence to provide them with strategic guidance and direction
• Team leadership and management skills
• A sense of business process and how marketing, communications, and events are used to impact the bottom line and brand objectives
• Exceptional attention to detail, alongside organizational, time and project management skills
• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills; ability to articulate clearly and offer a strong, collaborative and constructive presence and personality in client and internal meetings – communicating with conviction, enthusiasm and confidence

Ability:

• Ability to balance multiple sophisticated tasks simultaneously
• Capability and comfort in overseeing and driving large budgets, showing excellence of financial management
• Capacity to quickly become knowledgeable on our clients’ industry, brand, product offerings and competitors
• Proven ability to think analytically & strategically
• Ability to negotiate complex contracts to favorable resolution
• Strong ability to work within a team, demonstrate initiative, and solve problems effectively and independently

Others:

• You have a passion and/or interest in the power of sports and/or entertainment, gaming, music and/or celebrity & lifestyle culture
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work weekend/holidays as needed