Account Director

ON BOARD EXPERIENTIAL

On Board Experiential (OBE) is an award-winning, full-service, experience-led agency that creates meaningful brand experiences worldwide. We have offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and NYC. We work with some of the top brands in the world such as  Nike, Meta, JPMorgan Chase, OpenAI, and Stripe, to name a few. Event Marketer has recognized OBE as one of the best places to work in events for 15 consecutive years. The most important part of our business is our people.

We believe in the power of diversity. We focus on conducting open meetings to facilitate discussions that challenge, inspire, and empower. We encourage each other to bring our whole selves to work. We want to hear about your lived experiences and unique perspectives.

SUMMARY OF POSITION 

The Account Director is a leadership position within the Account Team, delivering an exceptional level of service and execution of programs on behalf of our clients. Positioned as a mentor and manager for team members in the department and agency, the Account Director is responsible for generating and expanding our client accounts and relationships. This position requires a comprehensive understanding of our clients’ business needs and a competitive landscape.  They provide end to end project management on high profile large scale complex programs, offering creative and strategic solutions to deliver on program KPIs. This position is accountable for financial and operational performance, managing program budgets and resource utilization. The Account Director ensures that programs and marketing strategies successfully promote client brands, products, and services in accordance with client objectives and initiatives.   

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Serve as a strategic partner to clients by translating business objectives into integrated experiential and marketing solutions that drive measurable impact and long-term brand growth.  

• Demonstrate strategic thought leadership through insightful analysis of client business objectives, developing innovative solutions that strengthen brand presence, and deliver meaningful audience impact.  

• Partner with creative strategy and cross-functional teams to develop audience insights, brand positioning and strategic recommendations that inform concept development and integrated program solutions.   

• Lead and/or supervise client activations to ensure seamless planning, development and execution with the highest level of professionalism and accountability.  

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and/or supervise other account personnel, such as Account Managers, Account Coordinators, Interns, and external teams. 

• Develop and manage program SOWs ensuring resources, budgets, timelines, and deliverables remain aligned with contractual agreements and client commitments.  

• Critically evaluate program performance and offer strategic solutions to optimize client budgets, staffing plans, and internal resource allocation. 

• Provide oversight of program budgets, resource allocation, timelines, and creative deliverables to ensure alignment with client objectives, contractual commitments, and internal standards. Lead proactive and solutions-oriented conversations when priorities, budgets, or expectations shift. 

• Provide mentorship and candid, real time feedback to direct reports, cross-functional team members as needed and appropriate.  

• Drive organic growth and new business opportunities across existing and prospective clients relationships, including leading RFP processes, identifying strategic partnerships, and expanding agency service offerings. Remain current on industry trends, competitive landscapes, evolving consumer behaviors, and emerging creative and technology innovations. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior client stakeholders, serving as a trusted advisor through proactive communication, strategic counsel, and consistent delivery excellence. 

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE  

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in account management, experiential marketing, integrated marketing, promotions, and/or events within an advertising, media, marketing, or experiential agency environment. 

• Integrated digital marketing and content campaign experience strongly desired. 

• Strong project management capabilities, organization skills, attention to detail, and ability to juggle multiple projects in a demanding but highly collaborative environment. 

• Significant client service experience supporting on-site and/or virtual event programs required. 

• Brand management experience a plus.   

• Experience with strategic sponsorships, partnership development, and negotiations is a plus. 

• Exceptional track record growing and managing client relationships with key stakeholders, and executive decision-makers.   

• BA/BS in marketing, business administration, communications, or related field; MBA degree is a plus. 

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to actively listen, adapt communication styles to varying audiences, build trust authentically, and confidently navigate high-pressure situations. 

• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and self-awareness with the ability to navigate conflict independently, guide teams through challenging conversations, and recognize when to escalate or seek support. 

• Strong communication skills with ability to connect with others authentically while equally honoring and respecting diverse perspectives.    

• Ability to build trust and respect through active coaching, communication, and listening. 

• Demonstrated track record of developing and mentoring account team personnel. 

• Forward-thinking problem solver with the ability to proactively anticipate obstacles, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and develop timely, strategic solutions. 

• Must have experience managing financials and forecasts. 

• Proficient in Office365, Ziflow, Smartsheet, ClickUp.  

OTHER QUALITIES AND SKILLS 

• Natural curiosity—the drive to always be learning and growing, professionally and personally. 

• Team-oriented, driven, focused, passionate, and able to stay levelheaded under pressure.  

• Proactive self-starter who takes the initiative on tasks and is solutions oriented.  

• Flexibility to support non-traditional working hours as business needs and program timelines require. 

• Experience working with international teams and multiple time zones.  

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and stay on your feet for extended periods of time. 

• Willingness to work a hybrid schedule (up to 2 days in office) and travel up to 50% of the time. 

• Ability to communicate in Spanish, German or Chinese is a plus. 

Compensation Range: $110,000 - $160,000 annually. This is the pay range OBE believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the level of experience, relevant skills, professional certifications, market pay, and demand for the role. OBE reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, Benefits include medical/dental/vision insurance, employer-paid basic life and personal accident insurance. Also included: Annual Profit Sharing/Bonus Plan based on the company’s performance and your individual performance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, PTO, STD/LTD insurance benefits. 

On Board Experiential is An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.