CLIENT SERVICES / Responsible for leading Octagon’s client business and day-to-day management for client partnerships & programs across College Sports.

*Our headquarters is in Stamford, CT, but the location of this position will be in our Atlanta, GA office location, hybrid 3 days per week*

Octagon is searching for a Group Account Director to join our team as a leader and playmaker at the intersection of sports, entertainment and experiential marketing. In this role, you will work closely with the Vice President of Client Services to help oversee the management, development and activation of our Home Improvement Client’s college sports partnerships. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to support initiatives across the agency, to potentially include new business RFPs, research projects, or other client programs.

A strong focus will be placed on strategic program development, team and client leadership, integrated planning across internal/external channels, presentation development/delivery, and driving collaboration with clients, properties, and internal teammates across the agency.

The position is best suited for a candidate with a working knowledge of the college sports industry. You will be capable of managing multiple workstreams, possess polished & persuasive communication skills, and have a strong knowledge of the sports & entertainment sponsorship landscape.

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

• Support annual planning and strategy development for client's college sports platform
• Oversee multiple sponsorship project work-streams from development through execution and results reporting
• Ability to act as lead day-to-day contact for clients – proactively manage requests and develop projects with clear objectives and strategic alignment
• Assist with the development of integrated annual sponsorship activation plans, initiatives, and campaigns
• Develop and deliver key documents to include senior executive presentations, strategic recommendations, competitive reports, best practice guides, and case studies
• Lead inter-agency projects and campaign development with key specialty areas including strategy, experiential, hospitality, creative, and digital
• Act as day-to-day lead for overall account management and processes
• Oversee annual budget planning and tracking
• Manage and develop junior team members; be a team leader cultivating an inclusive environment for all team members
• Build and cultivate positive client relationships
• Become an authority on our client's business and their competitive set
• Other related duties, as reasonably assigned

THE BIGGER TEAM YOU’LL JOIN

Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports”, Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing arm of the Interpublic Group.

We take pride in being Playmakers – finding insightful, bold ways to create play in our work, our lives, and in the world. We believe in the power of play to create big ideas and unlock potential for our clients and talent.

We can put ourselves in the shoes of fans because we ARE fans – of sports, entertainment, and culture at large. This expertise allows us to continually evolve the fan experience across sports and entertainment alongside some of the biggest brands and talent in the world.

The world needs play more than ever. Are you a Playmaker?

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 8-10 years of work with an agency, brand, or property on the development of integrated brand campaigns, specifically within global sports and/or entertainment.
• Overall positive and collaborative approach to solving problems with ideas – ability to build relationships and influence a range of teams
• Previous experience in college sports industry highly preferred
• Proven expertise in developing, managing, and optimizing large-scale budgets
• Superior verbal and written communicator - able to scale and adapt communications for different audiences to optimally and succinctly articulate agency positioning and expertise
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with a commitment to developing talent underneath and around you
• Strategic problem solver - can see the possible impacts of a decision on many projects
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically and work weekends as needed.
• A highly driven and motivated individual
• Exceptional communicator and strong PowerPoint skills to deliver creative, clear documents to senior stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically, and work weekends or holidays as needed. Anticipated travel level: Moderate (25-40%)

The base range for this position is $90,000 – 115,000. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background pertinent experience, and qualifications