Sport Account Director

Account Director Sport This is an exciting opportunity to join our award-winning team. The role offers a rare opportunity to work on a diverse range of briefs within our sport team. We re looking for an Account Director with strong organizational and project management skills to work on our campaigns across online, digital, social, print and video content. ABOUT US About M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment This year marks twenty years of M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment - THE passions agency. For two decades the agency has been connecting brands to consumers through the things people love, making them culturally relevant through passions. The agency s clients include, adidas, Amstel, Ballantine s, Barclaycard, Barclays, Dreams, Google, Heineken, Howden, Jameson, Kia, Lego, Lynx, Malibu, Red Bull, Virgin Media O2 and WHOOP. With offices in UK, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, North America and South Africa, the team deliver the agency s core disciplines across sport, entertainment, and lifestyle, including sponsorship consultancy, rights amplification, PR, branded content creation & experiential production. The passions agency sits within the M&C Saatchi Group. Beyond this, the M&C Saatchi global network spans 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia and Australia. About The Role: As an Account Director in our team, you are responsible for the efficient day-to-day management of key accounts within the business. You will have a robust, integrated skillset and breadth of knowledge that extends into the wider marketing sphere, covering PR, partnerships , sponsorship , digital , experiential and influencer engagement. You are the central component in the team, ensuring the smooth running of all campaigns, leading client, rights-holder and partner communications. You display strong skills in managing your teams from Business Directors to Account Managers and Account Executives, as well as other internal teams including creative, production and design. You will have great enthusiasm for the sports & entertainment worlds, with a passion not only for sport, but the culture surrounding it, as well as music and arts. Key Responsibilities: General: Leading the day-to-day account and client teams Being the main point of contact for all clients owning relationships with them is important Leading on campaigns from planning to delivery with team members you will also have a role to play in strategic planning and creative idea generation Immersing yourself in the client s business and objectives Leading all budget management on the account including budget estimates, tracking / monitoring, and reconciliation Campaign Execution: Leading on the delivery of effective campaigns through to activation and evaluation Ensuring campaign activations are delivered on time and within budget Ensuring campaigns are delivered best-in-class and stay true to strategy and creative Providing client counsel and delivering creative solutions Developing talent recommendations, negotiating, and contracting where applicable Tracking and delivering activity and partnership to agreed KPIs PR & Comms: Advising on earned communications outputs to the client and messaging across PR, social and sponsorship assets Development of campaign platform and key messaging Strong knowledge of media and social media communications outputs, especially in relation to the specific needs of your client Building and maintaining quality relationships with key media across all relevant clients Managing and driving rich editorial opportunities including exclusives, interviews and features Continually monitoring media for all client coverage and articles of interest Team Management Motivating teams to deliver best in class work Lead internal meetings, assigning day-to-day account tasks and ensuring delivering to deadlines Resource projects accordingly with clear roles and responsibilities without overservicing Ensure teams follow processes An approachable source of knowledge for your team members, providing sound advice and direction About You: Enthusiasm for the job and passion for your work 6-8 years of Account / Client management experience in earned communications agency Strong written and verbal presentation skills with a knowledge of storytelling Experience in talent management and contracting Understanding of brand and rights holder partnerships, and experience in delivering contracted assets Deep understanding of the sport and entertainment landscape and trends Experience in managing team members to deliver campaigns and projects Positive-attitude, proactive and solutions driven WHAT WE VALUE MOST: OUR VALUES Excellence We have high standards. It s not about perfection but striving for the best. Going the extra mile(s) to achieve culture defining work. Progressiveness We are in tune with the ever-evolving passions landscape. We always work with integrity and authentically. Collaboration We focus on the collective rather than the individual. We bring brilliant minds together to interrogate work, finding unconventional and creatively rich storytelling. Resilience We work fast and furiously, responding to the cadence of culture, staying ahead of the curve. We trust our guts. We re passionate not precious. We re critical thinkers. Curiosity We make no assumption and challenge convention. What We Offer: For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package which includes minimum 25 days annual holiday, birthday day off, private healthcare, employer contributory pension, life assurance and income protection. We also offer a host of benefits that support wellbeing including subsided gym membership, inclusive bank holidays, tax free childcare and our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sees us offer learning opportunities around DE&I, targeted mentoring programmes and the opportunity to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success. The M&C Saatchi Group UK has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture brought to life through equity with an 18-month roadmap of business-wide activity across people, culture, industry, and society. As part of this, M&C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics. #LI-JL1 #J-18808-Ljbffr