Account Director

Wasserman operates at the epicenter of sports, music, entertainment and culture, serving talent, brands and properties on a global scale. Our brands and properties division works with iconic brands and rights holders, supporting business growth through all marketing disciplines. We’re a trusted partner to every major league, team and venue, building meaningful connections between brands, properties and fans.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman’s presence spans 27 countries and more than 66 cities, including New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.teamwass.com.

Job Description

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

As an Account Director you will be part of the CSM/Wasserman Middle East team, working across several of our biggest accounts. The role would see you working across different projects, and across different sports. You will manage day-to-day relationships between CSM/Wasserman’s and the client, be responsible for client account management, and manage discussions related to the client’s sponsorship strategy, the role it plays for them as a business and how that translates into activation planning and delivery for their current sponsorships. In additional, you will play a valuable strategic role across other client accounts also. We are looking for a candidate to bring great client skills, experience of working in the sponsorship industry and a passion for the sports & entertainment sector.

You will be part of our Brands team based in CSM/Wasserman’s KSA offices (with remote and flexible working options). You will work with colleagues across the Middle East as well as the wider global team, and will need to travel between UAE and KSA, as well as other countries in the region as required. You will report into an Associate Director with a dotted line into a Regional Managing Director and will have direct reports.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Account Management

• Leading the relationship with the client, and day-to-day management
• Developing relationships with key stakeholders in the client’s in-house teams
• Leading on client strategy updates and project planning
• Effectively leading regular project and status meetings with the clients and internally within the team
• Leading the development and management of project timelines, budgets, task tracking and other documents
• Manage internal and external ideation sessions and creative development
• Support the relationships and management of internal stakeholders, rights holders & suppliers
• Overseeing the team in implementation of all aspects of the account touch points including; general rights delivery, live event delivery, digital & social strategies, PR & Comms and guest management
• Join client in-house meetings as required, and provide subject matter expertise where needed. Lead the collaboration across other parts of the wider CSM business to ensure best possible client servicing
• Line management of Account Team members

Strategy & Consultancy

• Play a key role in the development and delivery of contracted strategy work for client accounts
• Provide general strategy & consultancy expertise across other CSM/Wasserman Middle East client accounts
• Support in new business projects with a strategy & consulting requirement, as well as providing insight and expertise in the early stages of new client work
• Develop strong collaborative relationships with the global CSM/Wasserman S&C team, and represent CSM/Wasserman Middle East on regular update calls

Administration

• Lead client meetings as required and ensure completion of agreed actions
• Create and present client-facing and internal presentations as required
• Manage the setting of client KPIs, evaluation, and other client reporting
• Make adjustments to strategy documents and project delivery documents as required

General

• Demonstrate a pro-active approach to client management, and a reputation for total reliability
• Efficient personal, people management and administrative skills
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for the clients’ business, and developing business understanding
• Develop effective working relationships with internal colleagues across all accounts
• Build a strong and long-lasting relationship with the client and other key stakeholders
• Contribute as required to wider agency New Business
• Active participant in agency events and activities

The Skills and Experience you will need

• University graduate
• Fluency in English, written and spoken. Arabic beneficial
• A clear passion for the business of sport, marketing and strategy
• 10+ years’ experience in Sports Marketing / Partnerships.
• Specific experience in strategy and consultancy in the sport landscape essential
• Experience of line management preferred
• Client-facing experience within the Middle East region. KSA beneficial
• Good presentation skills and ability to lead group discussions
• Outstanding written and oral communications skills, attention to detail
• Analytical and problem-solving mentality. Appetite for business understanding and strategic planning
• Ability to multi-task and work across a number of different workstreams
• Proven ability to prioritise, manage a team efficiently, and ability to work under pressure
• Solution-focused and hands-on approach to managing workstreams

Wasserman does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

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