Account Director, Partnership Marketing

The Company  

Allied Sports launched in 2019 with a singular mission – to lead modern marketers in the undeniable shift from Sponsor to Storyteller™. Today, we are an independent, full-service agency operating from the Allied Global Marketing network. Led by industry veterans with a rookie spirit, our award-winning team helps buyers and sellers in sports find, negotiate, and activate high-performing partnerships. Sports Business Journal named Allied Sports one of the Best Places to Work in Sports in 2023 and 2024, and Front Office Sports named the agency among the Best Employers in Sports for 2024.

At Allied Sports, we let our values speak louder than our value proposition. We begin every weekly all- company meeting by reinforcing the organizational values that define what it means to be Allied.

• Driven – All grit, no quit. We love what we do and use that drive to help our clients win every day.
• Versatile – Built for change. We strive for continuous improvement; progress, not perfection.
• Meticulous – Do the corners because details matter. Little things done well make big things happen.
• Real – We lead with transparency and vulnerability to empower teammates who feel heard and seen.
• One – We, not me. We always put team first and find every opportunity to reward the assist.

Opportunity

The Account Director will be responsible for leading the day-to-day strategy and sponsorship activation of a Partnership Marketing client.  The role also will support the account team and agency business initiatives with industry expertise, idea generation, and development of presentation materials.

Responsibilities 

The position of Account Director is client facing and expected to maintain an in-depth understanding of the client’s businesses and forge partnerships with client-side counterparts.

• Lead day-to-day management and oversight of a Partnership Marketing client’s sports sponsorships portfolio
• Responsible for ensuring that clients continually receive superior service, thinking and communication from Allied Sports and that strategy, insights, planning, programs, tactics, executions, budgets, schedules, documentation stay on track.
• Thoughtfully assist in the growth of the division’s business.
• Conceive, develop, and implement sponsorship initiatives, including customized programs and events, that build the client’s brand and provide a foundation to drive client business growth.
• Assist with the creation and implementation of materials to support sponsorship initiatives.  This will include leading marketing activation presentations and materials to be distributed to the client, agencies, and other counterparts.
• Assist with managing the client-property approvals process on behalf of client.
• Support sponsorship tactical implementation/coordination at all events where agency staff is needed. Specific services could include on-site presence, event implementation, talent management, hospitality management, ticket distribution, guest relations, and client relationship management.
• Help manage the sponsorship measurement and return on investment process in conjunction with all programs. Manage the creation of implementation and tracking materials, as needed, to support programs and initiatives.
• Manage client-vendor relationships and coordinate necessary activation deliverables on behalf of client.
• Help manage any program and event related budgets.
• Lead key meetings with internal & external constituents
• Provide support to VP on overarching account management and planning

Qualifications

• Prior sports sponsorship experience required
• Success at agency or client-based account management roles; specific disciplines could include partnership marketing, event marketing, creative services, public relations and / or media
• League and/or team experience, an understanding of the business of sports, sports media, IP rights and sponsorship
• Ability to foster relationships across internal and external partners
• Development and implementation of sponsorship marketing strategies on behalf of clients/companies
• “Big Idea” sell-in experience, with at least one idea implementation success example
• Project management experience with the ability to manage multiple projects independently and with a larger team
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, and to communicate such thoughts proactively, efficiently, and passionately
• Practical experience or interaction with advertising, media, PR and/or promotional agencies
• Excellent time management, written and verbal communication skills
• A positive and collaborative attitude that is team oriented and makes others excel
• Ability to travel 30% of the time
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite
• Able to work weekends, holidays and non-traditional hours, as required
• A minimum of 10 years of experience of agency, property or client-specific sponsorship management experience

Considerations

• Base salary range in New York, NY: $120K–140K annually
• This represents the salary range that Allied Sports, in good faith, might be willing to pay for this job at the time of this posting. Actual base salary depends on several factors, including market dynamics, location and region, experience, specialized skills/training (education), and level of responsibility. Allied Sports expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Allied Sports would consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range only in truly exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials, or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position.
• Hybrid schedule: Office in New York, NY with 3 days in-office (Tues-Thurs) and 2 days remote (Mon & Fri) weekly (subject to change)

Allied Sport is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

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