THE JOB / Senior Account Manager, (College Sports) (Home Improvement Client)

CLIENT SERVICES / Responsible for leading Octagon’s client business and day-to-day management of client programs.

***Our headquarters is in Stamford, CT, but the location of this position must be hybrid out of our Atlanta, Georgia office (3 days week in office).

We are looking for a Senior Account Manager to manage the client’s college sports partnerships. This position involves, but is not limited to, strategy, creative development and execution, day-to-day client/partner management, activation budget planning / management, hospitality, experiential activation, and overall oversight of partner programming. The ideal candidate is a self-starter, highly organized, able to multitask, and works independently. This position requires excellent communication and time management skills, acute attention to detail, and client management. The Senior Account Manager will work closely with the Account Directors who oversee each of the client’s college sports partnerships day-to-day, as well as with key partners from the client team, agency, and internal Octagon teams.

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

• Key member of the Home Improvement account team
• Lead and develop planning initiatives to leverage client’s College GameDay and NCAA partnership assets and support client business objectives
• Partner with internal specialty groups and spearhead the collaboration, planning, and development of all client programming to support the partnership
• Craft strategic recommendations for the sponsorship campaign that are relevant, rooted in fan behavior and aligned with brand initiatives and the client target audience
• Lead all aspects of the relationship with our key sponsorship partner(s) including the property and vendors, and be the key day-to-day point of contact on behalf of the client
• Lead delivery, management, and development of core sponsorship branding assets and integrations
• Oversight and management of direct reports, while also supporting career development
• Manage budgets and finances related to programs
• Provide on-site hospitality needs as necessary, as well as management of on-site staff
• Prepare formal documentation for projects including project management trackers, timelines, sell-in decks, agency POVs, program overviews, recap summaries, etc.
• 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

• A passion for sports and entertainment with a focus on college sports
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 5-7 years of sponsorship account management and/or sponsorship/brand marketing experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral
• Exceptional client service
• Proficiency in budget management
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (in particular PowerPoint, Word, Excel)
• Experience in presentation development
• An impressive work ethic with the initiative to consistently go above and beyond with individual work responsibilities or team projects
• Superior organizational skills, careful attention to detail and the ability to multi-task across multiple programs and projects
• Strong ability to show initiative and solve problems independently
• Collaborative in nature with a “no job is too small” attitude to assist with overall account team duties and additional programs as needed
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, and work weekends or holidays as needed. Anticipated travel level: Moderate (20-45%)

Based on an annual salary of $65,000 – $75,000. 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.

Octagon’s comprehensive benefit package includes:

• Unlimited PTO policy – we understand you need time for play!
• Competitive medical/dental/vision insurance plans with FSA/HSA and Dependent Care FSA options. Pet Insurance for those who need it too!
• Generous Family and Parental Leave Policy (12 weeks) with eligibility extended to all parents regardless of gender or primary/secondary caregiver status 
• Access to our parent company (IPG) Savings plan (401K program) with company match as well as an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Pretax Transportation/Commuter Benefits and Parent Travel Program
• Dedicated Mental Health resources including Headspace membership, Employee Assistance Program (CCA) and more
• Discount portal for everyday goods and services
• Employee Resource Groups and inclusive diversity programming and initiatives
• Personal Development programs 

Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.