Group Director - F1

Do you want to work with one of the world’s most iconic brands, competing in the pinnacle of motorsports? If so, read on…

We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced Group Director to sit within the heart of our growing motorsports team to deliver an exciting activation schedule in F1. This fantastic opportunity will sit within our motorsports team at Octagon and be the programme lead that brings this partnership to life at circuits globally. You’ll be the senior level point of contact for our client’s events and sponsorship team and will lead a team managing the partnership planning and development, event executions, marketing and digital promotion/activation and asset tracking. This position offers an opportunity to lead a large sized team and develop as a subject matter expert.

Key skills we’re looking for:

• Sponsorship Activation
• Brand Management
• Project Management
• People Management
• Strategic and Creative Thinking
• Leadership
• Rights Management
• Hospitality
• Activation
• Partnership Marketing

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has 12+ years’ experience in a client service and sponsorship activation role with agency or brand marketing experience.
• Has a passion for and expertise in sports, entertainment and sponsorship marketing – F1 experience a strong plus.
• Has excellent account management skills and can clearly present ideas, creative solutions and address challenges/obstacles head on.
• Has experience developing detailed sponsorship activation plans, initiatives and campaigns with cross-functional agency/client teams.
• Has the ability to balance a number of projects and tasks simultaneously and consistently deliver high quality work to tight deadlines and when under pressure.
• Has prior experience serving as liaison between brand and partners, both internal and external, with the ability to become the brand gatekeeper.
• Has strong leadership, client relationship management skills and a people-first management approach.
• Is comfortable with a moderate amount of travel that will be required throughout the year, including nights and weekends.
• Enjoys working and being part of a fast-paced big team and is able to communicate requirements, ideas and expectations at all levels.
• Has the ability and flexibility to work some weekends and travel internationally as necessary.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a multi-functional team across our agency network to implement and deliver on one or more client global activation plans.
• Manage scoping conversations with the client, including proposals/costings, resource planning (internal), and ongoing tracking and reporting.
• Coordinate projects with agency partners and internal Octagon departments.
• Nurture and develop best practices, driving efficiencies across the team, providing counsel and strategic insights and recommended ways of working.
• Lead the team operations including programming, asset utilization and ideation, leadership of project process and compliance, wrap-up reports and budget management capabilities.
• Provide senior insights on motorsport industry trends and best practices, leveraging insights and industry knowledge to drive results internally, whilst continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Establish and build key working relationships across the Octagon and IPG network in the UK.
• Build strong relationships with clients and rights holders at a senior level.
• Deliver against account financial business plans reviewing staffing structures, teams and resourcing.
• Work closely with the finance and legal leads to implement commercial processes that mitigate risk with both supplier and client contracting.
• Line management of 1-2 direct reports, providing day-to-day oversight, guidance and career development opportunities for the wider team.
• Lead and grow key relationships including F1 rights holder and third-party vendor partners.
• Provide oversight for the account team’s day-to-day activities and quality control for all client-facing materials.
• Prepare presentation documents supporting strategies, ideations, sponsorship evaluations, POV’s, program overviews, recap summaries, finances and partnership opportunities.
• Develop a working knowledge and understanding of the client’s business initiatives and marketing trends.

We also run a number of internal programmes to support physical and mental wellbeing, alongside learning and development opportunities to support career development and progression.

You will also need to have:

• Solid agency experience working in a similar role, ideally with experience in F1.
• High-level PowerPoint skills, Excel and Outlook and a confidence to present internally and externally.

It’s not essential but will be advantageous if:

• You are fluent in any other languages.

WHO YOU’LL BE JOINING 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?

ABOUT US

Octagon is a global creative agency in sports, entertainment and culture.

We’re part of a wider family of agencies – the Octagon R&CPMK – a group of specialist agencies working with brands, athletes, and celebrities. Group agencies include Futures Sport & Entertainment, FRUKT and No2ndPlace. We’re all part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), one of the world’s most respected advertising networks.

Founded in 1982 with over 800 employees around the globe. Our Headquarters is in Stamford, Connecticut with further offices around the world including: New York, LA, Miami, McLean, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg, Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Manchester.

We believe that great brands own an idea in the minds of their audience. For Apple, it’s creativity. For Nike, it’s performance. For BMW it’s Joy. For Coca-Cola, it’s happiness. For Mastercard, it’s priceless experiences.

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

We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.

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