Senior Account Director - Events & Brand Experience

Crunch is a leading motorsport consultancy, working with some of the biggest brands in the sport and the world. The fans, the readers, the viewers, the players, the drivers, the mums and dads, the media, the clients and the customers. It was a conversation in London in 2008 from which the company was founded and since that fateful evening we have been on a mission to deliver braver sponsorship activation that gets the blood pumping and delivers tangible results. The successful candidate will have proven competence directing multiple client account teams for high-profile brands or organisations within the Formula One or the motorsport sponsorship landscape, with at least seven-plus years’ experience, client servicing, events and sponsorship management, including at least two years as an Account Director level or equivalent. Event accounts range from F1 (& other sport) global hospitality programmes to bespoke global events with complex operations and logistics. This person will be responsible for ensuring all agency event and hospitality accounts/teams deliver to the standards required – you will be accountable for these teams, with staff reporting directly into you. Other responsibilities range from client servicing, project management to financial set-up, time forecasting, budget management alongside the ADs – feeding back to the senior management on a regular basis. This person will have exemplary quality process management / event management skills and rigorously ensure these practices are adhered to across agency teams, nurturing and training members of staff in these practices where necessary. The candidate will thrive on multi-tasking across numerous clients and projects, in a fast-paced environment, displaying exceptional attention to detail and excellent communication skills both spoken and written. Whilst the focus is on the client delivery of events, a commercial awareness and experience in sports sponsorship marketing/integrated marketing is required. You will be required to create and lead on account proposals where appliable maintaining Crunch best practices. As part of a small team, delivering events across the world on a weekly basis, a willingness/flexibility to be involved in every element of the programme is essential. An energetic, enthusiastic and “can do” team attitude is critical, as well as the ability to work under minimal supervision by the senior management team. Whilst your account teams will manage the majority of events onsite, there will be an occasional requirement to travel to events and project manage onsite for key activities and to build client relationships where needed. With a team of staff reporting into you, you will lead staff appraisals with team development and training forming part of your remit, ensuring career progression is supported. Take a proactive leadership role, with a positive ‘can do’ attitude, ensuring all event/hospitality projects are delivered on time, within budget and standards exceed clients’ expectations Full quality control over Crunch event management documentation (budgets, plans, logistics etc.) Utilise and manage supplier relationships to deliver projects on brief and within budget as well as assess supplier contracts and research alternative and new suppliers to ensure Crunch is always recommending the best approach for the client Report into the senior management team where necessary Strong commercial awareness, with a thorough understanding of client fee forecasts, writing accurate budgets, managing service levels and resource planning to ensure profitable and effective delivery of accounts Taking full ownership of account programmes from concept to reconciliation and working with the team to realise the programme Proactively identify and look for new business ideas and ways to grow the accounts organically through understanding the client’s objectives and requirements Empower and inspire your direct reports with the knowledge and understanding to help them reach their full potential and build their confidence so they are capable of working with less supervision Knowledge sharing within the team and wider business especially taking a lead at company meetings to present best practice, training and brainstorms where relevant Responsibility for all event client account budgets, including creation of estimates and project reconciliations, ensuring all events remain on track On-site director where necessary, ensuring the preparation is well organised and all documentation is in place to brief the team Support with leading creative sessions, writing client responses, PPT presentations and reports for the client / Crunch as required Support the Client Partnership Director, with the implementation of best practices to ensure all events and hospitality programmes are delivered to Crunch standards. Excellent client management skills with a proven track record of providing counsel to senior clients and influencing stakeholders Proven track record of planning and managing live sport event programmes/guest experiences is essential Experience of event management processes and support beyond delivery of objectives alone Organised with good time management, both independently and when working as part of a team Champion of best practice, leading by example and making sure that project systems and procedures are set up and adhered to correctly by all team members Excellent client servicing, leadership and communication skills Excellent communication and presentation writing (PPT) skills Happy to travel globally to events, working some evenings and over multiple weekends – must have a valid and usable passport (it must be renewed if it is about to run out) Ability to speak another language desirable If you’re looking for a vibrant place to work, where you can get involved in multiple fast-paced projects with some of the largest and most well-known global clients in motorsport, then you’re in the right place We’re committed to investing in career development and we look to nurture and develop talent to help you grow in your role We have a generous holiday allowance which increases by one day each year you work for us! Plus, we have a great benefits scheme and pay an industry-competitive salary.