Experiential Account Director (Mat Leave FTC)

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

At VML LIVE, we inspire growth for ambitious brands through sport and entertainment. For more than 25 years, we’ve made it our mission to engage audiences across the world’s biggest sports, major competitions and bespoke experiences. We work solely for brands, and we are rights-holder agnostic, meaning that we won’t compromise on driving the best results and ROI for our clients through their sport and entertainment partnerships. We are a close-knit, collaborative team with a unique and vibrant culture. Clients value our creativity, our innovative thinking and our strategic, insight-based approach to every challenge.

We are seeking a highly organised Account Director with significant sports sponsorship experience to play a lead role in overseeing a seven-person delivery team for our client. As part of the role, the successful candidate will be liaising with the F1 team, other WPP agencies, our client’s end market teams and our client’s central partnership team daily, as well as travelling to races and events where required. The Account Director will work within a client account team of twelve. This is very much a client facing role which provides extensive autonomy and significant opportunity for growth.

The Account Director is responsible for overseeing all projects across our entire client scope over the course of the year, as well as forward planning – spanning global partnership asset management and usage, end market activations and race hospitality programmes.

• External Reporting to the Head of Client Services, the Account Director will be accountable for overseeing the day-to-day delivery of an annual scope of work with the client.
• Overseeing an account team of seven to deliver for the client on a daily basis, including hospitality programmes, events, race team liaison, race team approvals, end market activation guidance, rights and assets tracking, reporting and content/activation approvals.
• Working with our Head of Client Services, Head of Motorsport and Account Director (Brand Activation) to provide F1 knowledge and strategic guidance to clients, in turn supporting them to deliver truly global sponsorship activations and hospitality programmes.
• Leading and co-ordinating seamless integration with all global, end market and regional teams around the world to ensure effective and sustained use of the partnership rights and benefits to deliver impact worldwide.
• Proactively manage and nurture client and stakeholder relations, quickly establishing a trusted adviser status on the account.
• Accountable for ensuring the coordination and effective use of all contractual assets across multiple teams/markets and events.
• Overseeing and signing off budgets for all events and projects, including client comms and reconciliations.
• Supporting the Head of Client Services in identifying opportunities to grow agency scope/income at a central or regional/end market level.
• Some travel and at-race event management required.

• Work alongside the BAT Brand Activation Account Director to ensure the overall agency Scopes of Work are delivered and that all team members are operating to a high standard.
• Managing ways of working at all events during the year and align all events and hospitality programmes to follow efficient and precise management standards.
• Accountable for managing event resourcing and overseeing all team travel across the season.
• Inspire and demonstrate senior leadership throughout the account, with contagious enthusiasm to solving client problems.
• Maintaining clear processes and communication standards for all members of the team.
• Day-to-day management of complex client finance, invoicing and budgeting, including regular use of our client’s budget management platform and annual scoping process.
• Work together with the Brand Activation Account Director and the Head of Client Services to proactively manage team development, performance reviews and personnel matters, demonstrating emotional intelligence throughout.
• Proactively coordinate with partner agencies, VML Live Stakeholders and WPP Stakeholders to both efficiently run and grow the account where possible.
• Coordinating and collaborating with cross-discipline team members, in particular the Brand Activation Account Director, to make sure that all parties are on track with project/race requirements, deadlines, and schedules.
• Facilitating change requests to ensure that all parties are informed of the impacts on deliverables and budget.
• Ensuring the account teams keep track of a risk and issue logs to identify and resolve issues.
• Conducting post-project evaluation for each project or race and identifying successful and unsuccessful project elements.

• Extensive experience in a similar position with a proven track record of success.
• Proven ability to manage complex multifaceted events, projects and cross-functional teams whilst working towards tight deadlines.
• Deep understanding of all aspects of marketing, communications, client services and project management, particularly in a sports sponsorship context.
• Enthusiasm, energy and an innovative approach to the role.
• International mindset with the ability to operate in global regions seamlessly.
• Partnerships experience is a must, F1 events experience would be preferable.
• Proven ability to juggle and oversee multiple workstreams and projects across various international markets to a high standard.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a high level of attention to detail and ability to present to audiences.
• Excellent people skills with a proven ability to build and cultivate strong client and internal relationships.
• Experienced in managing large complex budgets and demonstrable commercial awareness.
• Resilient and forward thinking in nature.
• Not afraid to appropriately challenge key stakeholders, both internally and externally, on creative, operational or strategic directions to ensure that the clients’ objectives are achieved.
• Ability to communicate in a leading foreign language, whilst not essential, would be advantageous.

In addition to the day-to-day, this role provides the opportunity to become a part of a company with a nurturing and trusting culture. We provide competitive benefits, a flexible working model and initiatives that support your career and wellbeing, including investment in training, 28 days holiday (+bank holidays), gym membership, ClassPass, Dental & Private Medical insurance to name a few.

At VML Live, a WPP company, we are committed to actively building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and heard, and is treated with dignity and respect. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for everyone as well as the clients and communities we serve.

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.