Account Director (Lifestyle – Culinary and Arts & Culture Partnerships) (Payment Services Client)

Octagon•Stamford, CT

16d•$75,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Our headquarters are in Stamford, CT, but the location of this position can be flexible with a priority given to candidates open to hybrid work (3 days week in office) in one of our office locations - - Stamford, CT or New York, NY. New York, NY based employees may require occasional time out of the Stamford office for broader account team collaboration. Are you passionate about crafting exceptional arts & culture experiences and managing high-profile strategic partnerships? Do you thrive on leading dynamic teams to execute successful, memorable campaigns? If so, this could be your next significant career move within our Lifestyle team. We are looking for an Account Director to join our dynamic team. This person will manage traditional sponsorship partnerships with leading arts & culture institutions and will act as a main point of contact for the partners and the client. The Account Director will cultivate partner and vendor relationships, plan all elements needed to create excellent experiential events, manage partner and vendor relationships, and work closely with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver top-of-the-line experiences for our client’s brand. Our ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and an exceptional communicator. We are looking for a collaborative self-starter who is comfortable taking the lead, sharing innovative ideas, and managing complex, high-profile relationships.

Requirements

A genuine passion for lifestyle culture, arts, and Broadway institutions, with a strong understanding of the nonprofit and arts & culture landscape.
6+ years’ agency/client service experience, with a minimum of 4 years in event planning and execution
Proven experience managing strategic, multi-faceted partnerships with large-scale entities (e.g., non-profits, arts venues), including the integration of 360 traditional assets and event programming.
Experience managing traditional sponsorships with prestigious arts and culture organizations.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and to solve problems effectively and independently
Experience with on-site event management and execution, particularly for hosting and cultural events
Exceptional ability to manage diverse relationships with key partners
Detail-oriented work ethic, capable of managing multiple tasks simultaneously, producing high-quality work (e.g., reporting, client decks, budgets), and adhering to strict deadlines.
Excellent project management and organizational skills.
An outstanding organizer and communicator, adept at clear and persuasive communication.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).
Ability to supervise, manage, and mentor junior team members.

Nice To Haves

Budget management and/or reconciliation experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic partnership with prominent A&C institutions, managing the full spectrum of 360 traditional assets, including branding, signage, digital integration, and on-site event activations. Develop and execute a robust calendar of events and programming within this partnership.
Manage traditional sponsorship agreements, ensuring all contractual obligations are met, brand visibility is maximized, and partnership value is delivered.
Develop and implement consistent plans and approaches for executing each tier of activations, ensuring strong brand alignment and measurable outcomes.
Oversee all aspects of event planning and implementation (pre, during, and post-event), including logistics from venue research and selection to comprehensive wrap reports, detailed budgets, and critical timelines across all partnership types.
Direct the development, implementation, and execution of experiential events and sponsorships, encompassing production, on-site management, asset management, vendor management, and assistance in property negotiations for all urban development and arts & culture activations
Develop detailed activation/experience plans for all stakeholders prior to events and create comprehensive wrap-up reports following events.
Attend all key events, serving as the primary point of contact for vendors, guests, clients, and partners, including urban development contacts and arts & culture institution liaisons.
Identify and recommend potential cultural activations and innovative partnership opportunities
Maintain and proactively seek creative ways to enhance all partner relationships, fostering long-term value.
Act as the day-to-day contact for key clients, ensuring clear, proactive, and effective communication regarding all partnership initiatives.
Manage approvals of sponsorship branding and messaging for both onsite and digital collateral across all partnership types, ensuring brand guidelines are met.
Deliver unique, custom event solutions and partnership activations to key program collaborators, both internally and externally, on a regular basis.
Develop compelling post-event wrap-up presentations for clients directly following events, and compile comprehensive end-of-year recaps that highlight successes and learnings.
Own the budget for each individual event and partnership activation, ensuring fiscal responsibility and accurate tracking.
Manage all finance paperwork and documentation (creation of POs, job codes, and onboarding new clients/vendors into our systems).