Senior Engagement Lead

The August Jackson Company•Chicago, IL

2d•$140,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Engagement Lead ensures that AJ’s clients have the best experience by leading with curiosity, proactivity, and authenticity. The person in this role advocates for clients and internal teams, works with the internal team to develop strategic end-to-end event and communications deliverables, and serves as a critical link between clients and the internal AJ team. The role requires a strong strategy mindset, the desire to build genuine client relationships, intellectual curiosity, an active focus on growing the business/portfolio, and acting as a trusted advisor in a dynamic, ever-changing environment. The ideal candidate understands the importance of building trust with internal teams and with clients. You are a connector, a vision architect, an advocate, and lead with ambition, not ego. Your main objective in this role will be to come in with a high level of openness to listen and learn, anticipate needs, and build strong internal and external relationships to genuinely understand your clients' mindsets. You understand that trust is earned and work to create a foundation where it can grow and flourish. This is a full-time position with a salary range of $140,000-$160,000 based on experience and industry, along with a 10% annual performance bonus. Ideally, this role will be hybrid out of the downtown Chicago office; however, a remote setup is available if the fit is right. The position reports to the VP, Group Engagement Lead.

Requirements

A degree in marketing or a related field
At least 10 years of marketing experience in a client service environment
Intellectual curiosity that will set you apart as a “partner” and not a “vendor” to clients
Deep passion and fluency in our business offerings, including events, communications, and digital services
Skilled in fostering positive relationships and ensuring clear, productive dialogue with everyone involved
Adept at adjusting communication style and forging authentic partnerships for different audiences and contexts
Eagerness to partner with internal stakeholders in other disciplines (creative, design, production, etc.)
Strong communicator who captures attention, conveys ideas clearly, and fosters connection
Critical decision-making with strong instincts, fueled by a natural intellectual curiosity
Confident executor who approaches tasks with precision and determination
Ability to manage complex solutions involving multiple stakeholders with ease
Highly organized, with exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accurate and efficient task completion
Unfazed by tight deadlines and conflicting priorities

Responsibilities

Come to the table with a strong, confident, strategic POV with relevant and interesting insights and solutions to clients and to the internal teams.
Bring a confident point of view with relevant and interesting insights and solutions to clients and to the internal team.
Oversee big picture client projects while ensuring flawless execution of details.
Serve as end-to-end strategy lead on projects, ensuring that deliverables align with the client’s strategy and support larger organizational goals.
Provide scope specifications for new work, collaborate with the Producer to budget and build SOWs for fee-based work, and approve budgets and SOWs before sending to clients, in partnership with leadership.
Manage the business in compliance with the governing Master Services Agreement for the client relationship, and develop account plans and forecasts for clients, analyzing and reporting revenue by client.
Mentor and coach the broader team by providing them with ongoing guidance, support, and partnership.
Collaborate closely with the Creative Director, Producer, Designer and executives on client projects to ensure alignment, synergy, and high-quality standards.
Foster strong internal relationships by maintaining high standards and expectations for work and atmosphere, encouraging curiosity and proactivity.
Maintain the accuracy of the assigned client portfolio in our CRM system.
Proactively document and follow up on any budgeting, billing, invoicing, or payment issues related to clients.
Build meaningful, authentic relationships with clients, always striving to earn the position of trusted advisor.
Anticipate client needs by listening carefully to understand, diagnose, and solve their problems, bringing authenticity to their messaging and ensuring the work aligns with the client’s purpose and brand identity.
Successfully integrate self into the client’s business structure ("speak their language").
Lead client meetings and work side-by-side with clients in a collaborative way.
Listen for opportunities with existing clients and within the marketplace.
Organically grow the portfolio of business by meeting and/or exceeding annual goals.