SUMMARY OF POSITIONOBE is looking for a passionate, highly motivated VP, Account Services candidate to join a fast-paced, dynamic team within On Board Experiential. This role is the inward-facing engine of the Account Team: it owns the health, retention, and growth of existing client relationships, complementing the Chief Growth Officer's outward-facing focus on new business and market expansion. The successful candidate will balance their time between leading and mentoring teams and managing the business of existing accounts.
LEADERSHIP - Co-leads the Account Team alongside the Chief Growth Officer, leading with the agency's performance-based culture and setting the appropriate leadership tone for the team.
- Act as oversight and guide teams on multiple projects simultaneously across functional teams, both internal and external.
- Provide mentorship and candid real time feedback to direct reports, cross functional team members as needed and appropriate.
- Ensure team members are properly evaluated, hired, and trained in accordance with company best practices.
- Be fully versed and effectively implement all OBE administrative and operational policies.
CLIENT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - Serve as senior strategic advisor to existing top-tier clients, demonstrating thought leadership with insightful analysis of client objectives and developing innovative solutions that enhance the brand's presence.
- Own executive-level client relationships, accountable for account health, client satisfaction, and retention.
- Set strategic direction for client projects, including annual and ongoing account planning focused on deepening existing relationships.
- Manage stakeholder engagement, ensuring each stakeholder is engaged appropriately, timely, and efficiently.
- Demonstrate forward-thinking and excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to proactively anticipate obstacles, communicate with appropriate parties, and create timely solutions.
- Drive and/or supervise client activations to ensure proper planning, development, and execution with the utmost professionalism and accountability.
- Approve client MSAs and program SOWs, ensuring resources, budgets, timelines, and deliverables stay aligned with contract terms and client commitments.
- Support assigned account teams on all functional and tactical aspects of execution, including budgeting, timelines, KPIs, measurement, evaluation, modification and enhancements, training, and reporting.
TEAM GROWTH & MENTORSHIP - Actively listen and empower others to lead conversations, motivate others, and share confidence in others with authenticity.
- Recognize audience needs with varying tones and approaches, with the ability to read the room and address issues immediately and honestly.
- Ability to self-navigate through conflict resolution, recognizing when to seek support, with strong self-awareness of one's own energy and contribution.
- Ability to guide teams through conflict resolution and recognize when to seek support.
- Identify training needs and growth opportunities for individuals and departments.
- Collaborate with Leadership and the Executive team, including the Chief Growth Officer, to identify strengths and development opportunities across the account team.
ACCOUNT GROWTH & CLIENT DEVELOPMENT - Drive organic growth within the existing account roster through upsell, cross-sell, and account expansion opportunities.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of OBE's range of products and services and the ability to sell these into existing client work.
- Continually identify opportunities to deepen and diversify client relationships beyond the immediate program.
- Partner with the Chief Growth Officer and new business team on RFPs and pipeline opportunities where existing client relationships or expertise can support the effort.
- Actively network within the client's organization and industry to strengthen and broaden the relationship.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY - Demonstrate a firm understanding of account-level profitability, contribution margins, resource efficiencies, and utilization; accurately manage reports and share updates with the Executive team on a regular cadence.
- Oversee project budgets, including tracking, billing, contributions, rate cards, and client approvals.
- Approve budgets and contracts over threshold; lead high-level contract negotiations for existing accounts.
- Identify and leverage new revenue opportunities within the existing account roster for agency growth
SUCCESS METRICS - Account growth percentage (organic growth, upsell/cross-sell)
- Client satisfaction scores
- Delivery and profitability health of assigned accounts
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE - 10+ years of experience in marketing, promotions, and events within a marketing agency, preferably experiential marketing
- Must have minimum 7 years in Account / Client services experience, Brand management experience a plus.
- BA/BS in marketing, business administration, communications, or related field; MBA degree is a plus.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Strong communication skills with ability to connect with others authentically while equally honoring and respecting diverse perspectives.
- Ability to build trust and respect through active coaching, communication, and listening.
- Exceptional track record growing and managing client relationships with key stakeholders, and executive and C suite decision makers.
- Superior presentation skills and ability to effectively engage and influence a variety of audiences.
- Excellent ability to pro-actively identify issues/obstacles and create timely and effective solutions.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, multiple commitments, and deadlines.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and in teams.
- Must be able to work in a collaborative manner both internally and with clients.
- Excellent organizational and analytical skills and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
- Experience managing program financials and forecasts.
OTHER QUALITIES AND SKILLS - Natural curiosity-the drive to always be learning and growing, professionally and personally.
- High energy and flexibility in working non-traditional hours as needed (some nights and weekends as deadlines dictate).
- Ability to lift to 25 pounds and stay on your feet for extended periods of time.
- Willingness to work a hybrid schedule (up to 4 days in office) and travel up to 50% of the time.
Compensation Range: $192,500 - $225,000 annually. This is the pay range OBE believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the level of experience, relevant skills, professional certifications, market pay, and demand for the role. OBE reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, Benefits include medical/dental/vision insurance, employer-paid basic life and personal accident insurance. Also included: Annual Profit Sharing/Bonus Plan based on the company's performance and your individual performance, 401(k), Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, PTO, STD/LTD insurance benefits.
