THE DETAILS:

Job Title: Strategic Client Lead
Department: Client Services
Reports to: Business Director (UK)
Responsible for: No direct reports
Hours: Full time, flexibility required based on client needs
Location: USA, Florida / East Coast, working remotely. Regular trips to visit clients face to face in the US will be required, as well as regular trips to the UK (around 3x per year).

We're looking for an ambitious Strategic Client Lead ready for their next challenge. This role demands a dedicated US presence who can fully own and cultivate our stateside client relationships. You'll drive growth by proactively spending time face-to-face with clients, embedding in their daily culture to gain a deep, first-hand understanding of their most pressing pain points and strategic needs. We’re looking for someone to partner with the client on a Strategic and Creative level, being embedded in the brand and their business to represent how we can best work together to achieve outstanding results.

THE AGENCY

Ear to the Ground is a global sport, gaming, and entertainment creative agency with a unique model that sets us apart. We are driven by Fan Intelligence®, our global network of 12,000 influential tastemakers and fans. Our real time insight into what fans truly want, enables us to create compelling work that consistently pushes the boundaries of culture.

We pride ourselves on being the agency that listens better than anyone to solve our clients' challenges, maximise their sport, gaming and entertainment partnerships, and ultimately build brands that lead culture. We’ve helped clients including Nike, PlayStation, JD, NBA, Coca-Cola and 2K turn fans into consumers by delivering culturally relevant, fan-first campaigns that inspire emotional connection and measurable business impact.

You can learn more about the agency with a short film here.

THE ROLE:

As a Strategic Client Lead you’ll be the trusted advisor to the Client on behalf of the agency.

You’ll be the key client point of contact as the only team member on the same timezone. Playing a pivotal role in representing the client’s views to the wider agency in the delivery of projects in order to deliver brilliant and effective campaigns.

You’ll have overall responsibility for the management of client campaigns in order to maximise their performance for both the client and the agency.

You’ll lead the strategic growth of our relationship and expand our remit with clients. To do this, you must develop a deep expertise in our clients’ marketplace, including competitive factors and emerging trends. You will leverage this knowledge to help clients realise their growth ambitions, continually establish Ear to the Ground as an essential partner, and articulate the unique value we bring in supporting their ultimate business goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the client relationship and take responsibility for overall client success and satisfaction
• Lead your team to ensure that all key project documents and updates are delivered to the Client on time and to the required standard, following our agency process
• Work with all other internal teams to provide flawless delivery of campaigns whilst ensuring that the project and account hit the client’s and the company’s KPI’s
• Proactively identify new opportunities and areas of growth within designated clients
• Ensure clear, high quality internal briefs are provided for all internal departments so that teams can manage and deliver an excellent creative response that will be effective for the client
• Take responsibility for the financial reporting of designated accounts
• Work with all other departments to develop and maintain clear accurate budgets as well as their administration in finance software, to ensure efficiencies and maximum commercial performance
• Own account growth plans for each account and demonstrate how you will help develop each account
• Lead and coordinate pitch presentations and material/collateral with the relevant departments and staff
• Alongside agency colleagues, present creative responses, strategy and insight ideas and concepts to the client
• Work with relevant internal departments to monitor the effectiveness of projects and campaigns developing and contributing to the project evaluation

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Our ideal successful candidate will have: 

• A passion for and extensive knowledge in gaming and/or sports
• Minimum 5 years in agency brand communications
• Experience working as a successful Account Director
• Strong Client Servicing experience
• Ability to spot opportunities
• A track record of developing and growing accounts
• A track record of developing client leads, pitches and presentation
• Results focused
• Ability to lead pitches and presentations
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Excellent communication and 'people skills', for working with a range of colleagues and clients
• Good experience of leading and motivating a team
• Keen eye for detail
• A creative approach to every project and opportunity
• Great presentation and pitching skills
• Understanding of the importance of research and insight in creative
• Good business sense and the ability to work to budgets
• Understanding on how to deliver joined up campaigns
• A love of contemporary culture, sport or gaming

BENEFITS

Some of our US benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision care benefits after 30 days of employment for you and your eligible dependents
• Short and long term disability and life insurance
• 401K (up to 2% match)
• Sick pay of 7 days