Associate Director

Wasserman Media; Abu Dhabi; Hybrid; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Wasserman Middle East seeks an Associate Director to lead one of our biggest accounts across sports and entertainment in the UAE. You will manage day-to-day client relationships and drive sponsorship strategy into activation plans.

Based in our UAE office with flexible working options, you will collaborate with regional and global teams, travel between UAE and KSA as required, and develop strategic partnerships to grow client value.

Qualifications

• Experience in sponsorship industry and strong client relationship skills.
• Passion for sports and entertainment sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead the client relationship and day-to-day account management.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders in the client’s in-house teams.
• Lead on client strategy updates and project planning.
• Build the integrated activation plan, ensuring alignment with the broader sponsorship strategy.
• Lead regular project and status meetings with the client and internal teams.
• Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, and task tracking.
• Manage ideation sessions and creative development.
• Oversee relationships with rights holders, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Lead collaboration across Wasserman for best possible client servicing.
• Line manage Account Team members.

Skills

Client management

Sponsorship industry experience

Sports & entertainment passion

Job description

THE·TEAM operates at the epicenter of sports, music and entertainment, serving talent, brands and properties on a global scale. Our brands and properties division works with iconic brands and rights holders, supporting business growth through all marketing disciplines. We're a trusted partner to every major league, team and venue, building meaningful connections between brands, properties and fans.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, THE·TEAM's presence spans 28 countries and more than 70 cities, including New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney. For more information, please visit THE.TEAM.

As an Associate Director you will be part of the Wasserman Middle East team, leading one of our biggest accounts. The role would see you working across different projects. You will lead the day-to-day relationship between Wasserman and the client, be responsible for client account management, and manage discussions related to the client’s sponsorship strategy, the role it plays for them as a business and how the sponsorship strategy translates into activation planning and delivery for their current sponsorships. Integrated activation planning is hugely important and the ability to connect all the different touchpoints with relevant internal and external stakeholders is paramount. We are looking for a candidate to bring great client skills, experience of working in the sponsorship industry and a passion for the sports & entertainment sector.

You will be part of our Brands team based in Wasserman’s UAE offices (with remote and flexible working options). You will work with colleagues across the Middle East as well as the wider global team, and will need to travel between UAE and KSA, as well as other countries in the region as required. You will report into an Senior Director with a dotted line into a n EVP and will have direct reports.

As part of this role, you will act as a subject matter expert within the tennis industry, bringing extensive knowledge of the global tennis ecosystem and its key stakeholders, including rights holders, governing bodies, tournaments, players etc. You will develop and manage strategic relationships across the sport, identifying commercial opportunities, driving partnership growth, and strengthening Wasserman's position as a leading partner within the global tennis landscape. Previous experience within Tennis is advantageous but not essential.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Account Management

• Leading the relationship with the client, and day-to-day management
• Developing relationships with key stakeholders in the client’s in-house teams
• Leading on client strategy updates and project planning
• Building the integrated activation plan, ensuring alignment with the broader sponsorship strategy
• Effectively leading regular project and status meetings with the clients and internally within the team
• Leading the development and management of project timelines, budgets, task tracking and other documents
• Manage internal and external ideation sessions and creative development
• Support the relationships and management of internal stakeholders, rights holders & suppliers
• Overseeing the team in implementation of all aspects of the account touch points including; general rights delivery, live event delivery, digital & social strategies, PR & Comms and guest management
• Join client in-house meetings as required, and provide subject matter expertise where needed. Lead the collaboration across other parts of the wider Wasserman business to ensure best possible client servicing
• Line management of Account Team members

THE·TEAM does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.