Associate Director

Wasserman Media; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 440,000 - 551,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global sports and entertainment agency in the UAE is seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead a major global motorsport partnership. This role involves overseeing client relationships, managing sponsorships, and driving strategic planning. The ideal candidate will have strong client management skills, motorsport experience, and a passion for sports. This position offers opportunities for international travel and team leadership responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Strong client management skills essential.
• Proven experience in the sponsorship industry required.
• Motorsport experience and a deep understanding of the global sponsorship landscape needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day client relationship and guide strategic discussions.
• Lead end-to-end account management including planning and execution.
• Manage meetings, reporting, KPIs, and project documentation.

Skills

Client management

Sponsorship industry experience

Knowledge of motorsport

Job description

Wasserman 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, Wasserman’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 www.teamwass.com.

Wasserman is forever committed to serving our clients, colleagues and community with exceptional insight, influence and creativity, while making a positive and lasting impact. We support our employees’ professional aspirations, with a rich internal culture where curiosity is rewarded. We offer our people multiple learning and development programmes throughout the world. What we do is fast‑paced, exciting and rewarding, which is why we love it and why you’ll love life at Wasserman.

What you will be doing

Wasserman Middle East is seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead a major global motorsport partnership on behalf of a key client.

This role will oversee the day‑to‑day client relationship, guiding strategic discussions around sponsorship objectives and translating them into effective activation plans. You’ll be responsible for end‑to‑end account management, including planning, execution, and reporting across the client’s sponsorship portfolio.

We’re looking for someone with strong client management skills, proven experience in the sponsorship industry, and a genuine passion for sport and entertainment. Motorsport experience and a deep understanding of the global sponsorship landscape in this space are essential.

Based in our UAE office (Abu Dhabi or Dubai), you’ll collaborate with colleagues across the Middle East and globally. The role involves international and regional travel and reports into an Associate Vice President. Team leadership experience is required, as you will manage a small, dedicated team.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Account Management

• Lead a major strategic sports partnership, managing delivery across all touchpoints.
• Build and maintain senior client and stakeholder relationships.
• Oversee team of six across roles from coordinator to senior account manager.
• Manage meetings, reporting, KPIs, and project documentation.
• Drive reliable, solution‑focused client service with strong internal collaboration.

Integrated Marketing

• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of integrated campaigns including events, digital, PR, and guest experience.
• Manage timelines, budgets, creative development, and rights activation.
• Ensure alignment of all assets with client brand strategy.
• Collaborate cross‑agency to deliver seamless execution.

Strategic Planning

• Develop and deliver client strategy aligned with brand and partnership goals.
• Lead project impact measurement.
• Translate project insight into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Actively support the broader Wasserman new business function.

Sponsorship – Motorsport in the Middle East

• Extensive experience in motorsport sponsorship delivery across the region.
• Strong understanding of electric and traditional motorsport platforms.
• Skilled in adapting rights for local relevance and impact, especially in KSA.
• Established relationships with rights holders and event promoters beneficial.
• Proven track record of leveraging sponsorship for brand and business growth.

Wasserman 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.