Account Director - Rugby (Contract)

OCTAGON; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an experienced Account Director to lead the Women’s Rugby World Cup team for a major client. This role involves managing key stakeholder relationships, overseeing tournament operations, and executing impactful marketing strategies. The ideal candidate will have a passion for women's sports, strong organizational skills, and a collaborative spirit. Join a dynamic team dedicated to elevating women's rugby during a historic tournament, where your contributions will make a significant impact on brand partnerships and community engagement.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in sponsorship and brand marketing.
• Strong communicator with exceptional client service skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage execution of client’s exclusive tournament asset.
• Collaborate with teams and vendors for campaign delivery.

Skills

Sponsorship Marketing

Stakeholder Management

Client Management

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Attention to Detail

Multitasking

Passion for Sports

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

THE JOB / Account Director, Client Services (Payment Services Client, Global Sponsorship Marketing/Rugby
This is a contract role from April - October 15th 2025

We are thrilled to be recruiting an experienced Account Director who will be a core leader of the Women’s Rugby World Cup team for one of Octagon’s biggest clients.

Our ideal candidate is highly organized, able to multitask and work collaboratively across the larger team while also being a self-starter. They would have experience managing key shareholder relationships on behalf of the client, and a passion for women’s sport. You will lead a key part of the client’s programming serving as the execution lead on the client’s sole and exclusive asset at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. This role will also oversee tournament and stadium operations across the tournament for the internal team as well as general team support. An interest in women’s rugby alongside a passion for creating impactful work with brands and properties is a bonus.

From day one, you’ll join a passionate team looking to support the elevation of Women’s Rugby in what is set to be a historic tournament building and leveraging multiple relationships at all levels, so experience of stakeholder management is essential. Alongside this, you’ll work closely with our internal teams across creative, digital planning and activations, so you’ll need to possess a strong understanding and appreciation of creative and planning processes and output.

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

• Manage the execution of a successful activation around the client’s sole and exclusive tournament asset
• Handle weekly updates and action steps across the larger team to ensure a smooth delivery of the sole and exclusive
• Collaborate with the client, internal teams, vendors, and rightsholder to deliver a strong and emotive campaign attached to the client’s sole and exclusive.
• Collaborate across a global platform to manage experiences tied to the client’s sole and exclusive; outstanding attention to detail and client management skills
• Forge, lead and grow day-to-day partnerships with clients, shareholders, and vendors around Women’s Rugby World Cup
• Provide internal and client updates as needed
• Consistently stay up to date on rugby and women’s sports trends, changes and news relevant to our client work
• Management of financial records including budget forecasting and personal travel expense
• Continuously elevate and expand client’s strategy and demonstrable impact with key women’s ambassador and property partnerships across various passions
• Redesign a better world for women through the power of sponsorships and marketing
• Cultivate and handle positive client relationships

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 7+ years of sponsorship/brand marketing experience workings with sports & entertainment properties, leagues and/or teams
• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks simultaneously while producing quality work within deadlines
• Collaborative in nature with a “no job is too small” mentality to assist with overall account team duties and additional programs as needed
• Have a passion for sports, entertainment and/or celebrity & lifestyle culture
• Have experience in developing successful global integrated sponsorship activations, initiatives and campaigns
• A strong communicator, both verbally and in writing
• Organization skills and attention to detail, including the ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, are outstanding
• Proficiency in Microsoft including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Exceptional client service and interpersonal skills (both written and oral)
• Ability and flexibility with weekend and some holiday work as needed especially during the Women’s Rugby World Cup

Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.