Account Director

Activate Inc.; Ferndale (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Activate Inc. is seeking an Account Director to lead a portfolio of experiential programs and develop a talented team of Producers, Associate Producers, and Production Coordinators. You will drive strategic direction, nurture client relationships, and ensure flawless program execution from concept to post-event wrap-up.

The role demands a player-coach mindset: lead from the front, empower others, and roll up your sleeves when needed to deliver outstanding experiences for world-class brands.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in event production, experiential marketing, or agency account management.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale experiential programs and high-performing teams.
• Exceptional client relationship management skills, including experience growing accounts and retaining business.
• Strong understanding of experiential marketing, creative strategy, and live event production.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance big-picture strategy with the details that make great events possible.
• A genuine passion for mentoring, coaching, and developing others.
• A collaborative, adaptable, hands-on leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of event production professionals, helping them grow their skills, confidence, and careers.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight across multiple experiential programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, creative thinking, and exceptional execution.
• Be the leader your team can count on when challenges arise.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to key clients, building relationships that drive satisfaction, loyalty, and repeat business.
• Lead high-level client conversations, presentations, and strategic planning.
• Understand your clients' goals and help translate their vision into experiences that deliver results.
• Navigate challenging conversations with confidence, professionalism, and a solutions-first mindset.
• Oversee experiential programs from initial concept and pre-production through live execution and post-event wrap-up.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop creative, innovative experiences that make an impact.
• Ensure programs are executed on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality.
• Keep your finger on the pulse of your portfolio, anticipating challenges and helping your team stay several steps ahead.
• Be the calm in the storm when plans change, vendors fall short, or unexpected challenges arise.
• Make smart, decisive calls that protect client relationships and keep programs moving forward.
• Support your team through high-pressure situations, stepping in when your experience and leadership are needed most.

Skills

Event production

Experiential marketing

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Budget management

Job description

BIG IDEAS. BOLD EXPERIENCES. EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP.

You've produced the events. You've managed the clients. You've solved the impossible problems. Now it's time to lead the team that makes it all happen.

At Activate, we bring brands to life through unforgettable experiences. From high-energy brand activations and large-scale live events to nationwide mobile tours, we create experiences that connect some of the world's most recognizable brands with their audiences in meaningful, memorable ways.

And we're looking for an experienced Account Director to help lead the charge.

This isn't a role for someone who just wants to oversee projects from a distance. We're looking for a strategic thinker, a trusted client partner, a creative problem-solver, and, above all, a leader who knows how to bring out the best in their team.

If you're passionate about experiential marketing, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and love the challenge of turning ambitious ideas into exceptional experiences, we want to meet you.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As an Account Director, you'll lead a portfolio of exciting experiential programs while managing and developing a talented team of Producers, Associate Producers, and Production Coordinators.

You'll be responsible for the big picture: building strong client relationships, driving creative strategy, overseeing program execution, and ensuring your team has the tools, guidance, and support to succeed.

You'll also need to know when to roll up your sleeves.

We're looking for a player-coach; someone who can confidently lead from the front, empower others to take ownership, and jump into the action when the situation calls for it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of event production professionals, helping them grow their skills, confidence, and careers.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight across multiple experiential programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, creative thinking, and exceptional execution.
• Be the leader your team can count on when challenges arise.

Build Relationships That Last

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to key clients, building relationships that drive satisfaction, loyalty, and repeat business.
• Lead high-level client conversations, presentations, and strategic planning.
• Understand your clients' goals and help translate their vision into experiences that deliver results.
• Navigate challenging conversations with confidence, professionalism, and a solutions-first mindset.

Turn Big Ideas Into Reality

• Oversee experiential programs from initial concept and pre-production through live execution and post-event wrap-up.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop creative, innovative experiences that make an impact.
• Ensure programs are executed on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality.
• Keep your finger on the pulse of your portfolio, anticipating challenges and helping your team stay several steps ahead.

Solve Problems. Make Things Happen.

• Be the calm in the storm when plans change, vendors fall short, or unexpected challenges arise.
• Make smart, decisive calls that protect client relationships and keep programs moving forward.
• Support your team through high-pressure situations, stepping in when your experience and leadership are needed most.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• 10+ years of experience in event production, experiential marketing, or agency account management.
• A proven track record of successfully leading large-scale experiential programs and high-performing teams.
• Exceptional client relationship management skills, including experience growing accounts and retaining business.
• A strong understanding of experiential marketing, creative strategy, and the realities of live event production.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to balance big-picture strategy with the details that make great events possible.
• A genuine passion for mentoring, coaching, and developing others.
• A collaborative, adaptable, hands‑on leadership style.

WHY ACTIVATE?

At Activate, no two days (or projects) are exactly alike.

You'll work alongside a passionate, creative, and hardworking team bringing ambitious ideas to life for some of the world's most influential brands.

We're a WBENC-certified experiential marketing agency that values collaboration, professional growth, and people who take pride in what they create.

We offer a hybrid work environment, competitive benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both the experiences we produce and the people who produce them.

READY TO LEAD WHAT'S NEXT?

If you've built your career creating incredible experiences and are ready to help shape the next generation of experiential talent, we'd love to hear from you.

Let's Activate something extraordinary.

Activate is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants.