Account Director, Experiential Marketing & Brand Integration

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k) with matching

Flexible work schedule

Work from Anywhere program

Summer Fridays

Wellness Days

Sabbatical option

Mentoring and training opportunities

Job summary

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis is seeking a strategic and experienced Experiential Marketing leader to join our brand integration team. This role develops creative event concepts, pitches, and executes ideas through flawless on-site activation.

You will drive sponsorship activations, brand partnerships and manage large-scale events, collaborating with PR, Talent and Brand Studio to deliver immersive experiences for diverse clients.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of agency-side experience in experiential marketing, event production, and account leadership.
• Proven track record managing multi-client festival footprints and high-profile activations.
• Ability to manage budgets of $500k+ and negotiate complex vendor contracts.
• Strong leadership and cross-department collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end experiential campaigns from concept development to on-site execution.
• Oversee vendor ecosystem, procurement, and run-of-show for major events.
• Collaborate with PR, Talent and Brand Studio to build earned-media hooks and activations.

Skills

Experiential marketing

Event production

Account leadership

Budget management

Vendor relations

Leadership

Job description

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis is a leading global communications agency built to navigate the complexities of a hyper-connected world. We represent the icons and innovators shaping culture-from global heritage corporations and high-growth tech startups to the non-profits, creative legends, and visionary founders who define the global discourse.

Our expertise spans the full cultural spectrum. We operate at the intersection of entertainment, social impact, corporate reputation, and consumer lifestyle, executing seamlessly across traditional media, social-first outlets, brand partnerships, and influencer ecosystems. Whether we are navigating complex crisis management, elevating advocacy campaigns, or launching global consumer brands, we are storytellers at our core.

You may notice our digital presence is purposefully understated. While our clients are global household names, we believe the best work happens when the spotlight stays firmly on those we represent. We fly under the radar by design - preferring to let our campaigns, and our results, speak for themselves.

If you're driven, intentional, and ready to do good, we're ready for you!

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis is seeking a strategic and experienced Experiential Marketing leader to join our brand integration team. This role is pivotal in developing creative event and activation concepts for our diverse range of clients, and pitching, managing and executing these ideas through to flawless on-site execution.

You will act as the primary architect for our experiential marketing strategy, driving sponsorship activations, strategic brand partnerships and brand collaborations, managing large-scale event logistics, and overseeing our vendor ecosystem. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative agency environment, partnering closely with PR, Talent, and Brand Studio teams to deliver high-impact, immersive activations.

The Role:

Creative Strategy & Big-Idea Activation

• Concept Development: Architect high-impact experiential concepts, sponsorship activations, and event strategies for both new business pitches and existing clients.

• Strategic Collaboration: collaborate with team members on visual storytelling, spatial design, and experiential deck builds to ensure pitch-ready concepts.

• Integration: Collaborate with PR and Talent teams to build earned-media hooks, "talkability," and organic photo moments into all physical and experiential designs, ensuring talent-friendly interactions.

• Operational Excellence: Deliver fully vetted concepts complete with accurate pricing and timelines, enabling rapid movement from concept to execution.

Event Operations & Management

• End-to-End Execution: Lead logistics, on-site execution, and staffing for major tentpole events, including film festivals, award season activations, and high-profile client summits.

• Logistical Oversight: Act as the primary operational engine on the ground - managing run of show, vendor logistics, venue operations, and guest flow.

Vendor Ecosystem & Procurement

• Strategic Sourcing: Vet, negotiate, and manage relationships with a broad network of production houses, fabricators, venues, catering services, and local fixers.

• Agency Resource Development: Further build and maintain a centralized, agency-wide preferred vendor database, including master service agreements and negotiated rates, to streamline operational efficiency across all teams.

Who You Are:

• Experience: 8-10+ years of agency-side experience in experiential marketing, event production, and account leadership.
• Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success in managing multi-client festival footprints, large-scale consumer activations and high level private events.
• Financial & Technical Acumen: Proven ability to manage budgets of $500k+, negotiate complex vendor contracts, and develop sophisticated spatial and activation strategies.
• Leadership & Coordination: Exceptional ability to manage internal account teams, foster seamless cross-departmental and client collaboration.
• Network: A strong existing network of production companies and trusted event related vendors as well as brand contacts.
• BONUS : Experience in sponsorship sales, strategic partnerships and co-marketing integrations is highly preferred.
• Curiosity: A strong desire to learn and grow with the company and the brand integration team. Ability to lead and teach others through your unique expertise, while being open to and excited about learning other aspects of our business.

Benefits x Perks

We go well beyond the benefits that you're looking for like medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with matching, annual merit-based bonuses, PTO, fertility, FSA for medical, childcare, and commuter expenses. Eligible employees at Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis may access these benefits, along with many additional perks including, a flexible work schedule, Work from Anywhere program, Summer Fridays, Wellness Days, and a 4-week sabbatical or trip to celebrate select anniversaries. We love to socialize so, we have collaborative workspaces, some offices even have rooftops, celebrations, networking opportunities, and community volunteering. We frequently mark opportunities to listen, learn and act throughout the year (Juneteenth, Election Day, International Women's Day, etc.).

SSM&L is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and ability. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, identity and expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

There's more!

From day one, employees are carefully matched with a mentor to guide them on their path to success. Training and mentoring are a big deal here and since we are into promoting from within, we make sure to provide more than enough tools for you to learn and grow. We are proud to offer training throughout the year on topics for professional growth as well as personal growth. We have also developed a series of teaching workshops that are structured for each level of the company. Sunshiners also take love to take advantage of the monthly Meet the Industry series where industry thought leaders provide valuable insider info on how to work with them and their colleagues.