Experiential Account Manager – Live Events & Brand Activations

The Imagination Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Imagination Group in New York is seeking an Experiential Account Manager to lead live events, brand activations and product launches for automotive and other clients. You will own client relationships day to day, translating brand objectives into standout experiences and guiding teams to deliver on time and on budget.

This role blends account management, project leadership and production, overseeing immersive pop-ups, conferences and vehicle reveals.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in account management or event production at an experiential, live events or integrated marketing agency.
• Led live events or brand activations on-site and stayed calm when plans change on show day.
• Able to read a production schedule, run of show and budget, and flag risks.
• Enjoys being the go-to person for senior, executive-level clients.
• This is a client services role within a creative experience agency — not a sales, SaaS or customer success role.

Responsibilities

• Lead experiential projects day to day, owning scope, timelines, deliverables and workback schedules from brief to delivery.
• Define next steps, assign responsibilities and hold internal teams and suppliers accountable.
• Anticipate production challenges and dependencies — venues, fabrication, AV, logistics and permits — and propose clear solutions early.
• Translate client goals into actionable plans for creative, production and logistics teams.
• Apply a strong understanding of the event production lifecycle, from concept and design through build, show days and wrap.
• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for senior and executive-level clients, providing clear and consistent updates.
• Manage high-touch client relationships with professionalism, discretion and urgency, responding to time-sensitive requests and shifting priorities.
• Lead on-site at live events, activations and launches when required, including show-day management.
• Ensure teams are briefed, timelines are met and details are managed through show days and beyond.
• Lead coordination across strategy, creative, production and external partners and vendors.
• Run internal status meetings, set agendas, document decisions and keep teams aligned.

Skills

Account management

Project leadership

Event production

Client relationships

On-site execution

Job description

Experiential Account Manager - Live Events & Brand Activations

Imagination is hiring an Experiential Account Manager to lead live events, brand activations and product launches for global automotive and other clients - from first brief through on-site execution and wrap and that create memorable, measurable impact for our clients. You'll own client relationships day to day, translate brand and campaign objectives into standout experiences, and work closely with creative, production and on-site teams to bring them to life on time and on budget. As part of our Client Services team, you will be the lead across strategy, creative and event production, and the trusted point of contact for senior and executive client stakeholders.

This agency-side role blends account management, project leadership and production. You will own the day-to-day success of large-scale experiential marketing programs - from immersive pop-ups, conferences, auto shows, vehicle reveals, ride-and-drives, dealer and press events, and immersive brand experiences - keeping work moving, directing internal teams and anticipating what needs to happen next.

Our work follows the heartbeat of major live events and launches. This occasionally means evening, weekend and on-site support, so we prioritize 'flexibility both ways' - balancing show days with dedicated downtime.

This role is ideal for someone who lives and breathes experiential marketing, is confident running multiple projects at once, and enjoys collaborating with both clients and internal teams to deliver best-in-class live experiences.

Is This Role for You?

• You have 4+ years in account management or event production at an experiential, live events or integrated marketing agency.
• You have led live events or brand activations on-site and stayed calm when plans change on show day.
• You can read a production schedule, run of show and budget - and you know when to flag a risk.
• You enjoy being the go-to person for senior, executive-level clients.
• Please note: this is a client services role within a creative experience agency - not a sales, SaaS or customer success role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead experiential projects day to day, owning scope, timelines, deliverables and workback schedules from brief to delivery.
• Define next steps, assign responsibilities and hold internal teams and suppliers accountable.
• Anticipate production challenges and dependencies - venues, fabrication, AV, logistics and permits - and propose clear solutions early.
• Translate client goals into actionable plans for creative, production and logistics teams.
• Apply a strong understanding of the event production lifecycle, from concept and design through build, show days and wrap.
• Client Relationships
  • Act as the day-to-day point of contact for senior and executive-level clients, providing clear and consistent updates.
  • Manage high-touch client relationships with professionalism, discretion and urgency, responding to time-sensitive requests and shifting priorities.
  • Anticipate client needs and guide clients through complex decisions and deliverables.
  • Build trust and credibility over time to foster long-term relationships and account growth.
• On-Site Event Execution
  • Lead on-site at live events, activations and launches when required, including show-day management.
  • Ensure teams are briefed, timelines are met and details are managed through show days and beyond.
  • Be a calm, solutions-focused presence in high-pressure live environments.
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  • Lead coordination across strategy, creative, production and external partners and vendors.
  • Run internal status meetings, set agendas, document decisions and keep teams aligned.
  • Act as