VP, Account Management

First Global Management Services, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision with HDHP/HSA

401(k)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Life, Disability & Pet Coverages

Wellness Stipend

Headspace access

Aura Identity Protection

Discretionary Bonus

Global opportunities across locations

Job summary

FIRST, a leading global brand experience agency, seeks a VP of Account Management to lead a team of Account Owners, driving strategic growth and exceptional client experiences across top accounts. You will guide engagement strategies, expand services, and ensure high-value outcomes while building lasting relationships with Fortune 500 clients.

You will partner across functions to deliver growth, negotiate complex opportunities, and lead onboarding and governance for CRM data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years leading strategic client relationships in events/brand experience.
• Extensive business development experience with growth mindset.
• Experience managing international teams and cross-functional orgs.
• Proven track record with senior client relationships and large-scale implementations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Account Owners to build long-term client partnerships.
• Develop and execute client engagement and growth strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand services and client value.
• Negotiate and close complex business opportunities.
• Serve as CRM SME for Salesforce and ensure data accuracy and reporting.
• Partner with internal stakeholders on forecasting and business planning.
• Coach a high-performing Client Services team and foster collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Strategic planning

Client relationships

Business development

Sales negotiation

Stakeholder management

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Excel

Google Workspace

CRM platforms

Job description

Building a Brand starts with a Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights services. For 30 years, we have utilized three flexible delivery models: Embedded teams, Corporate Campus operations, and a Full-Service Agency.

Managing over 37,000 events & projects annually across 110 countries, FIRST serves 130+ brands, specializing in Fortune 500 companies within the Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Media, and Professional Services sectors. FIRST is part of the broader Encore family of companies. Encore is a global leader in event production and technology.

Consistently recognized for excellence, recent honors include 2026 Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, the Ad Net Zero Award for sustainability, and more.

Learn more at www.firstagency.com

What You Would Get To Do

As the VP, Account Management, you will lead a team of Account Owners dedicated to building long-term client partnerships, delivering exceptional client experiences, and driving strategic growth across a portfolio of key accounts. You will guide the development and execution of client engagement and growth strategies that help clients achieve their business objectives while strengthening lasting relationships.

Working collaboratively across the organization, you will identify opportunities to expand services, develop innovative solutions, and enhance client value. Through strong leadership and a client-centric approach, you will empower your team to deliver outstanding results that contribute to revenue growth, client retention, and the continued success of the business.

Your Contributions

• Partner with cross-functional leaders to align client account plans with organizational objectives.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for top-tier clients, ensuring strong client retention and long-term growth.
• Lead the development and execution of strategic account plans that maximize client value and achieve revenue targets.
• Proactively identify and address client needs while ensuring a consultative, high-quality client experience.
• Conduct regular business reviews to evaluate performance and uncover opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Monitor industry trends and adapt account strategies to meet evolving client needs.
• Drive revenue, gross profit, and net contribution growth across the client portfolio.
• Develop rolling three-year strategies and account plans for top-tier clients to exceed growth objectives.
• Lead the team in identifying and securing new business opportunities within existing and prospective client accounts.
• Negotiate and close complex business opportunities.
• Serve as the Client Services subject matter expert for the CRM platform, including Salesforce.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate client data, reporting, forecasting, and business planning.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Client Services team while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive culture.
• Influence account teams to effectively execute client engagement strategies and deliver exceptional service.

What We Are Looking For

Please be aware that we know experience does not always look like we describe it. If you believe you would be an excellent fit for this role, please apply - we would love to see how you could fit at FIRST.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience leading strategic client relationships within the events, experiential marketing, live events, meetings, hospitality, or brand experience industry, including at least 10 years in a senior client services or account leadership role.
• Extensive business development experience with a strong growth mindset.
• Demonstrated success managing international teams and leading cross-functional organizations.
• Proven track record managing senior client relationships and large-scale client implementations.
• Strong expertise in client strategy, business development, pricing models, financial oversight, and risk management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, and extensive experience using Google Workspace.
• Experience using CRM platforms, including Salesforce.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly collaborative with the ability to work effectively in matrixed and evolving organizations.
• Outstanding client and stakeholder management skills with a consultative, relationship-focused approach.
• Confident, adaptable, and comfortable providing strategic guidance, including challenging client perspectives when appropriate.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, strategic thinker who can work independently while contributing to team success.
• Ability to travel 20–40%.

At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That’s why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth.

• Medical, Dental & Vision which includes the option of a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA)
• 401 (k)
• Five Flexible Spending Accounts Options
• Generous Paid Time Off Allowance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life, Disability & Pet Coverages
• Wellness Stipend
• Complimentary access to Headspace, Teladoc, Maven, Rocket Lawyer, Mobilo & more
• Aura Identity Theft Protection
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

United States Residents: The base pay for this position ranges from $159,000-$183,000. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

#LI-Hybrid #LI- JA1

FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.