Account Director - Sports

Most companies claim to have the best people. We say to them, "Keep dreaming." Our people are second to none. They set us apart with their entrepreneurial spirit and ambition. They come to us from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Starbucks and the sports world, bringing energy, bold ideas and a willingness to dive into the unfamiliar. It's our people that make BDA the top global Merchandise Agency to work for.

Account Director Director – European Club Football & UK Sports at BDA is a senior-level role that involves overseeing and managing key client relationships on a National/European and potentially Global scale as well as leadership of key account teams. This role is pivotal in driving business growth and ensuring that clients' needs are met effectively. Some of the primary responsibilities and duties associated with the position include client relationship management, strategic planning, account growth, budgeting, team collaboration, negotiations, project management, reporting, and development of the account management team.

The role of the Account Director – European Club Football & UK Sports at BDA is dynamic and is team and customer focused. Success in this position requires a combination of sales acumen, strategic thinking, strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of promotional merchandise with the ability to cultivate and grow client partnerships. By guiding the strategic growth of the account team and through fostering strong client relationships, the Sales Director – European Club Football & UK Sports significantly contributes to the growth and success of BDA and the client’s marketing and branding goals.

LOCATION: 

• If you live within a reasonable commuting distance  of a our Neuilly-sur-Seine, France or  Kissing, Bavaria office  — the role offers a flexible onsite schedule of onsite 4 days per week (with 1 day remote).
• This role is remote for candidates that are not located within a reasonable commuting distance of one of these locations.

Job Description
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and nurture long-term relationships with existing clients. Drive revenue growth by strategically exploring and capitalizing on client needs. 
• Serves as an escalation point for direct reports and client needs addressing their inquiries and concerns promptly and professionally. 
• Identify opportunities to expand business with existing clients through upselling, cross-selling, and proposing additional services.
• Engage in leadership forums, client industry meet-ups etc. to continue to build networks for BDA and engage in new business opportunities.
• Stay updated on industry trends, competitor activities, product knowledge, emerging strategies, and best practices to provide informed recommendations to team and clients and to enhance BDA offerings and maintain a competitive edge.
• Understand, interpret, and analyze financial aspects of accounts to make sound financial business decisions for BDA. Review and analysis of client reports, sales revenue, gross margins, sales reports, operating expenses etc. 
• Generate regular reports for senior leadership detailing account progress, revenue growth and client satisfaction metrics. Assist European Director of Sports with management of OpEx budgets.
• Create compelling proposals & presentations that showcase the value of BDA products and services.
• Works with Director to develop proactive strategy/set direction for assigned account(s) and account team.
• Lead with positive intent and work together with both internal and external customers.
• Own client business reviews. Monitor client satisfaction and address any issues to ensure a high level of customer retention.
• Meet and exceed assigned sales targets and contribute to BDA’s revenue growth while working within assigned budgets and forecasts. Deliver results by achieving short and long-term sales and profitability goals. 
• Provide back up to European Director of Sports.
• Work with the Client Services Director to set revenue and margin goals for the entire team. Support the growth of collective client portfolio of team ($10M plus benchmark)
• Coach and mentor other Account Directors, Senior Account Managers, Managers and Associate Account Managers on key account team.
• Manage performance management documentation of direct reports to include CDPs, PIPs and written warning process with European Director of Sports. Conduct annual performance reviews of direct reports. 
• Assist the European Director of Sports in interviewing and recruiting new talent.
• Manage contact and opportunity database and execute strategic account plans.
• Exude high levels of professionalism when interacting with clients, internal partners and external vendors and agencies.

JOB SKILLS AND TRAITS

• Creativity and experience in merchandise. The ability to come up with out of the box, fresh new ideas.
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple clients and orders simultaneously.
• Fast paced, deadline driven multi-tasker
• Team player who leads by example and develops team to learn and grow new skills.
• Energetic self-starter who exudes accountability, urgency, and passion
• Strong interpersonal communication, customer service and presentation skills to build and maintain client relationships effectively.
• Possess strong financial acumen with an understanding of calculating financial data such as margins & discounts to ensure profitable sales results.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make strategic decisions.
• Exceptional negotiation and problem-solving abilities

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years proven experience in sales, business development and account management.
• Proven track record of increasing sales and business opportunities through client development
• Proficient in MS Office suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in using CRM software and other relevant tools for sales and order management. (Salesforce preferred)
• Promotional merchandise experience preferred but not required.
• Experience negotiating pricing, contracts, and terms with clients to create mutually beneficial agreements.  Demonstrated contract management abilities.

We are pleased to share the base salary range for this position is €65,000 to €75,000. If you are hired at BDA, your compensation will be determined by factors such as skills, education, and experience, while also taking internal equity and pay fairness into account. In the spirit of transparency, the range listed represents the full base salary range for the role, with starting salaries typically set within this range to allow room for growth over time. Certain revenue-generating positions may be eligible for incentive compensation. 

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