Account Director - Hospitality-Brand Consulting

Job Description

Who We Are

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is the leading entertainment and sports agency, with global expertise in filmed and live entertainment, digital media, publishing, sponsorship sales and endorsements, licensing, media finance, consumer investing, fashion, trademark licensing, and philanthropy.  Distinguished by its culture of collaboration and exceptional client service, CAA’s diverse workforce identifies, innovates, and amplifies opportunities for the people and organizations that shape culture and inspire the world.  The trailblazer of the agency business, CAA was the first to build a sports business, create an investment bank, launch a venture fund, found technology start-up companies, establish a philanthropic arm, build a business in China, and form a brand marketing services division, among other innovations.

Position Summary:

Our New York office is hiring an Account Director to join our award-winning team. We are seeking a senior Sports & Entertainment Hospitality specialist with experience developing and leading premium guest management and customer hosting programs.

The Account Director is a senior client-facing leader responsible for the strategy, relationship management, and execution of bespoke hospitality programs for C-suite executives, VIPs, and high-value customers. This role serves as a trusted client advisor, translating business objectives into elevated hospitality experiences that strengthen customer relationships and deliver impact.

The Account Director will lead the day-to-day client relationship and strategy across hospitality programs, including end-to-end tent pole hospitality programs and other premium experiences across multiple venues. The role works cross-functionally with clients, internal teams, vendors, and property partners to deliver seamless, high-touch experiences and exceptional onsite execution.

The role requires an enthusiastic, organized, and outgoing leader who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, willing to travel to events, lead hospitality operations on behalf of the client, and go the extra mile to deliver a seamless guest experience.

Essential Functions:

• Own and deepen the client relationship, serving as a trusted advisor to senior and C-suite stakeholders and developing hospitality strategies that support client retention, relationship building, and business objectives.
• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of a diverse portfolio of sports, entertainment, and high-touch executive events, ensuring seamless delivery across the full event lifecycle.
• Lead and mentor a dedicated hospitality team, providing strategic direction, establishing management routines, and ensuring accountability, collaboration, and consistent delivery across the program.
• Develop and manage multi-year ticket and hospitality strategies, including ticket usage plans, event allocations, and optimization of ticket management platforms and processes to drive utilization and program growth.
• Oversee end-to-end guest and attendee experience, continuously evaluating and improving every touchpoint from registration and invitations through onsite hospitality, executive hosting, follow-up communications, and post-event engagement.
• Lead event planning and project management, including timelines, project plans, agendas, status updates, event overviews, event guides, run-of-show documents, executive briefings, and post-event recaps.
• Oversee event financial management, including budgets, forecasting, tracking, reconciliation, and ensuring programs are delivered on budget and in accordance with agency protocols.
• Lead vendor, venue, hotel, and transportation sourcing and management, including research, vetting, contract review and negotiation, partner relationships, and oversight of deliverables.
• Oversee onsite event operations and execution, including executive and VIP hosting, guest logistics, vendor management, registration, hospitality, and ensuring the highest standards of service and quality.
• Guide the development and approval of creative and event materials, including registration websites, invitations, signage, renderings,  guest communications, and other hospitality assets.
• Establish strong communication and operating protocols across clients, internal teams, vendors, and property partners, ensuring alignment, transparency, and timely resolution of issues.
• Continuously assess program performance and identify opportunities for improvement, providing recommendations, reporting, and actionable insights to senior management and clients.
• Develop and deliver compelling client facing presentations and communications, including strategic recommendations, executive briefings, POVs, research, and other thought leadership materials.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities across CAA, leveraging internal relationships, agency capabilities, and market knowledge to bring new ideas, properties, and opportunities to clients.
• Support broader agency initiatives and hospitality programs as needed, including event research, property evaluations, white papers, POVs, and special projects.
• Travel as required, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to support client programs and onsite event execution as needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality, Marketing, or a related field.
• 8–10+ years of experience in sports, entertainment, hospitality, experiential marketing, or a related field, with demonstrated experience planning and executing complex hospitality and B2B programs in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of the sports, entertainment, hospitality, and brand consulting landscape, with a genuine passion for sports, entertainment, celebrity, lifestyle, and pop culture.
• Proven ability to lead client relationships, meetings, staff planning, and cross-functional teams, keeping stakeholders aligned, on time, and on budget.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategic perspectives and client recommendations, bringing new insights and ideas to the table, and identifying opportunities to elevate the scope of work.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple complex projects, manage deadlines and timelines, adapt to evolving circumstances, and perform under pressure while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong budget management and forecasting skills, with a disciplined and strategic approach to financial management.
• Proven onsite event execution and vendor management experience, with the ability to oversee multiple partners and deliver seamless experiences.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including polished client correspondence, presentations, and experiential decks and run-of-show documents.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, judgment, tact, and poise, with the ability to build trust and credibility through strong relationships, confidence, and business acumen.
• Curious, proactive, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to listen, ask thoughtful questions, identify insights, and take initiative. Willing to roll up your sleeves and contribute wherever needed.
• Flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with ambiguity, with the ability to pivot quickly, course-correct, and take on new challenges in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and Microsoft Office, with the ability to create polished experiential presentations, planning materials, and run-of-show documents.
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel as required by events and client needs.

Preferred Skills:

• Agency experience highly preferred 
• F1 Experience
• Cvent and/or Ticket Manager experience

Location

This role will be hybrid, located in our New York office. The Brand Consulting department offers a flexible work schedule and requires a minimum of three days per week on-site.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is as follows:

New York, NY - $120,000 - $167,000

This position is also eligible for benefits and a discretionary bonus. Ultimately, the salary may vary based upon factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in the role, business sector, and geographic location, among other criteria. Please talk with a CAA Recruiter to learn more.

Benefits

At CAA, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits* package for all regular full-time employees:

Benefits where the company pays 80%-100% of the cost include:

• Medical,
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Telemedicine
• Employee assistance and mental health counseling in person, virtually or through text
• Paid Vacation / Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave and Other Paid Leaves of Absence
• NICU leave
• Bereavement resources
• Adoption Benefits
• Educational Assistance
• Mental Health Resources
• Employee Assistance Plan

Employees may also elect to participate in voluntary benefits

• Dental, Vision Insurance
• 401K Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care) 
• Health Savings Account
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance

Employee Perks

• Commuter Benefits

*Benefits offered also include other statutory mandated benefits

Creative Artists Agency, LLC (the “Company”) is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate on the basis of race (inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, gender or sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, family and medical care leave status, military or veteran status, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, an employee’s or their dependent’s reproductive health decision making (e.g., the decision to use or access a particular drug, device or medical service), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.The absence of a permanent address is not a bar to employment. The Company does not discriminate against individuals based on housing status, including the absence of a fixed address.The Company also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws with regard to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.CAA does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless they were contractually engaged by CAA to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any such employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the acknowledgement and agreement that CAA will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.