Account Director - Sports Paris, France

Our people 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.

About the role

Account Director – European Club Football & UK Sports 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.

The role is dynamic, team-focused, and customer-focused. Success 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 fostering strong client relationships, the Account Director significantly contributes to the growth and success of BDA and the client’s marketing and branding goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and nurture long-term relationships with existing clients.
• Drive revenue growth by strategically exploring and capitalizing on client needs.
• Serve as an escalation point for direct reports and client needs, addressing 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 build networks for BDA and pursue new business opportunities.
• Stay updated on industry trends, competitor activities, product knowledge, emerging strategies, and best practices to provide informed recommendations to the team and clients, enhancing BDA offerings and maintaining a competitive edge.
• Understand, interpret, and analyze financial aspects of accounts to make sound financial business decisions for BDA, including review and analysis of client reports, sales revenue, gross margins, sales reports, and operating expenses.
• 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 and presentations that showcase the value of BDA products and services.
• Work with the Director to develop proactive strategy and set direction for assigned account(s) and account team.
• Lead with positive intent and collaborate 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 backup 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 the collective client portfolio of the team ($10M+ benchmark).
• Coach and mentor other Account Directors, Senior Account Managers, Managers, and Associate Account Managers on the key account team.
• Manage performance management documentation of direct reports, including CDPs, PIPs, and written warning processes with the 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.

Requirements

• 7+ years of 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.

Skills

• Creativity and experience in merchandise, with the ability to generate out-of-the-box, fresh ideas.
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple clients and orders simultaneously.
• Fast-paced, deadline-driven multitasker.
• Team player who leads by example and develops the 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.
• Strong financial acumen with an understanding of calculating financial data such as margins and discounts to ensure profitable sales results.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make strategic decisions.
• Exceptional negotiation and problem-solving abilities.

Schedule

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

Pay

The base salary range for this position is €65,000 to €75,000. Compensation will be determined by factors such as skills, education, and experience, while also taking internal equity and pay fairness into account. The range 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.

Benefits

BDA is more than a workplace—it’s a family. For more than four decades, we’ve promoted a vibrant and welcoming culture that not only accepts but demands you to be different. The quirky, the bold, the creative, and the unique make up the foundation of a company that the most iconic brands in the world look to for help telling their story through the power of merchandise.