The Marketing Store is a consumer engagement agency that believes in the power of experience to build brands. Experience is any valuable interaction between a brand and consumer, and it’s the currency of 21st century marketing; consumers are placing greater value on it, technology provides brands with greater opportunity to deliver it, and it’s the key to unlocking huge growth.
Our core skill is therefore transforming brands, products and services into experiences. To leave lasting impressions and influence future purchasing decisions.
We do this through our expertise in the sharing of experience and the science of experience. Yet none of this can be achieved without our investment in people and culture. We’re committed to breaking down silos to create more efficient and better-connected working processes. That’s why we are a people-first agency, built to serve consumer-first brands.
WHAT ARE OUR PEOPLE LIKE?
Our agency is home to creative problem solvers. Those who overcome any obstacle to successfully put consumer-first ideas, products and technologies into market.
People who wear their talent lightly. Willing to be part of a close community that pushes them to be better.
Because our goal is to bring people and brands closer together. Closer insights, closer connections and closer collaboration breed better, more effective work. It’s this dedication to getting closer that drives us to go further.
WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE
The Marketing Store was THRILLED to recently be announced as O2 Priority’s partnership agency of choice. Priority is the jewel in O2’s impressive crown, the centre of their commitment to become truly customer centric. And as the telecoms sector continues to evolve, Priority will be one of – if not the – key strategic focus for the business.
To welcome this new client to The Marketing Store, we’re looking for an established Partnerships Account Director to join our new team. Building on your existing network of contacts, you’ll identify and engage with strong partners that deliver and satisfy the client’s marketing and business need. You’ll use the team around you to activate key relationships whilst implementing the pitch strategy, creative ambition, and executing against partner profiling, negotiation, and management. This is an opportunity not only to be part of the most enviable partnerships accounts in the world, but also to help build and mentor the department into a true power-house in the industry.
We will be an important strategic player for O2 - setting the Priority vision for the next 6 months (and next 6 years); solving O2’s and partners’ genuine business challenges; providing innovative thinking and innovative creative ideas. This is a truly awesome opportunity to be a part of a team who will create and build customer experience solutions that drive fame for O2 Priority.
Finally, we guarantee that you will leave changed. Because we help our people to achieve their goals. Come her to experience. To experiment. To make mistakes. To challenge your own limits.
Responsibilities
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE AGENCY
You have a wealth of contacts and knowledge of how the partnerships industry works and how to shape, refine and execute best in-class collaborations. As Partnerships Account Director, you will be responsible for guiding and working with the Partnerships and Client Services team on executing exciting loyalty and promotional marketing initiatives that enhance the overall customer experience. You are passionate about building strong relationships with partners, mentoring junior team members, and identifying strategic solutions to solve both client and partner business challenges. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and have meticulous attention to detail.
Digging deeper on the details
Business Development
Identify new ways that partnerships can support our client’s business challenges in order to develop the account beyond loyalty & retention
Get to know our partners as if they were our clients, identify potential new business opportunities and secure new partnerships accounts and projects for the agency
Support the Director of Partnerships in pitching new potential accounts and opportunities
Partner Planning and Management
Plan, pitch and handle complex negotiations involving deal structure, margin and other critical contract terms
Develop strong relationships with brand partners across multiple sectors from idea, sourcing and partner outreach, to negotiations, contracts and ongoing relationship management
Seek out new categories and emerging brands to engage; innovating new means of profiling, pitching, and negotiating targeted partners
Nurture client relationships that enable TMS to act as an extension of the O2 Priority team
Be responsible for and ensure the partnership scope of work is delivered against in each of the clients’ core categories. Managing and keeping open & frequent communication with a team of 3 to make this happen
Further to the client programme partnership scope of work, work with and effectively delegate across your team to ideate and deliver partnerships for specific campaigns and initiatives
Work with the Client Services team to review overall client programme and partnerships performance on a monthly basis, presenting this, along with actionable recommendations back to the client
Drive partnership performance and maximise partner relationships relative to the client brief; proactively review performance of partnerships and work to evolve offers with existing partners
Identify new and innovative mechanics and ways in which we can work with partners in order to deliver against both client and partner objectives
Assist the Client Services team with day-to-day delivery & implementation as needed
Keep partner offerings and the client programme fresh and market-leading by keeping abreast of industry innovations and working closely with partners to maintain awareness of their new proposals, products, services, mechanics and marketing objectives
Collaborate and work closely with the UI/UX agency, proactively proposing areas that can add value to the business while always ensuring the best possible customer experience of Priority
Team Management and Agency Leadership
Work with the Director of Partnerships to set up a partnerships hub with The Marketing Store Chicago to share best practice and innovation across the network
Responsible for executing and guiding team on researching, brainstorming, and completing proposals for the client programme, campaigns and initiatives
Manage the performance and development of team members in line with the agency’s process including hiring, motivating, training, and mentoring
Build and support the growth potential of your team, and clearly delegate appropriate responsibilities
Actively manage direct reports to ensure profitability of client partners through effective financial planning, forecasting and management
Desired Skills & Experience
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE
Solid experience in an agency-side partnerships role, as either a seasoned Senior Partnerships Manager or Partnership Account Director
Meticulous attention to detail and passion for understanding & following process. Ability to review and recommend on procedural efficiencies that will help us deliver for our client and partners.
Strong knowledge and experience with digital promotions across food, retail, entertainment, sports & wellbeing, travel and gaming with brand contacts
Brilliant storyteller that can create narratives to sell in partnerships to brands and O2
Proven success in delivering high-quality brand partnerships campaigns
Experience analysing, synthesizing, and utilising data to make recommendations that drive engagement. Working with a data analyst to do so
Experience interacting and building relationships with C-levels
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience with/and ability to understand complex business objectives and effectively communicate intelligence and strategy to client, partners, and internal teams
Strong relationship management, time, and project management skills
Prior experience collaborating with, mentoring and managing internal and external teams
Excellent presentation skills (writing, reviewing and delivering) and ability to strategically position decks that tell the client story and proposal.
And we’d love you to
Demonstrate lateral thinking, negotiation nous and tenacity
Ask the questions that others don’t
Enviable negotiation skills, business and financial acumen
Be:
A researcher - someone who enjoys digging into prospective brands to learn their business, key contacts, new products, upcoming initiatives and objectives to help assess fit and the right sales approach
Detail-oriented, highly organised, creative and a resourceful individual
Flexible and hard working - used to working to deadlines under pressure
Good at reading a room; adapting style to fit and influence the appropriate audience
Someone that always has their finger on the pulse, constantly maintaining their knowledge of the industry and relevant business trends
Benefits
THOSE EXTRA PERKS!
‘Your Hours’ – flexible working for all around a core hours structure
22 days’ holiday standard (increases year on year with service)
An additional three days for the Christmas period
Your birthday off and £50 cash on us!
3% Company pension contribution
Private Health Cover with AXA PPP
Dental cover with Denplan
Annual Discretionary Performance Bonus
‘Bike to Work’ scheme
Life Assurance at four times your annual salary
Employee Assistance Programme
Referral bonus for new hires
Long Service Bonus at 5, 10, 15 years
Socials and sports teams