Director of Experiential & Innovation, GSE Live

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior GSE Live relationship POC with the client across business initiatives, building trust with leadership at the Director and VP level.
• Set the strategic direction for the account: understand the client's business objectives, translate them into innovative experiential platforms, and hold the team accountable for delivering against them.
• Lead planning, scoping, and budgeting for season-long and multi-market programs, owning the financial health of the account.
• Anticipate client needs and proactively bring new ideas, programming, and opportunities.
• Step in as the senior presence both in-office and on-site at marquee activations, acting as the lead point of contact for client, staff, venue and external partners.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 5 to 10 GSE Live Senior Managers, Managers, and Assistant Managers.
• Set clear expectations and a high standard for the work, and give direct, timely feedback that helps people grow into it.
• Own the account staffing plan and career development for the team, building clear growth paths at every level.
• Build a culture where people feel ownership, speak up, and want to stay, and where the best ideas win regardless of title.
• Resolve resourcing conflicts across accounts and protect the team's capacity so that execution quality holds up under volume.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in experiential marketing, with a track record of leading large-scale brand activations, sponsorship programs, and live events for major brands.
• Proven success driving business or account growth: sourcing, pitching, and winning new clients or expanded scopes, and expanding existing relationships.
• Significant experience managing large, complex accounts and senior client relationships, including scoping, budgeting, resource management, and P&L ownership.
• Experience leading and developing teams across multiple disciplines, with a demonstrated commitment to mentorship and servant leadership.
• Deep understanding of client/agency relationships and the sports and entertainment landscape.
• Exceptional presentation, written, verbal, and negotiation skills; confident in front of senior executives.
• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent professional experience.
• Based in Dallas or Charlotte.
• Ability to travel and to work nights, weekends, and holidays when live programs require it.

Preferred

• Experience leading programs within stadium, arena, and large-venue environments and with major league and team properties.
• Experience working with retail and/or CPG clients.
• Established relationships with brands, properties, and production partners in the Dallas market and nationally.
• Experience in a multi-office agency, with a working knowledge of adjacent disciplines such as sponsorship consulting, CRM, creative, and hospitality.
• Practical, hands-on comfort using AI tools (e.g., Claude) in day-to-day leadership and client work.