Strategic Account Manager, Marketing & Event Services

Come work for a leading consumer market research. marketing and events firm specializing in cutting-edge consumer products and services. We provide distinct value with the marriage of consumer data and industry analysis on emerging markets. Our approach combines consumer research with industry knowledge, providing a comprehensive demand and supply-side view of emerging consumer technology markets.

The Strategic Account Manager for Events and Custom Marketing Services is responsible for selling high-value marketing services (podcasts, white papers, webinars, virtual events and in person conferences) packages to key companies in consumer technology industries. This position is consultative and requires strong experience in both business development and account management/customer success roles.   

As a Strategic Account Manager, you will spend your day communicating with Parks Associates existing and potential clients via email, over the phone, and through virtual platforms, as well as travel to in-person events when they are being hosted. You will share information about the benefits of sponsoring Parks Associates executive conferences and custom marketing services and be responsible for all sales revenues for events and custom marketing services.  Negotiation and listening skills are essential as is the ability to match sponsorship packages to the needs of a client.

Key tasks and responsibilities include:

** Proactive selling - on the phone, through email, and face to face – you will use a combination of these in order to pitch to new and existing clients

** Existing Business Sales – be a farmer, working with existing clients to renew sponsorship and custom marketing services

** New Business Sales –  be a “hunter”, sourcing, approaching and selling to marketing and strategy level executives

** Consultative Selling –  use your industry knowledge, and your knowledge of your clients’ businesses, to become a trusted advisor to new and existing event sponsors

** Growing Key Sponsorship Accounts – be responsible for nurturing your clients, upselling them to increase visibility options, managing the relationship, and ensuring repeat business

** Meeting Targets and KPIs –  consistently strive to achieve and exceed financial targets, as well as key sales metrics including outbound reach via email, calls, and in-person meetings

** Traveling - attend the conferences and events in order to network with your sponsors and maintain sponsor relationships onsite

Parks Associates has a 30 year history focused on emerging consumer technologies providing rich insights, trends, and knowledge regarding the adoption, distribution and growth of these new offerings to mass market adoption. Our long-term understanding and insights on the core distribution channels provide meaningful analysis to our clients, who range from Fortune 100 to start-ups.

Requirements

You must have a very strong work ethic, be highly motivated, and customer service oriented. Interaction is regular with senior level marketing and strategy executives from Fortune 500 to start-up companies. Key to this role is the ability to employ a consultative sales approach; to enable clients an understanding of sponsorship benefits, and to understand the role of digital marketing and visibility in a B2B market.

We seek an organized, goal driven, highly determined, ambitious, and positive individual seeking to learn and develop personal skills and industry knowledge, as well as make a great individual and team contribution.

You will be reporting directly to Jason Paris (Vice President of Business Development) as well as getting direction from Elizabeth Parks (President) and Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein (Vice President, Marketing) on specific projects and goals.

With support from the Sales and Marketing Teams, this strategic account manager does the following:  

·        Identifies maintains, and sells event sponsorships and custom marketing services to accounts to build and create new relationships in a systematic process that support Parks Associates revenue goals

·        Works with the sales and marketing teams on the Company’s overall strategy for growth

·        Works with the marketing department on event development and custom marketing services 

·        Understands Parks Associates research areas to provide the most effective support with event activities

General qualification requirements include:

·        Ability to communicate and sell sponsorships for executive conferences and custom marketing services (white papers, webinars)

·        Ability to establish, track, and meet goals

·        Ability to identify and develop accounts

·        Ability to act independently and work in a small company environment

Daily Tasks (other duties may be assigned):

 · Utilize phone, electronic, written correspondence and face-to-face meetings as tools to reach and exceed the sponsorship and custom marketing targets

· Research and develop a list of potential sponsors for each conference

· Develop and maintain relationships with existing and potential sponsorship clients and exhibitors

· Keep detailed records of conversations with potential clients, clients, sponsors and exhibitors

· Send proposals to clients

· Update company sales database as required and following team reporting requirements

· Invoice sponsors and exhibitors once agreements have been reached

· Assist in preparing promotional material to advertise sales opportunities

· Maintain knowledge of conference timelines and sponsorship deadlines

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Business Administration or equivalent degree, with 2-4 years’ experience in sponsorship & exhibit or corporate sales.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to communicate in professional business setting. Ability to summarize business conversations, communicate effectively via email, create proposals in PPT and effectively present information both electronically and in person.  

TECHNICAL SKILLS: Excellent knowledge of a variety of sales and presentation software packages including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are a must.