Key Account Manager

Description

Summary:

ET Global is seeking a Key Account Manager who operates confidently at a mid-level and is ready to grow into a senior role. This candidate thrives in a team environment, performs when challenged, and instinctively seeks growth at every opportunity.

The Key Account Manager will work to strategically manage, retain, and grow a book of assigned accounts. They support production & creative teams to ensure that client vision is successfully translated into the real world. The ideal candidate possesses a proven track record of managing complex activations, both physical and digital, and of aligning multiple project teams to deliver a creative vision and emerging as “the glue” for all project departments. Strategic thinking, work ethic, and problem solving abilities are quintessential to this role.

Key Responsibilities:

Client & Account Ownership

• Manage day-to-day relationships across assigned key accounts
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and be the glue with internal teams and external partners
• Ensure high client satisfaction through proactive communication and solutions-oriented thinking
• Lead client planning calls on a regular basis and provides agendas, meeting minutes and regular budget updates
• Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts and deepen client partnerships
• Keep an updated Account Plan for each client to document an overview of their status
• Maintain a deep knowledge of all accounts (incl. internal structure, operating budgets, and marketing objectives)
• Travel to meet clients on show sites or other projects, or client offices to ensure rapport through face-to-face relations is properly maintained

Experiential & Production Leadership

• Partner with creative and production teams to bring experiential and booth concepts to life
• Consult with clients on booth strategy, flow, layout, infrastructure, and execution approach
• Manage projects from briefing through post-show, ensuring scope, timelines, and expectations are aligned
• Support onsite execution

Timeline, Project & Internal Coordination

• Create, publish, and manage pre-production timelines, ensuring all action items are communicated and completed prior to deadlines.
• Create & co-author onsite schedules to ensure all internal and external requirements are integrated into the larger production schedule
• Ensure clean handoffs across departments (design, production, graphics, invoicing)
• Document project requirements and updates in ET Global systems
• Anticipate risks and escalate challenges early to leadership with proposed solutions
• Candidate must be highly organized, self-motivated, and attentive to details.

Financial Management

• Support budget oversight, estimates, and change orders
• Track revenue and ensure accurate scope documentation
• Assist with invoicing and project close-out

Requirements

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience managing client relationships in experiential, exhibits, events, or related industries
• Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to collaborate across creative, production, and operational teams
• Confidence communicating with clients and internal stakeholders
• Willingness to travel and provide onsite leadership when required
• Desire to grow into a more senior, strategic role
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, CRM & project management software agnostic

Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field or proven experience as a Key Account Manager or in a similar role, preferably in the exhibit or events industry
• 6+ years of experience with experiential activations, tradeshows, or large-scale events
• Expertise in budget management and communicating change order processes with clients and internal teams for projects of all sizes
• Comfort reading CAD/technical drawings and discussing layout and AV considerations
• Experience in managing external vendors, logistics partners, and union labor crews both domestically and internationally
• Accountability for mistakes (we all make them) and the ability to move forward together and better