Brand Strategy Account Manager

Fuse Overview:
Fuse is a full-service marketing agency based in Winooski, Vermont that creates authentic brand engagements for teens and young adults. Fuse specializes in planning and executing sports, sampling, campus, culture, and customer marketing programs. Named one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont, Fuse believes that life should be a balance of creating great work and making first chair on a powder day. We foster a creative environment that encourages people to share insights and inspiration. If this sounds like a lifestyle made for you, then Fuse wants to hear from you.

Fuse offers a hybrid working environment. Fuse employees are welcome to work remotely 2 days per week (Wednesday and Friday) and work in the Winooski, Vermont headquarters on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to collaborate with coworkers and clients. At this time, we are only interviewing candidates based in or willing to relocate to Vermont within driving distance of the office.

Job Summary:
The individual in this position is responsible for managing the strategic consulting and operational aspects of specific account’s marketing initiatives. The Account Manager serves as “keeper of the brand / client relationship” across all Fuse Business Groups and in some cases, external agency partners, ensuring all Fuse work meets client expectations and is on strategy with the brand’s / client’s overall goals. The Account Manager proactively leads all Fuse work on a client’s business, being able to manage multiple tasks associated with multiple accounts at once, in a fast-paced environment. This role includes: strategic development, daily communication with the client to keep project moving and progressing, day-to-day account responsibilities (status, meetings, timeline management, etc.), timely and on-budget delivery of all services, working with account team on maintaining client’s strategy throughout all aspects of the business and utilizing expertise in marketing to consult and provide point-of-views on all projects.  The Account Manager ensures the account or project deliverables are being met or exceeded.

Successful candidates have an in-depth knowledge of brand marketing, expert knowledge in teen and young adult marketing and high-level project management experience. The individual will work in Fuse’s Winooski, Vermont office.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Program Development

• Develop integrated and cohesive strategy or concepts for Client based on Client brief; ensure engagement across Fuse Groups and partner agencies as needed.
• Planning documents such as timelines and briefs are delivered to Client to guide the strategic planning process.
• Strategic planning and concept development are based on key consumer insights, include program measurements, and are inclusive of all elements requested in the brief.
• Presentation and/or ideas are delivered on time and with executional accuracy.

Client Relations

• Foster a mutually respected business relationship with Client through day-to-day contact i.e. understand Client’s preferred way of working with Fuse and ensure their expectations are met or exceeded.
• Ensure that projects produced by the account team will successfully meet or exceed Client’s needs within Client’s expected timeframe.
• Client demonstrates trust in Fuse and values Fuse’s work; Fuse Team working on business understands how Client’s internal systems and processes work.
• Client updates are delivered when appropriate and on-time.

Presentation Development & Delivery

• Build presentations using Fuse presentation templates.
• Utilize fresh/new thinking when delivering ideas such as with annual strategies, grassroots programs, premiums, retail concepts, event activation ideas, etc.
• Delivery of information is practiced before presentation to Client and speaking points are rehearsed
• Presentations are formatted accurately, ideas are organized, and the amount of information shared balance too much versus not enough.
• Ideas presented demonstrate expertise/knowledge in the given subject and are delivered with enthusiasm.

• Recommend on-strategy partnerships / properties that match up with brand’s goals / objectives and based on a set criteria.
• Property contracts, management & activations are carefully planned for and are carried out in a timely manner.
• A client’s expectations are met or exceeded on-site due to excellent & thorough pre-event planning and on-site coordination.
• Details of events are planned and then executed according to plan; solutions to challenges are addressed quickly and communicated effectively.

Consumer Insights / Youth Marketing Trends

• Utilize key industry relationships, research, insights to demonstrate expertise & relevance to the opportunity at hand.

Talent Management (Brand Ambassadors / Influencers / Athletes / Artist / Other Management)

• Identify on-strategy talent for Client and deliver key insights about talent to demonstrate that they’re a brand fit.
• Negotiation plans should be planned out in advance of kick-off approved by the Client; kick-off negotiations with firm timeline and prior first right of refusal has expired.
• Manage talent communication and ensure both talent and Client are informed of marketing programs regularly via talent branding tracking and planning meetings such as roundtables.
• Talent and their respective management understand the talent / client relationship and work to make sure all sponsor benefits are carried out.
• Talent sponsor benefits are managed, monitored and maximized throughout the year.

Retail / Customer Program Development

• Understand Client’s retail/customer goals and systems to link marketing programs to sales.
• Develop retail concepts that are relevant to Client’s consumer and resonate with the Client’s key customer (as needed).
• Retail concepts are on-strategy and leverage existing marketing assets.

Budget/Invoice Management

• Develop program budgets for new projects, conduct ongoing project budget and spend/approval management, manage quarterly budget reconciliations and conduct client billing follow up communication.
• Budget planning, budget management via NetSuite, spending/approval, reconciliation and client billing follow up is completed thoroughly, accurately and on time.
• Projects are completed within approved budget range.

Status Report Development, Delivery and Monitoring

• Updating of weekly Fuse internal status reports with Account Director and updating client status report.
• Following up on Client requests in a timely and thorough manner.
• Status reports are formatted correctly, are updated weekly or more frequently and free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Additional Responsibilities

• Traveling to Client meetings and events.
• Physical demands include modest lifting at events, in the office, at storage locations, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Successful candidates will have the following skills & qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field
• 3 - 6 years of marketing agency and / or brand experience; client management and communication experience
• In-depth knowledge of brand marketing
• Knowledge of youth culture - sports, campus, lifestyle, and more
• Ability to deliver professional, error-free business documents and project reports
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make quick, effective decisions when presented with unplanned challenges
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• An understanding of the agency process and the agency/client relationship
• A strong attention to detail, self-starter mentality and sense of responsibility.
• Willingness to travel frequently for business on weekends and holidays
• Experience leading and being part of a cross-functional team
• Expert level proficiency in all MS Office programs - experience with Macs is critical

The salary range for this role is $60k-$85k depending on relevant experience, plus a generous benefits package.

Fuse benefits include:

• 75% Employer-Paid Medical/Dental/Vision insurance for employees & dependents 
• Health Savings Account contribution
• Health care opt-out stipend in lieu of employer coverage
• Employer paid life/disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Fitness, ski pass & cell phone stipends
• On-site skate ramp & recreation/fitness room
• Fuse gear closet including outdoor gear to borrow
• Dog friendly office
• Winter Wednesdays – work starts at noon!
• Summer Fridays 
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 15 vacation days to start, plus personal and sick days and your birthday off! 
• Paid volunteer hours
• Week-long company closure during the last week of the year 
• Annual Company Ski/Ride Day
• Company happy hours, seasonal outings, and lots of fun 
• Opportunity to engage in the local community via Fuse’s company pillar committees: Fuse Culture Committee, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and Environment & Sustainability Committee

Fuse reserves the right to conduct background checks such as criminal and driving record checks for relevant roles.

Fuse is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff.  We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

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