IMG ARENA · 1 week ago
VP, Brand Strategy: Partnerships, Experiential, Entertainment & Culture
CA-Beverly Hills - 9560 Wilshire
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$150K/yr - $200K/yr
10+ years expIMG ARENA is a part of the global powerhouse 160over90, focusing on cultural strategy and brand engagement. The Vice President of Brand Strategy will lead strategic initiatives, manage senior-level client relationships, and drive experiential marketing efforts to foster brand growth and innovation.
Sports
Responsibilities
Owning senior-level client relationships across priority accounts, serving as a trusted strategic counselor to C-suite and senior brand leaders—particularly in the areas of partnerships, experiential platforms, and entertainment-driven growth
Leading strategy at the intersection of brands, talent, and rights-holders, collaborating closely with creative, partnerships, and WME counterparts to design culturally resonant, commercially sound platforms that move beyond campaigns into ecosystems
Shaping and scaling strategic approaches to partnerships and experiential marketing, including sponsorship strategy, brand-talent collaborations, live experiences, cultural moments, and IP-led activations
Bringing strategic leadership to the business development process (both new and organic); directing and/or authoring quick turn strategies to support major new business pitches for the agency
Driving strategic rigor from insight through execution, ensuring that cultural intelligence, audience understanding, and brand POVs are translated into clear creative territories, experience design principles, and activation roadmaps
Acting as a senior strategic voice in entertainment-adjacent work, including film, television, music, sports, fashion, and creator ecosystems—helping brands navigate how (and when) to authentically participate in culture
Partnering with Account and Operations leadership to ensure strategic excellence at scale, balancing ambition with feasibility, and helping teams manage complexity, scope, and evolving client needs
Developing and mentoring a dynamic group of strategists and research analysts across the globe; whether direct reports or not ––helping to coach up the broader Strategy team (as well as departments we collaborate with) to reach their/our full potential
Contributing to the evolution of the agency’s strategic products and frameworks, particularly those that support non-traditional marketing models, experiential platforms, and partnership-led growth
Representing the agency externally, participating in industry conversations, panels, press, and thought leadership opportunities that reinforce 160over90’s position as a leader in culture-driven strategy
Acting as a key representative of the Strategy team and leader across the agency at large; providing a senior point of escalation and demonstrating an ability to solve complex challenges with limited oversight
Serving as a senior in-office presence in Los Angeles–working closely with the heads of Account, Creative and Operations in Beverly Hills to foster a culture that reflects our values across departments, mentor talent, and contribute to the overall success of the agency
Helping define the future of the Strategy discipline within 160over90, identifying emerging opportunities, evolving team capabilities, and developing ways to improve our product, people, processes and performance to the benefit of the agency
Qualification
Required
10+ years of strategy experience at creative agencies and/or specialist agencies (experiential/pr/digital, partnerships etc.) or brand-side or maybe both!
4+ years of senior leadership experience over a wide portfolio of diverse clients across a global network
Substantial experience developing creative strategies for a range of brand applications & categories
Exceptional presenter and storyteller, with a strong ability to craft and develop compelling materials
Vast experience across traditional strategy frameworks; ability to roll up sleeves and do, not just direct
Comfort and confidence in presenting work and selling 'the thinking' to C-suite audiences
Proven experience in leading a team and in developing, supporting and nurturing junior staff
Ability to thrive in a large, complex (and atypical) organization, managing diverse stakeholders and building stronger relationships and deeper connections within the WME Group network
Entrepreneurial nature; ability to proactively adapt ways of working within an evolving agency model
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop a clear, compelling POV that sells strategy (internally and externally)
The soft skills of strategy: emotional intelligence, curiosity, empathy, and collaboration
A strong portfolio of breakthrough strategies that cross categories and drive results. Experience as both a maker of great work and an instigator of it
A proven track record for winning business, building business outward and elevating the profile and profitability of the strategy department within an agency and/or client account
Extensive experience with a variety of research tools and methodologies, with a proven ability to direct, expand, and drive sell-through of research capabilities
Benefits
Health care
Retirement
Vacation
Other paid time off
Additional offerings
Company
IMG ARENA
IMG ARENA is a sports and federations company.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
IMG ARENA has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2024 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2025-03-19Acquired
Leadership Team
Eireann Kelly
VP of Product & Digital
Recent News
Sports Business Journal
2025-11-05
Company data provided by crunchbase