VilrtechLocation: Toronto, Ontario (Hybrid Role)
Salary Range: $63,750 – $85,000 per year
Why This Role Matters
In today’s highly competitive sports, entertainment, and brand partnership landscape, organizations are no longer looking for simple account managers. They are seeking strategic leaders—professionals who can connect brand ambition with fan passion, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and turn sponsorship investments into measurable business impact.
The Associate Account Director, Sponsorship Consulting role at MKTG Sports + Entertainment represents a pivotal leadership position within one of the most respected global agencies operating at the intersection of brands, fans, sports, and culture. This is not an entry-level or execution-only role. It is designed for a professional who already understands the mechanics of sponsorship, consulting, and brand partnerships, and who is ready to step into a more visible, influential leadership position.
As a recruiter, this is the kind of role I describe as a career accelerator—a position that sharpens strategic thinking, client leadership, financial accountability, and team development skills while offering exposure to high-profile brands and major sponsorship properties.
About the Company: MKTG Sports + Entertainment
MKTG Sports + Entertainment (MKTG S+E) is a globally recognized agency with more than two decades of experience in transforming how brands engage with fans. The agency operates with one core belief: when brands understand fans deeply and move at fan speed, they create experiences that matter.
For over 20 years, MKTG S+E has worked across sports, entertainment, and culture to design sponsorship strategies and activations that are not only noticeable, but meaningful and memorable. The agency’s work goes beyond logos and placements. It focuses on emotional connection, measurable outcomes, and long-term brand equity.
MKTG S+E is part of the dentsu Sports International network, giving employees access to global resources, cross-market expertise, and international best practices. For professionals looking to build a long-term career in sponsorship consulting, this affiliation provides both stability and opportunity.
Associate Account Director, Sponsorship Consulting
The Associate Account Director (AAD) plays a senior leadership role within the consulting team, working across a portfolio of well-known and high-profile clients. This position sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, client leadership, and internal team management.
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Consulting, the AAD serves as a trusted advisor to clients while also acting as a leader internally—guiding teams, shaping recommendations, and ensuring excellence across every stage of sponsorship planning and delivery.
From a recruiter’s perspective, this role is ideal for someone who has already proven themselves as a strong account manager or consultant and is ready to influence bigger decisions, manage more complexity, and lead with confidence.
Core Responsibilities
1. Client and Account Leadership
At its core, this role is about building trust. As an Associate Account Director, you are expected to operate as a senior-level partner to your clients on a daily basis.
You will be responsible for understanding each client’s business objectives, market position, and brand strategy, and then translating those insights into sponsorship solutions that deliver real value. This includes guiding clients through complex decisions, managing expectations, and ensuring that every deliverable aligns with agreed objectives.
You will collaborate closely with internal cross-functional teams—creative, media, public relations, social, and digital—to develop integrated and innovative marketing solutions. Your role is to connect the dots, ensuring that each discipline works together cohesively rather than in silos.
Accountability is central to this position. You will oversee timelines, scopes of work, budgets, invoicing, and reconciliations, ensuring that programs are delivered accurately, on time, and within financial parameters. When issues arise—as they inevitably do in complex sponsorship programs—you will be expected to resolve them proactively and professionally.
2. Strategic Sponsorship Consulting
This role requires a deep understanding of the entire sponsorship lifecycle. As an Associate Account Director, you will contribute meaningfully at every stage, including:
- Identifying sponsorship opportunities aligned with client objectives
- Developing sponsorship strategies rooted in research, insights, and evidence
- Evaluating partnership opportunities and assessing commercial value
- Supporting partnership negotiations and deal structures
- Leading activation ideation and program development
- Managing sponsorship execution and optimization
- Measuring performance and translating results into actionable insights
You will also develop and maintain strong relationships with sports and entertainment properties, talent agents, rights holders, and internal agency partners. These relationships are critical for identifying new opportunities and ensuring successful activations.
Clients rely on this role to provide clear, data-driven perspectives, especially when facing difficult or high-stakes decisions. Your ability to balance creativity with commercial logic will be essential.
3. Team Leadership and Mentorship
From a hiring standpoint, one of the most important elements of this role is leadership.
As an Associate Account Director, you are expected to mentor junior team members, support their professional development, and help shape a positive and inclusive team culture. This includes providing clear guidance, constructive feedback, and opportunities for growth.
You will be responsible for prioritization and delegation, ensuring workloads are balanced and projects are managed effectively. Strong project management skills are essential, as you will oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining high standards.
You will also review and approve reports, presentations, and strategic recommendations, ensuring that all work reflects the quality and standards expected of MKTG Sports + Entertainment.
4. Business Development and Commercial Responsibility
Beyond client service, this role plays an active part in growing the business.
You will help identify expansion opportunities within existing client relationships, spotting ways to deepen partnerships or introduce new services. You may also contribute to new business pitches, leading discovery sessions, brainstorming solutions, defining scopes, developing budgets, and presenting recommendations to prospective clients.
Financial acumen is critical. You will support internal financial planning, budget management, and resource allocation. Additionally, you will work closely with the agency’s legal team to support client contracts, scopes of work, and other commercial documentation.
From a recruiter’s viewpoint, this combination of client leadership and business development experience significantly enhances long-term career prospects.
Required Qualifications and Experience
To be competitive for this role, candidates should bring a strong foundation in marketing, consulting, or sponsorship-related fields.
Key qualifications include:
- A university or college degree in marketing, business, or a related discipline
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally within an agency, branding, sponsorship, or consulting environment
- Solid knowledge of the Canadian sports and entertainment ecosystem
- Familiarity with influencer marketing and modern brand engagement strategies
- Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with clients, partners, and rights holders
- Confidence presenting strategic recommendations to senior leadership
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring or managing team members
This role is best suited for individuals who combine strategic thinking with strong interpersonal skills and operational discipline.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $63,750 to $85,000 per year, with final compensation determined by experience, skills, and qualifications.
In addition to base salary, employees have access to a comprehensive benefits package, which may include:
- Medical and dental coverage
- Retirement savings options (RRSP)
- Paid time off and holiday benefits
- Additional employee wellness and support programs
MKTG Sports + Entertainment is committed to competitive, fair compensation and long-term employee well-being.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Commitment
MKTG S+E strongly believes that diverse perspectives lead to better ideas, stronger collaboration, and more impactful work. The agency actively strives to create a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.
The company is also committed to accessibility throughout the recruitment process. Candidates who require accommodations during application or interviews are encouraged to initiate a conversation so appropriate support can be provided.
Work Arrangement and Location
This is a hybrid role based in Toronto, Ontario, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. This structure supports productivity while maintaining strong team connection and client engagement.
Final Insight
From a recruitment perspective, the Associate Account Director, Sponsorship Consulting role at MKTG Sports + Entertainment is an excellent opportunity for professionals who want to elevate their careers in sponsorship strategy and brand consulting.
It offers meaningful responsibility, exposure to top-tier clients, leadership development, and a clear pathway toward more senior roles. For candidates who thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy solving complex business challenges, and want to shape the future of brand engagement through sports and entertainment, this role stands out as a highly attractive next step.
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