Senior Experiential Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility) (Global Soccer) (Financial Services Client) (Contract)

THE JOB / Senior Experiential Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility) (Global Soccer) (Financial Services Client) (Contract) EXPERIENCES / Responsible for planning and execution of community-focused experiential marketing programs within the soccer portfolio. WHERE YOU’LL WORK The priority location for this role is Charlotte, NC, but the location of this position can be flexible with priority given to candidates open to hybrid work (3 days week in office) in one of our office locations - - Stamford, CT, New York, NY, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, and Miami, FL. We will also consider a remote-based working arrangement for qualified candidates with East Coast working hours as a prerequisite. WHEN YOU’LL WORK Contract Dates: January 1st, 2026 to August 31st, 2026 Contract Type: W-2 Employment THE WORK YOU’LL DO Octagon is in search of a Senior Experiential Manager to as a leader and playmaker at the intersection of soccer, community engagement, and experiential marketing. In this role, you will work closely with the Experiential Director and organizational soccer subject matter experts to help co-lead a team responsible for strategic program development of our financial services clients comprehensive FIFA World Cup 26™ community portfolio. If you have knowledge and experience planning events, leading a team, building strong business relationships with community partners and vendors, and orchestrating first-class grassroots brand activations, this opportunity is for you! Our ideal candidate will be organized, strategic, a creative thinker and an excellent communicator. We are looking for someone who is highly collaborative, a strong leader, and is comfortable taking the lead and voicing their opinions and ideas. The position is best suited for a candidate passionate about working in a fast-paced team environment with a diverse group of people from different cultural backgrounds and interested in managing multiple workstreams. Given the relevance of community partners, vendors and scale of the FIFA World Cup 26™ program, we are looking for someone with 4-6 years of proven experience with experiential as well as an in-depth understanding of all event production elements throughout the entire process. This includes – but is not limited to – workstreams such as logistics, vendor management, production, community partnerships, budget management, temporary staffing, etc. Other main responsibsilities include, but are not limited to:

• Contribute to the strategic planning, program development, execution, and measurement of soccer community initiatives.
• Partner with the Experiential Director to develop activation strategies, tactical plans, budgets, and post-program recaps.
• Lead and mentor team members, including Experiential Managers and Senior Event Executives.
• Develop and oversee community partnership strategies, cultivating relationships with local organizations, nonprofits, and soccer clubs.
• Collaborate with Experiential and Client Services teams to ensure seamless planning, execution, and operational feasibility of activations.
• Manage all aspects of community events—from vendor selection and contract negotiation to activation plans, merchandise management, and event documentation.
• Provide strategic guidance during client and vendor calls, delivering updates and ensuring timelines are met.
• Design and implement measurement frameworks to assess ROI and community impact.
• Lead on-site event management, ensuring flawless execution and real-time problem-solving.
• Serve as a trusted client advisor, building relationships that advance both business and project success.
• Oversee direct reports, provide performance feedback, and support career growth.
• Maintain close collaboration with the integrated soccer team and internal specialty groups across program development.
• Perform additional duties and administrative responsibilities as needed. THE BIGGER TEAM YOU’LL JOIN Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports”, Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing arm of the Interpublic Group. We take pride in being Playmakers – finding insightful, bold ways to create play in our work, our lives, and in the world. We believe in the power of play to create big ideas and unlock potential for our clients and talent. We can put ourselves in the shoes of fans because we ARE fans – of sports, entertainment, and culture at large. This expertise allows us to continually evolve the fan experience across sports and entertainment alongside some of the biggest brands and talent in the world. The world needs play more than ever. Are you a Playmaker? WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
• Deep passion for soccer and understanding of the sport’s culture and community landscape.
• 4–6 years of experience in marketing or sponsorship, with a focus on global sports properties and large-scale events (soccer/community engagement preferred).
• Proven leadership experience with th

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