Project Director

Building a Brand Starts with a Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency serving clients in various industries, including financial services, technology, new & traditional media, aerospace, healthcare, and professional services. FIRST has received numerous accolades, including being listed among the 2025 Most Innovative Marketing Agencies of the Year by Chief Marketer, named Top Agency of the Year 2024 by Event Marketer, highlighted as a Global Agency of the Year, over 100 Employees by C&IT, and listed among the "200 Top Marketing Agencies" in 2024, 2023, & 2022 by Chief Marketer.

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The Project Director will serve as the strategic and operational lead for a strategic global client while also supporting a small portfolio of additional accounts. The role builds trust and collaboration to strengthen client relationships, drive account growth, and ensure long-term commitment. The Project Director will oversee budgets to balance client satisfaction with profitability and manage supplier and partner relationships to deliver high-quality experiences. They will also act as the primary intake point for new client requests—scoping project needs and partnering with global delivery teams to determine appropriate staffing models. While the role does not currently include direct people management, the Project Director will mentor team members and support their development across the client account.

Your Contributions: 

Client Relationship & Account Management

• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, with a primary focus on one global, strategic account, understanding their business and brand to deliver tailored event solutions.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison for this strategic client while also maintaining oversight of up to 1-4 cross-functional accounts, ensuring service delivery meets client expectations and reflects FIRST's high standards.
• Provide overall project direction, ensuring all team members adapt workflows, communication styles, and delivery approaches to align with the client's specific preferences and vision.
• Act as the main point of intake for new business from the client, assessing requirements, scoping project needs, and partnering with global delivery leads to secure appropriate staffing.
• Engage with senior clients, demonstrating industry expertise and a proactive, solutions-driven approach across multiple projects.
• Oversee account budget management, tracking revenue, forecasting future needs, and maximizing cost efficiencies.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities, assisting with proposals, pitches, and account growth strategies.
• Create and maintain account plans, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to drive tailored solutions and consistent delivery.
• Monitor client contracts, SLAs, and KPIs, providing performance insights to operations leadership and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Continuously assess and enhance service offerings by gathering feedback, identifying trends, and implementing process improvements.
• Optimize efficiency and service quality by streamlining processes and applying best practices.

Event Delivery & Budget Management

• Lead event delivery on complex or high-visibility projects as needed based on business priorities.
• Manage multiple key events from initial brief to final reconciliation, ensuring effective team leadership and adherence to SOPs and standards.
• Capture key intelligence to drive future performance improvements and share knowledge across the team.
• Guide teams to adjust delivery strategies to meet the unique expectations of this specific client, ensuring consistency across regions.
• Conduct and participate in global site visits and onsite execution, serving as the senior project presence for the client across their international event portfolio.
• Manage global travel needs aligned to the client's portfolio of events, including site visits, onsite execution, and in-person meetings in locations outside New York.
• Collaborate with Client Services to align on project briefs, build internal teams, and deliver successful events.
• Act as the escalation point for both clients and internal teams, anticipating needs and proactively managing resources.
• Maintain accurate financial records, communicating budget updates and critical financial concerns to management.
• Regularly report on budget status to clients and internal teams, ensuring timely reconciliations within client contracted deadlines.
• Identify opportunities for added value while ensuring overall project and account profitability.
• Foster strong relationships with suppliers and venues, seeking industry innovations and ensuring compliance with performance standards.

Team Management & Leadership

• Provide day-to-day direction for team members supporting the client, ensuring clarity of roles, alignment with SOPs, and adaptation to the client's unique workstyle and communication expectations.
• Partner with delivery leads globally to request, onboard, and guide team members assigned to the client, ensuring coverage across regions and time zones.
• Foster strong working relationships across global teams, providing mentorship and leadership in project delivery.
• Lead by example, maintaining a motivated, professional team committed to delivering exceptional client service.
• Support capacity awareness across the team, identifying pressure points and advocating for proper staffing with global delivery leads.
• Foster strong working relationships across global teams, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and consistent standards of service.
• Contribute to organizational strategy by identifying opportunities, addressing challenges, and promoting industry best practices.
• Ensure teams provide value for money to clients while identifying opportunities for added value.
• Act as a liaison between clients and FIRST management to address team-related issues as needed.
• This role does not currently include direct people management, however as the client portfolio grows, the role may evolve to include formal people management responsibilities.

Please be aware that we know experience does not always look like we describe it. If you believe you would be an excellent fit for this role, please apply - we would love to see how you could fit at First. 

• This role is best suited to a candidate with 8-10+ years of event management and project management experience, preferably in an agency environment.
• Minimum 8+ years' of combined managerial and event management experience in delivering digital and in-person events with the ability to manage and train teams of people in planning and execution of events
• Experience in working with and managing senior clients
• Extensive experience in event and project management, particularly within an agency environment.
• People management experience preferred
• In-depth knowledge of venues, destinations, and suppliers, with a strong network of established contacts in the region.
• Expertise in event logistics, including registration, conferences, meetings, F&B, and production management.
• Expert in venue selection, contract negotiation, and budget management.
• Familiar with event technology and software, with the ability to analyze event data and metrics.
• Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Effective communicator with clients, vendors, and internal teams, building strong interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership in a team-oriented environment.
• Creative, proactive, adaptable, and resourceful, with a focus on delivering exceptional event experiences
• This role will have you traveling 40-60% of the time 

At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That's why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth:

• Medical, Dental & Vision which includes the option of a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA)
• 401 (k) 
• Five Flexible Spending Accounts Options
• Generous Paid Time Off Allowance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life, Disability & Pet Coverages
• Wellness Stipend
• Complimentary access to Headspace, Teladoc, Maven, Rocket Lawyer, Mobilo & more
• Aura Identity Theft Protection
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

United States Residents: The base pay for this position ranges from $105,000 to $135,000. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

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FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.