Contract: Partner Lead Jobs

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

This is an engagement through Upwork’s Hybrid Workforce Solutions (HWS) Team. Our Hybrid Workforce Solutions Team is a global group of professionals that support Upwork’s business. Our HWS team members are located all over the world.

Work/Project Scope:

• We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Partner Lead to join our internal creative agency (Workshop) at Upwork. As the Partner Lead, you will be responsible for managing key marketing partner relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for up to five accounts. Your role will encompass driving collaboration, proactive planning, and efficient communication between the creative team and marketing drivers. The ideal candidate will possess excellent account management skills, strong strategic thinking, and a demonstrated ability to guide creative campaigns and projects from inception to completion.
• Act as the primary recipient and facilitator of pod-level feedback from marketing partners. While project management will help facilitate creative feedback, this role should stay close to marketing partners to ensure that all feedback regarding the state of their respective pods is being elevated and addressed. This person will also need to be the main point of contact for their respective pods and give air cover to creatives who need to focus on executing the work. This means fielding one-off inquiries from marketing leads and promptly addressing their needs by communicating to appropriate pod team members.
• Serve as the captain of internal pods, working closely with project management and producers to develop effective creative review cadences and maintain open lines of communication between the creative team and marketing leads. This person will also need to collaborate closely with strategy and creative to develop comprehensive briefs that meet partner expectations throughout the creative process (from creative brief to production).
• Foster a collaborative, strategic, diplomatic, and highly organized work approach to facilitate successful partnerships and drive results. This means setting regular, recurring 1:1’s with key marketing stakeholders to understand the state of their respective pods and take action on any feedback or opportunities that may fall out of those discussions.
• Own and nurture relationships with key marketing partners, acting as the main liaison and point of contact for up to five accounts. This also means setting expectations internally and with marketing stakeholders to ensure work remains on track and in-scope.
• Have a “business owner” mindset, learning about their partners’ needs and thinking about business outcomes first through the lens of their dedicated marketing partners. This also means keeping a pulse on the state of the business and marketing to gain insights into current projects and anticipate future initiatives, enabling the creative team to stay ahead of the work.
• Deliver compelling presentations and confidently represent the creative team in meetings with partners, setting expectations and demonstrating the value of our services.

Must Haves (Required Skills):

• Proven experience as an Account Director+ in an agency or in-house creative environment.
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to confidently present ideas and solutions to clients.
• Creative mindset with the ability to provide constructive feedback and guide the creative development process.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and manage diverse stakeholder expectations.
• Proficient in Google Drive
• Highly self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable to changing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong understanding of advertising and marketing principles, with a track record of managing successful client relationships.
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a keen eye for detail and the ability to translate business objectives into creative briefs.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Upwork is proudly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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