Strategic Account Director - Colleges & Universities

Job description

**Redefine the future of live entertainment tech** Welcome to vivenu, the global leader in event ticketing tech and one of the world’s fastest-growing live entertainment tech firms. We are transforming event ticketing for global leaders like the Grammys, the Golden Globes, Stanford University and the Hockenheimring turning what was once a simple transaction into a strategic business advantage. Backed by over $65 million in funding, our platform empowers event organizers to own their brand experience, unlock deep data insights, and seamlessly integrate ticketing into their digital infrastructure. With six offices worldwide and growing, we deliver a customizable, intuitive solution and industry-leading support that simplify even the most complex ticketing challenges – helping organizers deliver exceptional experiences and drive real growth. Join us and build the future of live entertainment. ### In this role, your responsibilities will include: - Owning the end-to-end strategy for securing and scaling partnerships within the **Power 4 (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12)**, serving as the primary strategic lead for these premier accounts. - Acting as a trusted advisor to Athletic Directors, CFOs, and University leadership, you will navigate these institutions with the same executive presence and political acumen required for a Fortune 500 C-suite. - Leading high-stakes negotiations and complex sales cycles across multi-stakeholder environments, effectively bridging the gap between central administration, IT, and athletic departments to align operational, technical, and economic buyers. - Defining and executing the sales strategy for the Power 4 and Ivy League in collaboration with GTM and executive leadership, helping shape the product roadmap to ensure vivenu remains the dominant force in the elite sports ecosystem. - Orchestrating sophisticated, long-term deals that require strategic patience, persistence, and high-touch relationship management. - Maintaining deep knowledge of the sports and collegiate ecosystem, traveling as needed to support customers and engage with the industry. ### What you will need to succeed in this role: - A Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree from a top-tier institution, ideally in Business Administration, Sports Management, or a related field. - 7+ years of professional experience in Strategic Enterprise Sales, Account Management, OR leadership roles within Higher Education / Collegiate Athletics (e.g., Athletic Departments, University Administration, or Collegiate Business Operations). - Firsthand experience navigating university organizational structures, procurement processes, and stakeholder networks—whether working inside an Athletic Department or selling directly to Athletic Directors, Senior Associate ADs, University CFOs, and Central IT. - A deep-seated desire to transform the ticketing landscape within the Power 4 and collegiate ecosystem; while you don’t need to be a ticketing veteran, you are driven by the challenge of replacing legacy systems with modern technology to solve the unique operational hurdles of world-class universities. - A reputation as a "quick study" who can rapidly master the nuances of a new industry and translate that knowledge into immediate credibility with senior leaders. - Executive presence and the ability to communicate with clarity and authority, whether you are in a boardroom or leading a large-scale presentation. - A "founder" mentality where you thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building a playbook from the ground up as much as you enjoy executing it. - A deep sense of grit and curiosity that drives you to solve complex organizational problems and deliver long-term growth.