Strategic Account Director - Colleges & Universities
Leadership Account Management role at vivenu GmbH. Remote, United States · full-time · $200,000–$280,000 base.
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Own growth plans and key relationships across the Power 4, acting as the senior contact for those accounts
- Advise athletic directors, CFOs, and university leaders while navigating complex institutional politics
- Lead negotiations and extended sales processes across administration, IT, and athletics stakeholders
- Build the Power 4 and Ivy League sales approach with go-to-market and executive teams, informing product priorities
- Manage complex, long-term partnerships and travel when customer or industry engagement requires it
What you bring
- A bachelor's or master's degree from a highly regarded institution, preferably in business, sports management, or a related discipline
- At least seven years in enterprise sales, account management, or leadership within higher education or collegiate athletics
- Direct familiarity with university structures, purchasing workflows, and senior stakeholder relationships
- Clear, authoritative executive communication and the ability to quickly learn an unfamiliar industry
- Comfort building an approach in uncertain conditions, backed by persistence and curiosity
Who this fits
You’ll suit this role if you can earn trust with senior university leaders and connect administrative, technical, and athletics priorities. It fits someone motivated to modernize ticketing for major collegiate programs who enjoys both creating a playbook and executing it. The role is remote in New York and includes travel as needed.
From the employer
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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
Live Entertainment TechPlay a mission-critical role for global brands, redefining fan experiences from festivals to major sports events. Here, you’re part of the business of fun — powered by cutting-edge technology that brings moments to life for millions.
Sustainable GrowthWe scale sustainably on a profitable, VC-backed foundation with true product-market fit. This means continuous investment in our people, products, and long-term vision.
Top-tier TeamCollaborate with over 160 dedicated professionals, including leaders from Google, Slack, and Salesforce. Together, we’re shaping the future of live entertainment technology, one decision at a time.
Global DNAWe’re a diverse, merit-driven team spread across six global offices. Talent and impact are what matter here — not hierarchy or background.
Fast Growing, in All AspectsSifted consistently ranks us among the fastest-growing scale-ups in Europe. We’re driven by daily learning, shared wins, and collective growth.
Next-Gen Leaders & InsightsWork alongside some of tech’s brightest minds — from Forbes 30 Under 30 founders to Executive of the Year award winners. At vivenu, you’ll help set the standard for the ticketing industry’s future.
vivenu Inclusion StatementAt vivenu, we believe our people define our success – and that we win with bold, diverse minds. The strongest teams are built on different perspectives, experiences, and voices. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels empowered to contribute, grow, and thrive to shape the future of live entertainment globally.
Check out our mission statement and corporate values here.
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