THE DETAILS:
Job Title: Director of Talent and Creator
Department: Talent and Creator
Reports to: Managing Partner
Responsible for: c.5-6 direct reports
Hours: Full time, permanent
Location: Manchester, Northern Quarter. We operate a Hybrid working policy of ideally minimum 3 days in Manchester HQ per week.
THE AGENCY
Ear to the Ground is a global sport, gaming, and entertainment creative agency with a unique model that sets us apart. We are driven by Fan Intelligence®, our global network of 12,000 influential tastemakers and fans. Our real time insight into what fans truly want, enables us to create compelling work that consistently pushes the boundaries of culture.
We pride ourselves on being the agency that listens better than anyone to solve our clients' challenges, maximise their sport, gaming and entertainment partnerships, and ultimately build brands that lead culture. We’ve helped clients including Nike, PlayStation, JD, NBA, Coca-Cola and 2K turn fans into consumers by delivering culturally relevant, fan-first campaigns that inspire emotional connection and measurable business impact.
You can learn more about the agency with a short film here.
THE ROLE
As Director of Talent & Creator, you will lead the strategic, commercial, and operational direction of the Talent & Creator (T&C) function at Ear to the Ground.
You will define and implement a best-in‑class approach to working with creators, athletes, and cultural tastemakers - ensuring T&C remains a key growth engine for the agency.
This role requires a senior, commercially astute leader who can balance strategic vision with delivery excellence. You will bring deep expertise in creators and talent marketing, combined with broader marketing and agency experience that ensures campaigns are integrated, client‑centric, and commercially strong.
You’ll be accountable for department performance - from profitability and operational structure to team culture and client satisfaction - and for positioning Ear to the Ground as an industry leader in the creator and creators space.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Department Oversight
* Lead the Talent & creator department, setting a clear strategic vision that aligns with agency growth ambitions.
* Define and embed best practice frameworks for T&C — ensuring consistent, efficient, and scalable ways of working across all projects.
* Build and mentor a high‑performing team, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence.
* Ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and resourcing to minimise inefficiency and maximise output.
* Provide strong pastoral care — developing team confidence, maturity, and professional growth.
Strategic & Commercial Direction
* Evolve and commercialise the agency’s T&C offering to drive increased revenue and profitability.
* Identify new growth opportunities — from emerging creator categories to new commercial models and service propositions.
* Partner with senior leadership to forecast departmental performance, budgets, and revenue.
* Lead on high‑level commercial negotiations with talent, agencies, and clients to deliver value and protect agency interests.
* Use data, insight, and Fan Intelligence® to ensure T&C strategies are culturally resonant and commercially effective.
Campaign & Client Excellence
* Lead client relationships, as the strategic go‑to voice on partnership best practice, providing invaluable strategic consultation from initial briefing.
* Oversee the delivery of all T&C activity across clients and markets, ensuring operational excellence and creative impact.
* Act as senior escalation point and guiding light for complex negotiations, creators challenges, and client concerns.
* Collaborate closely with Strategy, Creative, and Campaign Delivery teams to ensure T&C output is integrated into holistic campaigns.
* Maintain standards of delivery excellence across all projects — ensuring quality, timeliness, and profitability.
* Champion ethical, authentic, and fan‑first partnerships between brands and creators.
* Mastery of driving effectiveness of talent and creator content
Operational & Process Excellence
* Introduce structure, clarity, and operational rigour to all T&C workflows.
* Drive efficiency across briefing, contracting, execution, and reporting to reduce ‘team wastage’.
* Establish reporting frameworks that measure impact, ROI, and learnings across creators campaigns.
* Collaborate with the Head of Campaign Delivery and Head of Operations to align T&C processes with wider agency systems.
Stakeholder & Industry Leadership
* Build and maintain high‑value relationships across the talent, creator, and brand ecosystem.
* Represent Ear to the Ground at industry events, panels, and client forums.
* Build the agency’s profile as a trusted, innovative leader in the creators and creator economy.
* Stay ahead of trends, technologies, and cultural shifts that will shape the future of creator marketing.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Our ideal successfulcandidate will have:
* 12+ years of experience across creator marketing, brand partnerships, or integrated marketing campaigns.
* Proven success in leading and developing teams within an agency or brand environment.
* A strong commercial track record - forecasting, managing budgets, and growing revenue streams.
* Experience managing global creators campaigns across sport, gaming, or entertainment.
* Deep understanding of talent contracts, creator platforms, and measurement frameworks.
* Strong existing network across talent agencies, management, and platforms.
* Broader marketing or agency experience beyond creator management is essential.
* Significant experience in driving content and wider campaign effectiveness through talent and creators, ideally demonstrated through award winning campaigns.
OUR CULTURE
We are dedicated to making Ear to the Ground an amazing place to work where people grow, develop and thrive. We pride ourselves on our dynamic and exciting culture, excellent support of staff and fantastic benefits package. We have made it our mission to lead the way in being an inspiring, future‑thinking, creative agency and are invested in our people because they are the ones that will make that happen.
Some of our benefits include:
* 🕒 Flexible & hybrid working
* 🎉 Birthday off
* 👶 Workplace nursery benefit
* 👩👧👦 Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
* 🏥 Private medical insurance and health cash plan
* 🤒 Enhanced sick leave
* 🚴♂️ Cycle to Work scheme
* 📈 Personal development coaching
* + more
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