Director of Sales

The Harry Walker Agency (HWA), a WME Group company. WME is a leading entertainment agency representing the world’s greatest artists, content creators and talent across film, television, music, books, digital media, fashion, food, sports, and theater.

The Role And What You'll Do

HWA is seeking a high-performing, strategic Director of Sales to lead revenue generation and business growth at one of the world’s premier speakers’ agencies. This senior leader will partner with the current leadership team across all aspects of sales strategy, client relationship management, and speaker partnerships—ensuring HWA continues to deliver exceptional service to world leaders, heads of state, and top global talent in the marketplace of ideas. This is a relationship-driven business supported by strong sales leadership and a deeply experienced client-service team, with an entrepreneurial culture and a long-standing reputation for discretion and white-glove execution. As we continue to scale, this role will also bring operational rigor, accountability, and cross-functional alignment—strengthening performance discipline while preserving the culture and trust that drive our success. The ideal candidate brings 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in a speakers’ bureau, talent agency, or adjacent relationship-based industries, with the judgment, diplomacy, and gravitas to operate seamlessly in high-stakes environments.

Key Responsibilities

Business Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Partner with the leadership team to set global business strategy and drive revenue growth across core and emerging markets.
• Develop and execute innovative business models, partnerships, and go-to-market strategies to expand the agency’s footprint.
• Set and monitor performance targets and sales metrics, ensuring accountability and alignment with company objectives.
• Represent the agency externally with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders at the highest levels.

Sales Leadership & Performance

• Lead, align, and develop the sales organization and speaker relationship management teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, professionalism, and performance—coaching high performers and addressing gaps directly.
• Build repeatable execution across the organization (forecasting, pipeline discipline, CRM rigor, reporting accuracy).

Speaker Partnerships & Client Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with high-profile speakers (including heads of state, former presidents, and global icons), ensuring discretion and white-glove service.
• Strengthen client relationship management across corporate, association, and institutional buyers—driving repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Manage sensitive situations with tact, confidentiality, and sound judgment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing, operations, and finance leadership to ensure consistent messaging, efficient operations, and sound financial management.
• Improve Sales–Marketing integration (lead quality, messaging, handoffs, and feedback loops), resolving friction early and constructively.

Leadership Partnership & Organizational Impact

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President of HWA and WME CEOs, contributing to long-term vision, organizational design, and select strategic opportunities (including potential M&A).
• Help translate vision into scalable processes and enforceable standards—reducing leadership distraction from day-to-day execution issues.
• Mentor and develop senior leaders across sales and speaker relations to strengthen and sustain a high-performing culture.

You Have These

• Exceptional executive presence, diplomacy, and discretion—comfortable engaging with global leaders, C-suite executives, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify and capture new revenue opportunities.
• Superior leadership and people management skills; proven track record leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to balance creative, client-centric thinking with data-driven business discipline.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Capacity to manage sensitive situations with tact and confidentiality.
• High degree of adaptability in a fast-paced, global, and media-sensitive environment.
• Typically 10–15+ years of relevant experience in the speakers’ bureau, talent agency, event management, entertainment, or adjacent sectors.
• Deep knowledge of the speakers’ market, including sales cycles, client needs, and speaker expectations.
• Proven success scaling revenue operations in complex, relationship-driven businesses.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, JD, or equivalent) preferred.
• Global experience a plus.

HowWeWork:

WME Groupis at the center of sports, media, entertainment, and fashion and is alargely relationship-basedbusiness. To foster an environment of collaboration, develop our future talent, andbuild onrelationships across leadership, peers, and teams, we workfrom the office 4 days per week.We see immeasurable value internally and throughout the core of the businesses we support.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so ifyou’reexcited about thisrolebut yourpast experiencedoesn’talign perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Hiring Rate Minimum

$150,000 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable state/local minimum salary thresholds)

Hiring Rate Maximum

$200,000 annually

WME is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.

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