Organization: Advent

Position Title: Director of Strategic Client Relationships

Reports to: Fractional Sales Manager

Location: Nashville, TN (preferred)

Search Contact: Prodigy Search

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BACKGROUND

Advent is a nationally recognized experience design firm based in Nashville, TN. For more than 25 years, Advent has partnered with universities, professional sports teams, corporations, and cultural institutions to bring their stories to life through immersive, emotionally resonant environments.

Advent combines research-driven storytelling, environmental design, digital media, and custom fabrication to create impactful experiences that inspire, engage, and move people. As the organization enters a key growth phase, building early, strategic visibility with architects, developers, and partner organizations is essential to shaping future opportunity flow.

SUMMARY

The Director of Strategic Client Relationships is a senior, relationship-focused role responsible for expanding Advent’s visibility and influence across architectural firms, real estate developers, and key strategic partners. This position generates early-stage opportunity flow by building trust, educating stakeholders, and positioning Advent within conceptual design and planning conversations.

This is not a sales-closing role. Instead, the Director serves as a connector, educator, and advocate—creating high-quality referrals, early introductions, and project intelligence that enable the Sales team to engage opportunities earlier and more effectively. Success requires strong presence within the AEC ecosystem, high relational intelligence, and frequent in-person engagement across priority markets.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Architectural & Developer Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with architectural firms, design studios, stadium designers, developers, and master planners.
• Participate actively in AEC networking organizations and environments (AIA, IIDA, ULI, NAIOP, SCUP, SMPS).
• Attend industry events, conferences, mixers, award programs, and panel discussions to elevate Advent’s presence.
• Deliver engaging lunch & learns and capability presentations to targeted firms and stakeholders.
• Maintain proactive outreach and consistent communication across key relationships.

Early Specification & Market Visibility

• Identify early-stage and pre-design projects where Advent can provide strategic value.
• Influence early specifications and conceptual scope to position Advent as part of the initial design narrative.
• Track development activity across stadiums, athletic facilities, campus planning, corporate centers, and large-scale master plans.
• Provide the Sales team with early introductions, relationship context, and project intelligence.

Strategic Partner Activation

• Strengthen engagement with strategic partners, including Omnia, Heritage, Legends, and similar organizations.
• Expand Advent’s reach by connecting with additional departments and stakeholders within partner networks.
• Equip partners with clear messaging, education, and tools to effectively refer opportunities.

Education & Awareness

• Clearly articulate Advent’s offerings, capabilities, and value proposition.
• Demonstrate how experiential storytelling and environmental design enhance overall project outcomes.
• Advocate for experiential thinking as an integral component of early planning and conceptual design.

Internal Collaboration

• Provide Sales and Leadership with early-stage opportunity insights and market intelligence.
• Support warm handoffs from relationship development to active sales engagement.
• Share industry trends, relationship insights, and competitive dynamics to guide outreach strategy.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies & Skills

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement capabilities
• Confident, polished presenter with experience speaking to professional audiences
• Connector mindset with comfort networking and expanding influence
• Ability to educate and influence without a sales-driven approach
• High emotional intelligence and professional presence
• Strong curiosity around architecture, design, development, and innovation
• Organized, reliable, and consistent in follow-through
• Awareness of development trends and AEC industry dynamics

Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Experience

• 5–10 years of experience in a client-facing, partnership-building, business development, or external engagement role
• Demonstrated experience presenting to professional or industry groups
• Proven ability to build and sustain long-term professional relationships
• Highly proactive and self-directed in outreach-driven environments

Preferred Experience

• Experience within or adjacent to the Architecture, Engineering & Construction industry
• Background in design, real estate development, creative services, fabrication, environmental graphics, or experiential design
• Existing relationships with architects, developers, planners, or strategic partner organizations
• Experience delivering educational presentations or capability overviews
• Understanding of early planning, specification processes, and RFP pathways

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. We recruit with integrity, purpose, and passion.

No phone calls please. For any additional questions, please email info@prodigysearch.net