EPICA Awards US Agency Relations Lead

About the Role

We are seeking a US-based Agency Relations Lead to help expand participation in the Epica Awards across the American market and strengthen Epica’s relationships with agencies, creative leaders and marketing teams.

United States / NYC Metropolitan area preferred. We are remote with access to a co‑working location in NYC. Your location in the NYC area is advantageous to facilitate in‑person internal meetings and time zone availability to connect with Epica’s global team based in France.

Approximately 3–4 months (seasonal project), starting August 2026. This is a full‑time role during the project period.

On a day‑to‑day basis you’ll report to AdForum’s US Managing Director in NYC and laddering up to Epica’s global team in France.

Monthly retainer + performance incentives.

This is a relationship‑driven role focused on agency engagement, participation growth and driving awards submissions.

Developing Sales to Agencies

• Build and manage relationships with US agencies (networks and independents), content studios, production companies
• Re‑engage previous entrants and dormant accounts
• Identify and approach new agencies with strong creative output
• Research the correct point of contact with budget for award submissions
• Create a priority target list and outreach cadence

Participation Growth

• Drive agency participation and submission volume
• Support agencies through the entry process
• Help identify suitable work and recommend categories to agencies
• Track pipeline, commitments and projected entries

Industry Engagement

• Represent Epica within the US creative community
• Develop relationships with creative leaders, agency marketing teams and awards coordinators

Reporting

• Maintain outreach activity and pipeline forecasts
• Provide weekly participation updates to the team in the US and in France
• Track agency commitments and conversion rates
• Monitor roadblocks to entries and collaborate with the team to overcome them

Experience in awards management, creative operations, agency marketing, new business, festival management, or industry media is highly preferred. Knowledge of and familiarity with the agency / advertising landscape in the US is essential to success in this role.

• Agencies activated
• Returning participants re‑engaged
• New agency participation
• Entry growth
• Revenue contribution
• Forecast accuracy

You will be supported by AdForum’s US team:
The Managing Director in NYC, who will brief you on Epica’s past performance in the US, strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide leads and information gathered from previous campaigns.

In addition, AdForum’s Agency Partnerships Manager can assist with the technical aspects of the entry process and provide support to the agencies directly where / if needed. The France‑based Epica team will also provide guidance and act as a sounding board to help solve roadblocks and brainstorm ideas.

You will receive a monthly retainer for three months. In addition, we are offering a generous incentive package based on performance and weighted to uplift on 2025’s sales in the US. The emphasis is on building sustainable relationships, not just chasing small entries. The performance‑related bonus will be paid once US sales numbers are finalized, in December.