Director, VIP

Karla Otto is a globally recognized public relations and communications agency, founded in 1982, with offices in 15 key cities across the UK, EMEA, US, and Asia. With a strong presence in fashion capitals such as Milan, London, Paris, and New York, the agency has built a reputation for representing some of the most prestigious names in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

In 2017, Karla Otto merged with K2 to form THE INDEPENDENTS, a global marketing, design, and communications group. This collective brings together industry leaders who share a commitment to innovation, excellence, and thoughtful collaboration across the luxury and lifestyle sectors.

At Karla Otto, our team of expert strategists, designers, planners and publicists are dedicated to delivering exceptional results and establishing long-term partnerships with our clients. We are passionate about the world of fashion, beauty, and luxury, with everyone bringing their unique expertise and insights to the table. We are driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving industry landscape.

To help support our future growth as an agency, we are looking for a Director, VIP to join our team based in our LA office

Key Responsibilities

• Further the development of Celebrity + VIP services for Karla Otto, building the network of talent and representation across music, film, and TV in Los Angeles

• Lead client communications daily as to relevant to celebrity activities, the competitive landscape, industry news, building trust and long-term relationships

• Day-to-day execution of high-profile luxury accounts

• Oversight and management of direct reports across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle accounts

• Build contracts for new clients - define scope of work, including paid partnerships, seedings, events, and guest lists

• Lead VIP strategy and build decks for new and existing clients

• Utilize personal contacts to create meaningful and innovative VIP experiences

• Negotiate and execute high-profile celebrity contracts

• Be an in-person representative for top tier stylists and engage them for celebrity placements

• Generate top-tier opportunities for clients to engage with brand targets (inclusive of brand ambassadorships, event attendance, social media campaigns, etc.) via both paid and earned engagements

• Develop creative ideas and solutions to execute a brand’s vision that will successfully deliver it to their target audiences and growth targets, pivoting strategy when necessary

• Demonstrate value of programs and report on effectiveness of campaigns

• Remain well ahead of emerging trends, talent, events, and releases within entertainment and sports

• Act as on-site leader and client point-of-contact at brand events and fashion shows

Key Attributes

• 8-10 years’ experience within an agency or in-house, working in fashion and/or entertainment

• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale celebrity campaigns for clients in a variety of industries.

• Ability to lead and manage multiple direct reports

• Established connections and relationships within the entertainment industry (talent agents, influencers, publicists, managers, stylists, relevant media)

• Excellent working knowledge of social platforms

• High level execution skills and meticulous attention to detail, both aesthetically and organizationally

• Strong negotiator and creative problem solver

• Experienced working through complex contracts with legal to reach a resolution

• Confidently deliver ideas to the wider team that focuses on client experience

• Enthusiasm to attend industry events with strong awareness of cultural calendar

• Strong communication skills (both written and oral), research, and organization skills

• A positive, can-do attitude who can work under pressure and likes to solve problems

• A creative, innovative thinker with an open attitude and eagerness to learn new things

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

• 401K Employer Match program

• Commuter Benefits

• Paid Time Off including Vacation Days, Personal Days, Sick Days, and additional Comp Days

• Company-wide closure last week of the year

• 10 Federal Holidays Observed

• Salary: $100,000-$120,000

At Karla Otto, we are always looking for personalities with positive charisma who are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have a keen sense of aesthetics.

Karla Otto embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Karla Otto provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team!