Manager, VIP & Influence

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 Manager, VIP & Influence to join our team – we are looking for someone either in New York or Los Angeles (Remote).The Manager, VIP + Influence will support and lead high-touch talent programming across brand activations, collaborations, fashion shows, and events, while managing paid influencer and VIP partnerships for luxury fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, and beauty clients. This role requires strategic thinking, exceptional execution, and comfort operating in fast-paced, high-profile environments.Key Responsibilities Day-to-day management of VIP and influencer deliverables across fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, and beauty accounts, with a strong focus on events, activations, and fashion showsLead execution of brand activations, collaborations, press events, fashion shows, and VIP experiences, including on-site support and talent coordinationBuild and maintain strong client relationships, serving as the primary day-to-day lead and delegating to junior team members as appropriateProvide accurate budget estimates for paid partnerships, including brand ambassadorships, event attendance, social campaigns, and booking DJs/performersDraft and manage talent Statements of Work, outlining deliverables, services, usage rights, exclusivity, timelines, and feesStrategically cast talent for both organic and paid opportunities, aligned to brand DNA, KPIs, audience, and budgetNegotiate influencer and celebrity partnerships and execute talent contracts in collaboration with legalManage paid talent deliverables and approvals, ensuring all deadlines are met and client feedback is addressed efficientlyOversee campaign budgets and partner closely with client and finance teams to ensure third-party collaborators are paid accurately and on timeAdvise clients on organic VIP and influencer strategy, including seedings, dressing opportunities, guest list curation, and press trip supportProactively engage stylists to secure celebrity placement opportunities for KO brandsBuild and maintain relationships across the entertainment ecosystem, including talent agents, managers, publicists, influencers, stylists, and relevant mediaCommunicate proactively with clients regarding talent opportunities, industry trends, competitive landscape, and program performanceAct as on-site client and agency point-of-contact at high-profile events, activations, and fashion showsReview work submitted by junior team members and provide clear, constructive feedbackMeasure, analyze, and report on campaign performance to optimize future programs (CPM, impressions, engagement, ROI)Key Attributes4+ years of experience at an agency or in-house, ideally within fashion, luxury, entertainment, or lifestyleProven track record managing paid influencer and VIP campaigns, including events and activationsStrong understanding of Instagram, Tik Tok, and emerging social platformsDemonstrated experience supporting or leading fashion shows, brand events, collaborations, and experiential activationsHigh level of…