Business Development Manager - Sports Marketing

Key Responsibilities

• Drive new business growth by identifying and securing multi-service creative and marketing contracts within the Sports sector
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of Tier-1 clients, focusing on marketing and digital / social directors within major sports leagues (e.g., NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS), international federations, athletes and sports-centric streaming platforms
• Solution Selling: Articulate the full suite of "Engage" services—including Creative Production (hype reels, broadcast graphics, digital content), Social & Influencer Marketing, PR & Outreach, and Strategy & Insight
• Pitch Leadership: Lead the end-to-end sales process, from initial outreach and chemistry meetings to complex RFP responses and final contract negotiations
• Integrated Collaboration: Work closely with our internal network of specialized service providers to craft bespoke, integrated solutions for global sports brands and organizations
• Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends in digital sports marketing, fan monetization, and athlete-led content to position Keywords as an innovative, essential partner
• CRM Management: Maintain meticulous records of sales activity and forecasting within Salesforce to ensure transparency across the global BD team

Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of proven success in business development or senior account management within the Sports, Esports, or Sports-focused Creative Agency sectors
• Industry Network: A strong existing portfolio of contacts within North American sports leagues, teams, athletes and sports-media marketing departments
• Service Expertise: Deep understanding of the sports creative production lifecycle, fan-base social ecosystems, and the athlete-influencer landscape
• Social Media: Strong understanding of social media and influencer marketing, ROI and metrics is required
• Communication: Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills; ability to "sell the dream" while remaining grounded in technical feasibility
• Commercial Acumen: Strong negotiation skills with a track record of meeting or exceeding multi-million dollar annual sales targets
• Autonomy: A self-starter capable of operating effectively in a remote/hybrid environment across North American time zones
• Availability: Willingness to travel frequently for client meetings, major sporting events, and internal site visits

Benefits

The base salary for this position is $100,000 depending on experience.