Event Sponsorship & Partnership Manager, Conferences and Events

About the role

The Conferences and Events team provides comprehensive event planning and logistical support for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. The team supports a wide range of convenings, meetings, conferences, and special events that advance engagement and systemwide priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead sponsorship strategy and execution for a diverse portfolio of conferences, convenings, and special events.
• Build and manage corporate sponsorships from initial outreach through onsite activation, fulfillment, and renewal, ensuring sponsors receive exceptional value while helping drive successful event experiences.
• Identify opportunities to expand sponsor relationships beyond individual events by connecting partners with additional Foundation initiatives and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Manage sponsorships for conferences and events from prospecting and proposal development through onsite activation, fulfillment, post-event reporting, and renewal, serving as the primary client-facing point of contact for sponsors and the Chancellor’s Office.
• Design, write, and submit high-quality event sponsorship proposals that support comprehensive strategies aligned with event goals and organizational priorities.
• Manage the sponsorship pipeline, including prospective sponsors, active conversations, confirmed commitments, renewals, and opportunities for expanded engagement across multiple events annually.
• Oversee the fulfillment of all sponsor deliverables at in-person and virtual events, ensuring commitments are met, including branding, activations, speaking opportunities, recognition, and other agreed-upon benefits, while maintaining high sponsor satisfaction.
• Serve as an internal connector, identifying when sponsor relationships are ready to evolve beyond events and actively facilitating introductions to the appropriate FoundationCCC teams, including Corporate Philanthropy and CollegeBuys & Strategic Partnerships, to support multi-faceted, long-term partnership pathways.
• Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of sponsorship processes, templates, timelines, and workflows to create clear structure, consistent execution, and shared accountability across events.

Requirements

• Minimum of three to five (3–5+) years of experience managing sponsorships for conferences, conventions, trade shows, or large-scale events, including sponsor activation, fulfillment, conference services, and event logistics.
• Experience developing conference sponsorship prospectuses, managing exhibitor programs, or coordinating sponsor activations at conferences or conventions is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in using CRM systems to manage stakeholder and sponsor data; direct experience with Salesforce is highly preferred.
• Experience working within or supporting educational institutions or nonprofit organizations is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of sponsorship value, audience engagement strategies, sponsor stewardship, and current trends in event sponsorship.
• Strong client management skills, including the ability to serve as a trusted point of contact, understand client priorities, manage expectations, navigate competing needs, and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, clients, and internal partners.
• Proven skills in relationship management, negotiation, sales, client service, and sponsor communications.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of sponsorship value, audience engagement strategies, sponsor stewardship, and current trends in event sponsorship.
• Strong client management skills, including the ability to serve as a trusted point of contact, understand client priorities, manage expectations, navigate competing needs, and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, clients, and internal partners.
• Proven skills in relationship management, negotiation, sales, client service, and sponsor communications.

Skills

• Strong understanding of sponsorship value, audience engagement strategies, sponsor stewardship, and current trends in event sponsorship.
• Strong client management skills, including the ability to serve as a trusted point of contact, understand client priorities, manage expectations, navigate competing needs, and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, clients, and internal partners.
• Proven skills in relationship management, negotiation, sales, client service, and sponsor communications.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, generous PTO, holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Wellness offerings
• CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 Retirement plans
• Tuition reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer

Pay

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range $90,000.00 - $100,000.00

Schedule

Remote within California