Senior Account Executive, Corporate Partnerships

About the role

The Senior Account Executive, Corporate Partnerships is a senior individual contributor responsible for developing, securing, and stewarding corporate partnerships that generate significant contributed and earned revenue in support of Sundance Institute's Festival, artist programs, and year-round initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships, this role manages a portfolio of existing corporate partners while identifying, cultivating, negotiating, and securing new mission-aligned sponsorship opportunities. The Senior Account Executive collaborates closely with colleagues across Corporate Partnerships, Marketing, Activations, Legal, Finance, Programming, and other Institute departments to deliver exceptional partner experiences and long-term relationship growth.

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing a robust pipeline of prospective corporate partners through proactive business development, relationship cultivation, networking, referrals, and strategic outreach.
• Identifying, soliciting, negotiating, and securing new corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships aligned with Sundance Institute's mission and organizational priorities.
• Managing a portfolio of corporate partnerships while identifying opportunities to expand partner investment and long-term engagement.
• Developing customized partnership proposals, pricing recommendations, and presentations in collaboration with the Partnerships Marketing team.
• Maintaining accurate pipeline activity, forecasting, and partner information within the department CRM.
• Leading renewal strategy and negotiations for assigned partnership accounts.
• Serving as the primary relationship manager for assigned corporate partners throughout the partnership lifecycle.
• Collaborating with the Activations and Partnership Marketing teams to ensure partnership commitments are executed successfully.
• Partnering with Legal and internal stakeholders to support contract development and execution.
• Monitoring partner satisfaction and proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships.
• Collaborating closely with the Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships on pipeline development, revenue forecasting, and sales strategy.
• Partnership with Partnership Marketing to develop compelling partnership proposals and customized sales materials.
• Working closely with the Associate Director, Partnerships & Activations to ensure partnership opportunities are operationally feasible and transition smoothly from sales through activation and stewardship.
• Collaborating across Programming, Artist Programs, Events, Marketing & Communications, Legal, Finance, Operations, and Advancement to support integrated partnership planning.
• Contributing ideas and market insights that strengthen the department's overall sales strategy and growth objectives.
• Sharing industry knowledge, sales best practices, and market insights that contribute to departmental success.
• Supporting onboarding and mentoring of new team members as requested.
• Fostering a collaborative, equitable, and inclusive team culture.

Requirements

• 5 years of demonstrated success in corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, business development, media sales, fundraising, or related revenue-generating roles.
• Proven success developing, negotiating, and closing strategic corporate partnerships with mid-sized and large organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex sales pipelines and consistently achieve or exceed revenue goals.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, presentation, and communication skills with executive-level stakeholders.
• Experience managing multiple partnership accounts and navigating complex negotiations simultaneously.
• Strong organizational, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Able to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams while balancing competing priorities.
• Experience within arts, entertainment, media, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and fostering a culture of belonging.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred, but not required.
• Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Skills: Proven success in corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, business development, media sales, fundraising, or related revenue-generating roles.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• 25 paid Institute holidays plus accrued vacation time
• Paid sick, family, and medical leave
• Employee Wellness initiatives
• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)

Pay

$70,000.00 to $90,000.00 annually

Schedule

Full-time position, based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO, with a hybrid work schedule throughout the year. Requires flexibility, including extended hours, evenings, and weekends during peak periods, as well as travel to Institute locations, events, and meetings as needed.