Sr. Manager, Partnership Development

About the role

Generate corporate sales revenue through marketing partnerships and premium seating sales.

Responsibilities

• Annually secure and renew long-term sponsorship and premium seating partnerships.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key decision-makers among local, regional and national companies by fostering trust and collaboration.
• Conduct sales conversations with key decision-makers via inbound and outbound phone calls, meetings, presentations, Nationwide Arena tours, and other effective means.
• Develop fresh, innovative and forward-thinking marketing and hospitality solutions that align with the partner's business objectives and the core culture of the Blue Jackets organization to deliver tangible Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Objectives (ROO).
• Effectively qualify leads and maintain an active pipeline of potential business opportunities.
• Provide accurate and reliable reporting information to be used in forecasting and management updates.
• Collaborate with ticketing, marketing, communications, community development, game operations/event presentation departments to identify untapped revenue opportunities.
• Attend home games and special events to ensure fulfillment of partnerships and to entertain and engage with current and prospective partners.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Skills

• Sales Skills - Achieves sales goals and is comfortable selling partnerships with six-figure annual spends; overcomes objections with persuasion and persistence; initiates new contacts; maintains customer satisfaction.
• Consultative Selling - Qualifies potential customers; builds rapport and establishes trust; asks questions to discover client business needs; applies product and market knowledge effectively; presents solutions that meet customer objectives; manages and documents sales process.
• Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts in written and oral form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Job Knowledge - Keeps abreast of current developments in the sports sponsorship landscape; displays understanding of how job relates to others.
• Achievement Focus - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; recognizes and acts on opportunities; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness.
• Cooperation - Establishes and maintains effective relations; exhibits tact and consideration; works cooperatively in group situations; balances team and individual responsibilities.
• Computer Skills - Knowledge of Microsoft Office Software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university; 4-5 years of experience and/or training in the sports and entertainment industry; experience selling corporate partnerships/partnership marketing; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.