National Basketball Association

Director, Corporate Partnerships Sales

National Basketball Association$110K — $165K *
Hospitality & Recreation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, sports management, or similar field.
  • Minimum of five years in corporate partnership sales or a similar role.
  • Proven ability to establish relationships with senior executives in corporations and agencies.
  • Demonstrated success in new business development and closing sales.
  • Ability to create strategic proposals aligned with client objectives.
  • Willingness to work long hours including nights and weekends as needed.
  • Effective oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and secure new corporate partners in priority categories.
  • Build and manage a strong new business pipeline through various channels.
  • Develop relationships with senior brand and agency executives.
  • Achieve or exceed annual revenue targets through multi-year partnerships.
  • Create innovative partnership concepts tailored to client needs.
  • Maintain market knowledge and monitor sponsorship trends.
  • Negotiate partnership agreements in alignment with company goals.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental and Vision plans
  • 401(k) plan with company contribution
  • Wellbeing Allowance of up to $1,000 per year
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and childcare expenses
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Program and mental health support options.
Full Job Description
Job Summary

The LA Clippers are seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and results-driven Manager or Director of Corporate Partnership Sales to generate new business across our Halo Sports and Entertainment portfolio comprised of; LA Clippers, Intuit Dome, and Kia Forum.

In this role you will be responsible for identifying, developing, and closing integrated corporate partnerships that connect brands with one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment ecosystems in Los Angeles. We are looking for a proactive seller, sophisticated relationship builder, and consultative marketer who can translate brand objectives into high-impact sponsorship platforms across NBA basketball, live entertainment, premium hospitality, digital and social media, in-venue assets, community initiatives, content, experiential activations, and year-round events. This is a new business focused sales role for someone who thrives on building a pipeline, opening doors with senior decision-makers, developing creative partnership solutions, and closing meaningful revenue.

This is a full-time role based in Inglewood, CA and is eligible for our competitive benefit offering including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan with company contribution, Well-Being Allowance, and more. Due to the nature of this industry, the candidate must be available to work a flexible schedule including weeknights, weekends, and holidays to cover high profile concerts and NBA games.

What You Will Do
  • Identify, prospect, and secure new corporate partners across key categories and priority verticals
  • Build and manage a robust new-business pipeline through outbound prospecting, networking, referrals, agency relationships, industry research, market intelligence, and strategic account targeting
  • Develop relationships with senior-level brand, agency, and marketing executives, including CMOs, brand heads, partnership leads, media buyers, etc.
  • Consistently meet or exceed annual revenue targets through the sale of multi-year, integrated partnerships and report on personal activities and production
  • Develop new, exciting, and creative concepts and integrated programs, that provide measurable benefits to each individual partner based on their stated needs and business objectives.
  • Strive to achieve or exceed company and department renewal and incremental revenue objectives.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with clients and media planning & buying agencies.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the sports, entertainment, media, sponsorship and live-event marketplace, including competitive venue activity, brand spending trends, category opportunities, and emerging partnership models
  • Negotiate and structure partnership agreements that align with company objectives, ensuring compliance with legal
  • Use data, audience insights, fan behavior, market trends, and brand research to support partnership recommendations and elevate the sales process
  • Identify white-space categories and underdeveloped revenue opportunities across the Clippers, Intuit Dome, and Kia Forum portfolio
  • Collaborate with leadership to develop category strategies, target-account plans, and go-to market materials
  • Work closely with partnership marketing, strategy, marketing, ticketing, premium hospitality, arena operations, IT, community relationships, legal, finance to ensure proposed partnerships are executable and aligned with organizational priorities.
  • Host prospective clients at LA Clippers home games and other events as needed.


Your Background, Skills and Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in communications, business, marketing (or similar field) or Sports Management or equivalent work experience.
  • Minimum of five years in a similar position with a consumer brand, agency, media/sports property or similar organization.
  • Able to establish and maintain corporate relationships with senior level executives, managers/clients.
  • Demonstrated success prospecting, developing, negotiating, and closing new business
  • Ability to build strategic, insight-driven proposals that align with client business objectives
  • Willingness to work long and sometimes irregular hours; including nights, holidays and weekends.
  • Demonstrated dedication with the ability to lead projects from origin through execution.
  • Willingness to learn and should be able to flourish in a high growth, dynamic environment.
  • Effective interpersonal skills, both oral and written.
  • Self-starter and entrepreneurial spirit with hands-on approach towards business.


Our Approach to Technology & Innovation

At the LA Clippers and Intuit Dome, curiosity and innovation go hand in hand. We seek forward-thinking individuals who embrace emerging technologies and actively leverage AI tools to work smarter, unlock creativity, and elevate the fan and business experience.

About Intuit Dome:

Opened in August 2024, Intuit Dome is the new home of the LA Clippers and will host hundreds of sporting events and concerts each year. Located in Inglewood, Calif., Intuit Dome is built different -- it redefines fans' expectations for live experiences and change the music landscape in Los Angeles.

Host of the 2026 NBA All-Star game and Olympic Basketball in 2028, Intuit Dome is over 1 million square feet and features our team training center, business operations offices, five full-sized basketball courts, an 80,000 square foot outdoor plaza and a double-sided Halo Board composed of more than an acre of LED.

Compensation
  • The range for this position is $110,000 - $165,000 annual compensation and includes a commission structure. Compensation package offered will be based on multiple individualized factors, including a candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
  • The role is classified as exempt.

Benefits and Perks

We offer a competitive benefits program, including:
  • Medical, Dental and Vision plans
  • 401(k) plan with company contribution
  • Wellbeing Allowance of up to $1,000 per year
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Paid parental leave
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
  • Company-paid Long Term Disability insurance
  • Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Voluntary Life Insurance options for employee, spouse and children
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Mind health support via Modern Health and Headspace


About National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams. It is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, and is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world. The NBA was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York City. The league's revenue comes from ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and media rights. The NBA has a global following and is broadcast in over 215 countries and territories.
Learn more about National Basketball Association
Size
1,100 employees
Industry
Founded
1946

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