Manager, Partnership Development

MLSE is seeking a partnership sales professional to join the Global Partnerships team. MLSE’s Global Partnerships team is known for producing award-winning marketing programs that raise the bar for creativity and strategic delivery.  Reporting to the Senior Director, Global Partnerships, this revenue-generating role will focus on identifying, developing, negotiating, and closing new brand partnerships across MLSE’s portfolio, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and Toronto Argonauts.  The successful candidate will combine strong business development instincts, strategic marketing thinking, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in building creative, insight-led partnership solutions.  The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional who is exceptional at identifying and engaging contacts at brands and in categories MLSE does not currently work with, generating strong prospect volume, and creating new relationships that ultimately drive MLSE’s revenue targets.  RESPONSIBILITIES  • Reimagine continually the status quo and build breakthrough marketing partnerships for new and existing MLSE partners.  • Initiate discussions with potential new partners, including client-direct and agency contacts, to understand objectives and budgets; build trusted relationships with senior clients up to and including C-level.  • Manage client expectations honestly and with integrity.  • Provide thought leadership to partners during the ideation phase; develop customized, integrated, and creative partnership proposals that demonstrate insight and knowledge of the client’s business and MLSE’s unique value proposition.  • Lead presentations to new prospects and negotiate partnerships with potential MLSE partners.  • Mobilize internal cross-functional experts and lead working teams through the development and sales process, both within the MLSE Global Partnerships team and across the broader company.  • Use data and research tools to identify and prioritize prospects in new categories, and demonstrate how MLSE’s values and properties align with a prospect’s target markets and corporate values.  • Develop a deep and thorough understanding of each partner or prospect’s business and competitive environment, building partnerships that deliver against business objectives for the partner and drive affinity for MLSE’s teams in the marketplace.  • Proactively identify and manage critical issues; demonstrate resilience and adapt to evolving plans and strategies; where conflicting partnership issues arise, work with internal teams to find solutions.  • Stay current with all facets of the dynamic marketing mix, including digital, social media, experiential, print, and broadcast; bring creativity and innovative ideas to partnership development.  • Achieve revenue targets and provide regular status reports.  QUALIFICATIONS  • 7+ years of demonstrated success in a revenue-generating partnerships, sponsorship, business development, or integrated marketing role. Partnership sales experience is considered a strong asset.  • Self-motivated to set and chase ambitious goals; works well with minimal supervision and is motivated by results.  • Solid comprehension of general marketing and partnership principles, with a mindset for client service.  • Professionalism, sound judgment, integrity, confidentiality and discretion.  • Strong understanding of digital, social, content and emerging media platforms.  • Ability to build and maintain professional relationships both internally and externally.  • Thrives in a dynamic team environment, with the ability to productively manage multiple priorities and perform well under pressure.  • Available to work occasionally during evenings, weekends and events as required, consistent with the sports and entertainment calendar.  Job Posting Compensation Range/Rate: $85,000 - 105,000 Bonus, vacation, competitive benefits, and many exciting perks are also included. We’re glad you’re here. Once you apply, we’ll follow up by email, and you can track everything in your Candidate Portal. Want instant updates? Opt-in for SMS notifications to stay in the loop.