Youll drive the full sales cycle: identifying prospects, crafting compelling pitches, and closing deals that bring in new revenue while deepening relationships with existing partners. Working cross-functionally, youll build creative assets and programs backed by data, clearly demonstrating the values of a Lions partnership to sponsors, advertisers, and corporate allies.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:- Responsible for creating, developing, and selling fully integrated partnerships with local, regional, and national clients/markets and establishing effective pursuit strategies to secure partnerships.
- Identify and collaboratively assess partnership opportunities while establishing new client relationships utilizing various sales strategies, including research, cold calls, site visits, and outside sales calls.
- Initiate contracts and develop mutually beneficial strategic relationships with partners to drive additional revenue generation.
- Manage the sustained development and management of partner relationships with a focus on plans which accomplish strategic objectives and a measurable return on investment.
- Work with internal departments to develop and execute programs that support partnership elements.
- Execute meetings, calls, and presentations with high-level corporate executives.
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:- Participant of Integrated Sales & Marketing committee to enhance asset ideation and contribution from concept to deployment.
- Work in conjunction with Business Strategy & Analytics, Marketing, and all critical departments to develop presentations that include measurable elements
- Research prospect brands and their competitors to identify opportunities and solution-based programs.
- Create and manage high-value, fully-integrated advertising and sponsorship packages that are in line with the partners marketing objectives.
- Participate in the development, ideation, evolution, implementation, and fulfillment of service and activation platform.
- Sell NFL Corporate Sponsors and work with NFL Business Development colleagues to maximize partner investment levels.
- Fiscal responsibility with departmental budget expenses
- Develop, write and present corporate sponsorship sales proposals to key clients.
- In coordination with the Executive Director of Corporate Partnership, create new sales collateral or modify existing collateral as required for both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field.
- Work cross-departmentally to develop new sellable marketing, community, NFL initiatives and digital platforms our sales team can use to monetize business opportunities.
- Manage client programs as they relate to billing/accounting, promotions/marketing, ticket office, broadcasting, community outreach, etc.
- Collaboration with Executive Director of Corporate Partnership with the identification of prospective opportunities
- Maintain weekly reports for personal sale pipeline, revenue achievements, and prospecting
- Incorporate appropriate market research into sponsorship proposals and sales presentations.
- Utilize NFL SABR data to maximize category opportunities for the Detroit Lions.
- Effectively communicate client expectations and contractual obligations to appropriate internal departments.
- Work as a team with partnership service coordinators to provide excellent customer service and to ensure fulfillment of client deliverables with account base.
- Work in partnership with assigned partnership marketing team to form 1:1 team responsible for revenue generation consistent with expectations for new business, renewals and contracted accounts.
- Ability to develop strong, long-term relationships with both clients and co-workers.
- Business aptitude to understand and manage client needs and organizational goals to create unique and innovative revenue generating programs.
- Gameday responsibilities include managing staff, activation setup, entertaining clients and fulfilling sponsorship contract obligations.
- Conducts business during non-traditional hours, taking advantage of opportunities to interact with clients and prospects during games, events and away game trips.
- Event planning and execution for partner-sponsored events or meetings.
- Work with NFL sponsorship colleagues to grow and develop partnerships.
QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelors degree with emphasis in Business, Communications, Marketing, or Management required.
- Minimum seven (7) years of sponsorship sales experience with a major league professional sports team or high-profile entertainment entity.
- Experience leading and coaching a team of sales professionals in a competitive environment.
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with proven interpersonal aptitude.
- Ability to exercise sound business judgment and generate effective solutions quickly.
- Strong working knowledge of MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Willingness to travel and work flexible hours including some weekends and evenings.
