Overview

Summary The Director—Media Sales leads all revenue‑driving efforts for commercial advertising inventory within live and studio sports programming. This role oversees strategy, client acquisition, partnership development, and sales execution for media spots across broadcast, cable, digital, and streaming sports properties. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

• Manage annual revenue targets for sports advertising inventory, including in‑game commercial spots, pre/post‑game coverage, streaming, and digital extensions.
• Develop and execute sales strategies that maximize yield, fill rates, and long‑term client value.
• Forecast revenue, track pacing, and provide executive reporting on performance and market trends.
• Build and maintain high‑value relationships with national and regional advertisers, media agencies, and brand partners.
• Drive negotiations for major accounts, ensuring optimal pricing, placement, and multi‑platform integration.
• Identify emerging categories and new business opportunities aligned with sports audience demographics.
• Partner with Programming, Production, and Marketing teams to align inventory, sponsorship opportunities, and creative integrations.
• Work closely with Ad Operations to ensure flawless campaign execution and delivery.
• Collaborate with Director – Partnership and Broadcast Solutions to translate audience data into compelling sales narratives.
• Monitor competitive landscape, sports ratings trends, and advertiser demand to inform pricing and packaging.
• Develop innovative advertising solutions, including branded content, sponsorships, and digital/social extensions.
• Represent the organization at industry events, sports conferences, and client presentations.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Media sales, with a strong track record in sports advertising.
• Deep relationships with national advertisers and media agencies.
• Expertise in selling across linear TV, streaming, digital, and emerging platforms.
• Strong negotiation skills and comfort managing multimillion‑dollar deals.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Leadership experience with proven ability to motivate and scale a sales organization.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and strategic planning abilities.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; and seven to ten years of progressive sales and event marketing experience, ideally in sports, event management, media or hospitality required.

Computer Skills  

To perform the job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft office software including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Internet Explorer.   

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.  Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.  Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills                                                     

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability      

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.                       

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 20 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions, which may include heat, cold and various forms of precipitation. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Work Hours                                                     

Business hours are Monday – Friday 9 am – 5pm, however, additional hours may be required on weekends, evenings and some holidays.