Job Title: Director Partnership Marketing
Department: Arizona Sports Enterprises (ASE)
Reports To: General Manager, Arizona Sports Enterprises
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Tucson, AZ

Position Summary

Arizona Sports Enterprises (ASE), the sponsorship and NIL arm of Arizona Athletics, is seeking a Director of Partnership Marketing to lead the strategy, execution, and fulfillment of all corporate partnerships.

This role is responsible for ensuring best-in-class partner activation, retention, and service delivery across Arizona Athletics. The Director of Partnership Marketing will manage and develop the Partnership Marketing team, oversee the sponsorship lifecycle, and serve as a strategic partner to sales, campus stakeholders, and senior leadership.

The ideal candidate brings a balance of leadership, operational rigor, and creative problem-solving, with the ability to scale processes while maintaining a high-touch partner experience.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

Lead, coach, and develop the Partnership Marketing team to ensure consistent, high-quality partner service
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance feedback, and professional development planning
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Serve as a resource to troubleshoot and resolve activation challenges in real time

Partnership Marketing & Activation

Own the activation and fulfillment strategy for all corporate partnerships across Arizona Athletics
Manage the full sponsorship lifecycle, including onboarding, execution, measurement, and renewal support
Ensure all contractual elements are delivered accurately, on time, and in alignment with brand standards
Build and maintain strong relationships with corporate partners to support renewals and long-term growth
Develop scalable activation frameworks, timelines, and recap materials for internal and external use

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate with internal Athletics and campus stakeholders including:
Ticketing, Marketing, Communications, Game Operations, Community Impact, NIL
Legal, Procurement, Licensing, Digital, Media Relations, and Compliance
Serve as the central point of coordination to streamline approvals and ensure execution accuracy

Operational Excellence

Develop and manage a comprehensive activation calendar across all partners and sports
Oversee onboarding and training of new Partnership Marketing staff
Continuously evaluate and improve internal processes to enhance efficiency and partner satisfaction
Support development of partner recaps, case studies, and performance reporting
Partner with analytics resources to evaluate brand exposure, engagement, and return on objectives

Sales & Revenue Integration

Collaborate closely with the sales team to review partnership structures for feasibility and accuracy
Provide activation input during the sales process as needed
Support renewal strategy and identification of growth opportunities within existing accounts
Maintain working knowledge of partner categories, exclusivities, inventory, and asset availability

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of 5 years of experience in partnership marketing, sponsorship activation, or account management
Minimum of 2 years of people management experience
Experience working in sports, entertainment, higher education, or a related partnership-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in pro sports or collegiate athletics or multi-property sponsorship environments
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams
Experience working with CRM systems and sponsorship analytics tools

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
Solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to manage complex projects and stakeholders
Ability to balance creativity with operational discipline
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills

Work Environment

Office-based with required presence at athletic events and partner activations
Evening and weekend work required based on event schedules

About Arizona Sports Enterprises

Arizona Sports Enterprises is the revenue-generation arm of Arizona Athletics, responsible for corporate partnerships, naming rights, and NIL strategy. ASE builds transformational partnerships that drive revenue growth while advancing the University of Arizona’s mission and community impact.