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.
