This is an in person job and is not eligible for remote work.
SUMMARY
JMI Sports is seeking an experienced candidate to manage a regional team delivering multimedia sales and marketing partnerships with a national partner. The right applicant will have proven success personally developing and securing key corporate sponsorships, closing marketing deals, and securing media partnerships. Must have a high level of aptitude in developing collaborative relationships and adaptive deal-building, quickly grasping the full potential of bundling opportunities, and constantly providing innovative ideas that address multiple property priorities. A successful applicant will embrace and aggressively integrate social media and technology into new programming and inventory development. Must possess strong, senior level corporate relationships locally, regionally and nationally. This hire must maintain excellent relationships with top league administrators, staff, and coaches. Strategic planning, entrepreneurial talent, budgeting and employee development skills are also highly desirable. This full-time position is located in Chicago, Illinois, and is not eligible for remote work. JMI Sports is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking diverse, qualified candidates to join our team.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide senior leadership to and daily management of regional sales team and multi-property rights initiatives
- Conceptualize, develop and implement sales strategies to generate revenue streams for multiple regions/teams
- Research and identify industries and organizations to solicit for sponsorship of targeted events
- Develop and foster strategic relationships with key corporate and community leaders
- Leverage relationships with top brand decision makers and their advertising agencies
- Secure and conduct face-to-face sales meetings by leveraging relationships as well as through cold calling
- collaborate with internal team members and external partners to ideate, develop, and pitch strategic marketing platforms for new prospects and sponsors that exceed the needs of the client
- Negotiate and close sponsorship deals and work with legal counsel through contract execution
- Provide financial analysis of sponsorship deals detailing gross fee, activation costs and net sponsorship
- Create and direct a research-based prospect pipeline and sales outreach strategy that cultivates industries and companies for sponsorship of targeted assets
- Monitor productivity/quotas of sales staff and manage direct reports in achieving and exceeding goals
- Oversee best practices and implement effective and competitive sales and fulfillment strategies
- Implement best-practices to achieve exceptional results in-line with the Company’s mission of partnership driven, white-glove, consultative sales strategies
- Collaborate with property team members and company leadership to facilitate the ongoing development of sponsor relationships to “surround the client”
- Maintain detailed CRM records of all sponsor communications to ensure accurate revenue, pipeline, activity, and sponsor records and present regular progress reports to company executives
- Consistently demonstrate a commitment to team collaboration and overall property success
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years senior-level, successful and creative sponsorship sales experience
- Graduate degree in business, marketing or related field preferred
- Key relationships with senior level marketing executives with national/regional brands
- Direct experience in and understanding of multimedia rights
- Understanding of media/advertising buys
- Working experience with sponsorship sales, event marketing and activation
- Knowledge of sports marketing including content development and distribution for websites, plus digital and social media
- Demonstrated experience with technology integration
- Excellence in pitching, negotiating and closing six and seven figure sponsorship deals
- Ability to develop creative proposals that meet and exceed potential partners’ needs
- Experience developing and managing budgets
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and collaborative relationships at all levels
- Ability to develop strong peer level relationships and work in a team environment Ability to recruit, manage, motivate and retain top-notch talent in all areas
- Excellent skills with the Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat; experience with CRM strongly preferred
ABOUT JMI SPORTS
JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company providing management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and highly regarded project management expertise to the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company services to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies that bring each client’s vision to fruition. JMI Sports represents several high-profile conferences including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, and the Atlantic-10 Conference. JMI Sports also manages an impressive list of signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships including, the University of Kentucky, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, and joint-venture properties of the University of Georgia and Columbia University (with Learfield IMG College), and the University of Notre Dame (with Legends). Additionally, JMI Sports serves as third-party sales representation for premier venues and events including the Breeders’ Cup Championships, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, and the Penn Relays. The company’s facility development team is currently collaborating with Legends on the new Aztec Stadium and Mission Valley development for San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres.
COMPENSATION
JMI Sports offers competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid vacation and 401k plan.
