Job Title:
Director, Sponsorship and Ticket Sales

Reports To:
Regional Director, Sales & Service
The Aspire Group

Location:
John Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21218

Who We Are & What We Are About:
Playfly Aspire, an affiliate of Playfly Holdings, LLC, is an award-winning sports and entertainment marketing firm that is globally recognized for innovative ticket and sponsorship sales, consulting, and research services. Aspire created the outsourced ticket sales niche, revolutionizing the world of sport in particular, intercollegiate athletics. Over the past 14 years, more than 300 collegiate and professional sports properties have trusted Aspire to drive revenue, attendance, and enterprise-value growth through the combination of marketing, strategic consulting, and research services and best-in-industry fan relationship management.

Front Office Sports Back-To-Back Best Employer In Sports Award Winner for 2021 and 2022!

Aspire’s latest award from Front Office Sports recognizes companies in the sport and entertainment industry that are doing the best by their employees and received the highest scores in an anonymous employee survey. Front Office Sports recognized The Aspire Group for a second straight year as a winner of the 2022 Best Employers in Sports award. Aspire’s perennial recognition as a top employer includes these consecutive honors from Front Office Sports and a “Top 10 Best Organizations to Work for in Sports” designation from Forbes.

As industry leaders, we strive to create the best practices of tomorrow within our strategic consulting and research; ticketing, marketing, and revenue enhancement, and sports investment optimization capabilities call “Next-Practices.” The implementation of “Next Practices” and the Raise Your Game Executive Development Program have raised industry standards through outstanding training, development, and coaching. We produce industry leaders, excellent employees, and winning teams that are dedicated to developing long-term relationships, providing strategic expertise and resources that will take our partners to the next level. For more information, please visit our website at www.theaspiregroupinc.com.

Partnership: The John Hopkins University’s Department of Athletics and Playfly Aspire have formed a relationship to develop a world-class ticket and sponsorship sales team in Baltimore, MD. John Hopkins has employed the services of Playfly Aspire because it combines progressive strategies and distinguished execution. Led by expert professionals that stand at the top of the ticket sales and customer service industry, John Hopkins Athletics and its fans will benefit from the commitment to integrity, the most professional ticket sales operation globally and the superior customer service that Playfly Aspire brings to every partner. John Hopkins Athletics and Playfly Aspire encourage and value a diverse work force and both are equal opportunity employers.

Position Overview: This position, as department head, will direct all aspects of sponsorship sales, activation and fulfillment, as well as a sales team performing outbound and inbound ticket and club donation sales and retention, and assist ticket operations on game days. The Director has overall responsibility for generating new revenue, servicing existing ticket/club/sponsorship accounts, ensuring that ticket and sponsorship sales revenue goals are met, and will be integral in the development of sales and service strategies. This role requires someone who is highly motivated to contribute to the overall sales and service efforts, passionate about leadership and development, and committed to preserving a culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our employees.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Ticket Sales
Oversee sales of ticketed sports and club donations through outbound and inbound sales -

Daily sales and relationship cultivation phone calls, messages (electronic, mailings, etc.) with season ticket holders, sponsors, businesses, individuals, groups and prospective buyers.
Servicing the inbound ticket sales phone line to answer general fan questions and sell ticket packages.
Prospecting and targeting new sales opportunities to include season tickets, group tickets and Club donations.
Providing superior customer service to John Hopkins fans.
Develop and execute approved Annual Business Plan and Operating Budget.
Work with the university liaison to develop, present, and communicate ticket sales strategies, procedures, and processes.
Lead in the development of ticket marketing, game promotions, and ticket pricing tactics
Ongoing development of New Ticket Sales program in the following areas: new business generation, season tickets, development of sales and service strategies, development of best practices and results tracking and reporting.
Manage a book of business of donors and season ticket holders.
Track and report daily, weekly and monthly sales figures and relevant accountability.
Serve as a member of the external operations team.
Hit and surpass annual sales goals; team and personal.
Grow business each year.

Sponsorship Sales and Activation

Create key sales strategies and go-to-market plans that generate long-term revenue.
Retain and grow existing partnerships.
Ownership of reporting and prospect pipeline in a way that communicates well to all stakeholders.
Manage and track all marketing inventory while creating new assets and owning the fulfillment process.
Lead sponsorship sales presentations that execute against short and long-term department objectives.
Create and deliver marketing contracts and agreements.
Provide corporate partners with traditional, digital and other non-traditional media opportunities to bolster their own brands and garner maximum exposure through inventory such as in-venue signage; digital engagement including social media, the official athletics website, content, event sponsorships and promotion; corporate hospitality; television and radio game broadcasts and coaches’ shows.
Assist with corporate hospitality, tickets, in-game promotions and other activities.
Provide Proof of Fulfillment for in-venue sponsorship elements.
Prospect and relationship build with the idea of creating new corporate partner relationships.
Hit and surpass annual sales goals.
Develop and execute approved Annual Business and Sales Plan and Operating Budget.

Qualifications & Requirements:

3-5 years of sports ticket sales experience required with a minimum of 2 years in Sales Leadership.
1 year Sponsorship Sales experience preferred.
Experience with box office and ticket operations duties preferred, but not required.
Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
Computer proficient (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and detail-oriented.
Experience with ticketing software and CRM program preferred.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, presentation, and listening skills.
Strong organizational, administrative and time management skills.
Belief that a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility, equity and fairness that enables individuals to contribute to their full potential, feel valued, and supported is key to success; personally, professionally and for the company.
Ability to work well with others and confidence when taking initiative.
Professional image and demeanor at all times.
Available to work Athletic events including home games and special events in evenings and on weekends.

Compensation: Competitive base salary with the opportunity to earn commission and annual bonus upon meeting or exceeding sales goals. Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, other voluntary health benefits and 401k. Excellent paid time off program.

Playfly Aspire is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status, such as race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, citizenship status or age.