What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Partnership Development position at Charlotte Hornets?
Position Overview
The Director of Partnership Development serves as a vital role on the Corporate Partnerships team as a high revenue generator focused on creating innovative solutions for next-generation Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) partners. HSE is the region’s signature National Basketball Association professional sports franchise and the metro’s premier event venue, the Spectrum Center.
This sales position is expected to have a regional and national contact list as well as the capacity to adapt to the vibrant Charlotte market.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- You will drive revenue for all HSE brands including the G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm and HSE’s latest endeavor, NBA 2K Team – Hornets Venom GT
- Consistently exceed daily call and appointment targets while using traditional and innovative interpersonal communication tactics
- Transform the standard sponsorship approach into a multi-platform solution for partners
- You will close new six-figure/seven-figure multi-year partnership deals that will aid in meeting and exceeding yearly corporate partnership sales targets set by the Leadership Team
- Network with local, regional and national organizations to create authentic and mutual beneficial corporate partnerships.
- Maintain and continually grow the company’s prospective partner pipeline
- Build relationships with prospects’ gatekeepers and key company decision-makers, as well as internally with each HSE group
- Create, track and maintain all proposals for prospective clients, detailing the progress of the sales process
- You will compile, report, enter, collect, forecast and track accurate account elements, billing
fulfillment and contract information, as well as reports pertaining to proposals, contracts, budgets and other account details into Tablaeu, Kore Connect and other data driven resources utilized by HSE - Prepare documents as needed, including expense reports, account budgets, memos, letters, contracts, spreadsheets, etc
- Support HSE’s mission, vision and purpose
- Mentor junior associates and interns
- Represent HSE and its related affiliates in a professional manner at all times
- Report to the Vice President of Partnerships and assist in effectively enhancing the HSE partner base
- Perform other related tasks as assigned
Game Day Responsibilities
- Meet with clients and host partner representatives
- Conduct pre-game walk thru of the suites, concourse and club spaces to ensure activation
- Assist with game day partner promotions when needed
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Required Skills, Experience, and Abilities
To perform essential job functions, you should demonstrate the following competencies:
- College degree in Business Administration, Marketing or related field from an accredited college or university (MBA is preferred)
- Minimum of five (5) years of professional sales experience, preferably in the sports industry
- Extensive corporate partnership, digital, entertainment and media sales experience preferred
- Possess an extensive national and regional contact list while focusing on growing partnership base in the Charlotte metro
- Spanish language fluency preferred
- Proficient or ability to learn various corporate-based systems and CRM data driven technologies utilized in today’s sports & entertainment industry such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Slides, Kore and others
- Possess consistent track record of selling and fostering sizable, long-term partnerships through a thoughtful, forward-thinking, structured and focused approach to the market
- Flexibility to work necessary hours including evenings, weekends and holidays for games and events, as needed, and occasional travel is required
Personal & Physical Attributes
- Self-motivated with drive toward goals
- Strong organizational, communications with high interpersonal skills to handle sensitive situations, and confidential information
- Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities
- Independent judgment to plan, prioritize and organize a diversified workload
- Ability to coordinate and lead multiple tasks and projects
- Ability to demonstrate poise, tact and diplomacy, strong teamwork aptitude required
- Presents self in professional manner and have ability to interact with all levels of organization and outside contacts
- Required to sit, stand, walk, and reach
- Ability to occasionally lift, carry and/or drag up to twenty-five (25) pounds if necessary
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
