Director of Strategic Partnerships

Compensation: Starting at $70,000 Performance Bonus. Higher rate may be offered for candidate with significant experience.

About Creative City Project and IMMERSE 

Creative City Project is dedicated to cultivating a thriving arts community in Orlando; nurturing a deeper sense of ownership of and care for Orlando amongst its residents; and shaping the global perception of our city as one known for innovation and creativity. IMMERSE Fest, our signature event, fills 10 city blocks with hundreds of live performances, immersive art installations and unexpected creative experiences in the heart of Downtown Orlando. 

Position Overview

Creative City Project is seeking a dynamic, results-driven Director of Strategic Partnership to lead and grow our portfolio of corporate sponsorships. The ideal candidate is a strong closer with a proven track record in sales, partnerships and sponsorship development, partner cultivation, and revenue generation. This role is responsible for steering and implementing a plan to support CCP’s annual sponsorship and contribution budget. The role plays a crucial part in cultivating relationships with corporate sponsors and community leaders to ensure the continued success and growth of our organization.

Key Responsibilities

Prospecting & Strategy

• Develop and execute a strategic partnership plan to meet annual revenue goals, including sales, corporate sponsorships and other revenue generating initiatives  

• Identify, research and cultivate relationships with potential sponsors and high net worth individuals that align with CCP’s mission and audience

• Build compelling partnership and sponsorship proposals and customized packages for businesses of all sizes

• Develop and maintain a strong partnership and sponsorship pipeline

Sales & Deal Execution  

• Lead partnerships and sponsorship pitches and deliver persuasive presentations to local, regional, and national companies

• Negotiate and finalize partnership and sponsorship agreements with clear deliverables and ROI-focused benefits  

• Consistently close new partnerships and sponsorships to drive growth and impact  

Relationship Management 

• Cultivate and steward long-term partnership and sponsor relationships through proactive communication, recognition, reporting, and fulfillment  

• Collaborate with internal teams to deliver exceptional partnership and sponsor experiences  

• Ensure sponsor activations align with both partner and CCP goals to deliver maximum ROI  

Marketing & Reporting

• Partner with the marketing team to maximize sponsor visibility across campaigns, activations, and media platforms   

• Track progress toward revenue goals, providing regular updates to leadership

• Leverage partnerships to amplify CCP and IMMERSE’s brand presence  

Events & Networking 

• Actively participate in community and industry events to expand CCP’s network and visibility    

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in sales, partnership & sponsorships, fundraising, or business development, with a proven track record of success

• Demonstrated success in securing and closing sponsorships and high-value partnerships

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders  

• Strong marketing acumen and ability to communicate brand alignment

• Excellent verbal, writing and communication skills with experience in proposal development and donor/sponsor communication

• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple leads and deadlines simultaneously  

Preferred Skills or Experience

• Knowledge of sponsorship activation, event production, and partnership fulfillment  

• Passion or appreciation for the arts, diversity, culture, and community engagement

• Experienced with Canva or Adobe Express for simple design projects  

• Proficiency in Google Workspace

• Experience with Brands having national reach

Success Metrics

• Achieve sales, sponsorship and revenue targets 

• Build and sustain a long-term sponsorship pipeline

• Ensure high sponsor satisfaction, retention, and renewal rates