Partner Experience Manager

JOB SUMMARY:

The Partner Experience Manager is responsible for the strategy and execution of high-impact, curated Corporate Partner experiences that drive revenue growth and business development for Smith Entertainment Group entities such as the Utah Jazz, Utah Mammoth, etc. This role designs and delivers exclusive VIP events that strengthen relationships, accelerate strategic opportunities, and elevate brand engagement, while transforming bespoke experiences into repeatable and scalable models across partners, industries, and business objectives. 

The position requires exceptional soft skills, including the ability to confidently host and engage C-level and senior executive audiences with discretion, polish, and emotional intelligence. Professional judgment and composure are essential in all environments, including high-pressure, behind-the-scenes settings, ensuring seamless execution and trusted representation of the brand at every touchpoint. Driven by a partner-first focus, this role will champion comprehensive travel planning and meticulous itinerary management while hosting VIPs at both home and away games, providing critical activation support to Account Managers and executing other duties as assigned.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and own a portfolio of curated, high-value partner experience frameworks that leverage the company brand, private hospitality environments, and access to key influencers (ownership, players, executives, and industry leaders), designed to be customized and deployed across a wide range of partners.
• Lead planning and execution of bespoke VIP and special events that deliver “money-can’t-buy” moments, supporting partner relationship-building, deal acceleration, and long-term growth.
• Lead projects related to additional areas of partnership fulfillment and activation within assigned accounts, including promotional items, merchandise credits, hospitality, game-night experiences, and other contracted deliverables.
• Collaborate with Corporate Partnerships and Business Development/New Business during pitch, renewal, and upsell processes to design experience-driven value propositions that directly support partner business development goals.
• Manage experience budgets, prioritization, and utilization to maximize partner impact, scalability, and return on relationship investment.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (arena operations, programming, marketing, communications, and leadership) to ensure seamless execution and brand alignment across all special events and VIP experiences.
• Support strategic partner trips and off-site experiential initiatives where relationship-building and access are central to the experience.
• Partner with the Director on long-term experience strategy, innovation, and the evolution of scalable VIP experience offerings across the organization.
• Exemplify the mission and values: transparent, all in, community obsessed, one team, and scrappy.
• Accept other duties, as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Organizational Savvy - Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 4 years of postgraduate experience specifically in special events, corporate partnerships, sports & entertainment marketing, or experiential strategy, this is not an entry level position

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• This person must be able to communicate and express themselves both written and verbally.
• This person must be able to observe, inspect, estimate, and assess.
• This person must be able to sit, stand, bend, walk, and climb stairs for long periods of time.
• This person must be able to lift 20 lbs.

Smith Entertainment Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Note: The need may arise to revise, supplement, or rescind portions of this job description, and Smith Entertainment Group reserves the right to do so at any time. Employees shall be required to meet the qualifications and perform the duties of any revised job description.