Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships

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Job Title: Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships

Department: Corporate Partnerships

Reports to: Vice President, Corporate Partnerships

Manages: N/A

Position Summary: The Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships is a proactive, high-energy sales executive with a deep love for the sports industry. This is a high-pressure, high-reward role. This position will leverage a positive reputation in the sports industry with the Lakers iconic brand to generate team revenue. It is ultra-responsive, corporate-client focused, and is responsible for business development and client relationship management, while maintaining Lakers brand guidelines.

Key Metrics Used To Evaluate Performance

• Dollars generated annually – both new business and renewals/upsells
• Renewal rates
• Client satisfaction (survey at end of each season)
• Level of innovation incorporated into contracts
  
  

Essential Functions (Duties & Responsibilities**):

Research

• Research and qualify leads (companies/people) and set up face-to-face appointments in pursuit of new business (usually spearheading 2-3 meetings before final proposal)
• Brainstorm creative leads in both new and untapped categories, capitalizing on changes in sports industry, Lakers team, fan preferences, what other NBA teams are doing, etc.
  
  

Sales

• In conjunction with Business Solutions team, work cross-functionally with all departments to create comprehensive packages for sponsors, while ensuring a high level of internal communication relative to sales activities and internal approvals
• Deep understanding of partner brands and their competitors to develop solution-based platforms to help amplify partners' brands, enable them to break through the clutter and achieve their marketing objectives
• Provide new, innovative marketing ideas to assist in the advancement of sales efforts or upselling renewals
• Leverage Lakers games and other events to demonstrate the full-range of sponsorship potential to warm leads
• Use Lakers Rate Card to creatively capture business and maintain accurate reporting regarding sales, forecasting, and account maintenance
  
  

Activation & Servicing

• Manage client relationships and drive renewals for future marketing programs (e.g. understand clients’ business priorities, timelines, and budgets to adapt past proposals and drive increased revenue)
• Represent the Lakers at games and promotional events
  
  

Management

• Partner with the Business Solutions team to prepare sponsorship proposals
• Collaborate to help coach internal stakeholders to better understand new brand strategies and changing budgets / priorities of the partner brands in portfolio to in an effort to pitch strongest proposal that aligns with both the Lakers and the brands’ goals.
• Responsibilities subject to change based on organizational needs and direction from management.
  
  

Education (required/ preferred): Bachelor’s Degree (Business Administration or Marketing, preferred)

Previous Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years work experience in sales and customer service
• A proven track record of sales success (including cold calls and environments with high rates of rejection)
• Past experience making impactful presentations to senior executives
• A good reputation within the sports industry, in LA, and nationally
  
  

Technology Capabilities: Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PPT essential), LinkedIn (Sales Navigator), the List, the Sports Business Journal (Resource Guide), , and other online lead generation tools.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong Interpersonal skills (high EQ)
• Excellent people management skills
• Excellent presentation skills (must be client-ready)
• Creative problem solver who is able to connect today’s trends with Lakers inventory and differentiate new sponsors from existing sponsors
• Strong networking skills within the corporate community and the ability to develop lasting relationships
• Strong client relationship management (CRM) skills and exceptional responsiveness
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership
• Strong negotiation and sales tactics
• Proven ability to meet ambitious deadlines and quotas
• Proven ability to navigate office politics and create internal buy-in around new ideas
• Proven track record of prioritization, organization, and the ability to multi-task
  
  

Physical Demands: Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. and walk significant distances in the arena on game day

Location: El Segundo (offices M-F), downtown Los Angeles (Staples Center for select Laker home games), and other off-site client meetings

Travel: Must be willing to travel 5%-10% of the time to league meetings, client meetings, and occasional away games.

Hours: Regular office hours M-F plus nights & weekends for games/client events

The base pay for this role is $100,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience and certifications. In addition to those factors, we consider the relative pay of our current employees in similar positions when making a final offer.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.