Career Opportunities: Sponsorship Engagement Manager (94412)

Sponsorship Engagement Manager

At Sparks, our mission is to drive strategic sponsorships that increase revenue for our clients and offset costs while enhancing the attendee experience.

The Sponsorship Engagement Manager applies practical working knowledge to manage our clients' sponsors and ensure sponsorship benefits are delivered according to contractual commitments. This role keeps sponsors informed of deadlines and submission requirements, provides guidance throughout the engagement process, and partners closely with sales account managers to ensure a smooth transition from sales to fulfillment. The position also supports client sponsorship programs through detailed pre-event preparation, on-site management and post-event reporting.

This position will support our Sponsorship team and is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, generally requiring work in the office and/or at show site 2-3 days a week. Preferred locations for this role include the following; however, qualified candidates outside of these markets will also be considered.

• Philadelphia, PA
• Fort Wayne, IN
• Las Vegas, NV
• Royal Oak, MI
• Grand Prairie, TX
• New York, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Denver, CO
• St. Paul, MN
• Orlando, FL

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Project Management Serve as the point of contact for assigned events, coordinating with manager, project owner, client and vendors to ensure sponsorship benefits are implemented before, during, and after each event. Create and manage sponsorship production timelines, working with the team to create and manage production timelines. Contribute to ERC build-out or setup for each new client event. Manage sponsor benefits and tasks within sponsor portal tools, which may vary by client, and escalate system or setup challenges to manager or project owner. Organize and host regular cadence calls and office hours with sponsors to support clear communication, event preparedness, and post-event reviews and debriefs. Working cross-functionally across internal/external workstreams as well as 3rd party vendors Coordinate approvals for sponsor materials and secure written confirmation via email or proofs. Ensure timely delivery of all components, properties, and materials needed for each event. Create a readiness deck outlining the scope of work and deliverables ahead of each event. Create and support post-event reporting for sponsors and clients, including final numbers, survey results, and key feedback. Support team projects related to RFPs, budgets, and event programs.

Role Expectations Gain clarity on each assignment and ensure a clear scope of work and deliverables is established. Serve as the point of contact for assigned sponsor accounts, which may change by show and client. Maintain regular communication with accounts through email, client-preferred tools (Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Slack, Google, etc.), and recurring cadence calls to manage sponsorship contract fulfillment. Respond to all email communications within 24 hours minimum. Escalate any fulfillment or account issues to your manager within 24 hours. Provide on-site support at events to ensure all sponsorship elements are implemented and delivered. Secure proper approvals for sponsor communications, signage, and messaging. Provide weekly updates to the internal team on challenges and collaborate closely to resolve issues. Manage materials in designated tools (Microsoft 365, Google, etc.) to support real-time document access. Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Typically 24 years of hands-on experience in events, ideally including sponsorship experience. Agency experience working with corporate clients is a plus. Experience in event project management or sponsorship/exhibitor fulfillment preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills required. Strong project management skills, with a proven ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate cross-functional work, keeping projects on track and on budget with strong attention to logistical and administrative detail. Flexible, self-motivated, energetic, and able to use time productively and efficiently. Ability to establish priorities and work independently with general supervision. Outgoing, upbeat personality with a team-oriented approach; efficient, considerate, and detail-oriented with a keen eye for accuracy. Demonstrated commitment to excellent client support. Proficient with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Word, Teams, and PowerPoint; experience with AI tools, Box, Google Docs, Procim, Salesforce, and Slack is a plus. Experience with event tools such as RainFocus, Cvent, and Swoogo is a plus.

Travel Requirements

Travel up to 25%

What We Offer

The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, Accident and Disability
• Retirement with Company Match
• Paid Time Off
• Salary range of $75,000-$90,000 based upon experience
• Eligible for an annual bonus of up to 15% of the base salary

Diversity Commitment

At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristics protected by federal, state or local laws.