Commercial Partnerships Director

Responsibilities Partner with university leaders, athletic departments, general managers, and internal stakeholders to evaluate, structure, and advance naming rights opportunities and other premium sponsorship assets, including jersey patches, field logos, court logos, and emerging inventory. Serve as a strategic resource to university and sales teams by developing asset positioning, valuation, packaging, and commercialization strategies that maximize revenue and long-term partner value. Develop and implement go-to-market frameworks, sales playbooks, training programs, and field enablement tools that support consistent execution across the organization. Coach and support field teams throughout the partnership development process by sharing insights, strategies, and best practices that strengthen prospecting, negotiation, and activation efforts. Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise on collegiate sponsorship trends, premium inventory monetization, and partnership best practices. Build and maintain strong relationships with university executives, athletic department leadership, and key internal stakeholders to support partnership growth and organizational objectives. Collaborate with sales, marketing, partnership management, legal, and leadership teams to align priorities and successfully execute strategic initiatives. Identify and evaluate emerging market opportunities, sponsorship trends, and innovative inventory offerings that create value for university partners and brand clients. Represent the organization at industry conferences, campus meetings, client presentations, and other key events. Travel regularly to meet with university stakeholders, support field teams, and advance strategic business development initiatives (approximately 30–50%). Requirements Eight (8) or more years of experience in business development, sponsorship sales, partnerships, or related roles within sports, media, or entertainment. Demonstrated success securing high-value partnerships and navigating complex stakeholder environments. Strong understanding of higher education institutions, particularly collegiate athletics and campus branding. Demonstrated success collaborating across departments and with external partners. Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills. Experience developing training, sales enablement, or field support programs. Willingness to travel regularly and work flexible hours to support university schedules. Core Competencies Demonstrates expertise in business development and sponsorship sales within collegiate athletics, focusing on partnership growth and revenue maximization. Proven ability to develop training programs and sales enablement tools while fostering strong relationships with university stakeholders. #J-18808-Ljbffr Jobtailor