Director of Partnerships

Director, Partnerships

The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance (the "Alliance") is responsible for planning and executing major and impactful events for Arizona. The Alliance resume includes events like the NFL Super Bowl in 2023, the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in 2024, and the upcoming 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four. The guiding principles of the Alliance create a framework for achieving success and maximizing the positive impacts on Arizona communities: Showcase Arizona on a Global Platform, Fuel Economic Engine for the Region, Leave a Positive Legacy for the State. The Alliance works in partnership with local and national stakeholders to create an outstanding and positive experience for event attendees, Arizona residents, local businesses, the hospitality community, media, visitors to Arizona, local and national sponsors, as well as participating teams, players/participants and team personnel. We are seeking individuals who are committed to pursuing excellence and being part of creating memorable experiences and philanthropic and economic impact.

Role

The Director of Partnerships will help shape and deliver the Alliance's partnership strategy by securing new sponsorships, cultivating meaningful business relationships, and creating innovative programs that support major events across Arizona. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of sports, business, tourism, and community impact while helping position Arizona as a premier destination for world-class events.

Responsibilities

Revenue Generation & Sales Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of sponsorship sales and fundraising strategies that achieve or exceed revenue goals.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new corporate partnerships while growing existing relationships.
• Develop creative partnership concepts, pricing strategies, and integrated sponsorship packages.
• Collaborate with leadership on revenue forecasting, sales planning, and long-term partnership strategy.

Partnership Development

• Build and maintain relationships with corporate partners, community leaders, tourism organizations, Native American communities, and key stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for select partners throughout the sales and activation lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities to expand partner engagement, retention, and long-term investment.
• Represent the Alliance at industry events, meetings, and networking opportunities.

Integrated Partnership Solutions

• Create customized partnership programs that leverage marketing, hospitality, events, community impact initiatives, digital assets, and media opportunities.
• Collaborate across departments to develop innovative and mutually beneficial sponsorship opportunities.
• Align partnership strategies with the goals of major events, governing bodies, and community stakeholders.
• Support the development of new inventory & partnership assets to drive revenue opportunities.

Partnership Activation & Fulfillment

• Oversee the successful execution of sponsorship deliverables and contractual obligations.
• Manage ticket inventory, hospitality assets, partner benefits, and event-related activations.
• Ensure a high level of service and communication throughout the partner experience.
• Work closely with event operations, communications, and marketing teams to deliver integrated programs.

Business Intelligence & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of partner activity, sales pipeline, contractual commitments, and revenue projections.
• Develop and manage reporting tools, dashboards, and partnership tracking systems.
• Measure and communicate partnership performance through recap reports and ROI summaries.
• Support organizational planning through data analysis and revenue forecasting.

Rights Holder & Stakeholder Relations

• Work collaboratively with event governing bodies, rights holders, and host partners on sponsorship strategy and execution.
• Manage protected categories, contractual considerations, and approval processes.
• Ensure partnership initiatives align with event requirements and organizational objectives.
• Serve as a liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders as needed.

Organizational Leadership & Growth

• Contribute to the development of a high-performing sales and service culture.
• Identify new revenue opportunities, partnership concepts, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Collaborate across departments to advance organizational priorities and event success.
• Support special projects and other responsibilities as assigned by leadership.

Qualifications/Competencies: Experience & Background

• 3–5+ years of experience in sponsorship sales, partnership development, fundraising, sports business, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing revenue-generating sales, sponsorship, or fundraising strategies.
• Experience working with major events, sports properties, destination organizations, nonprofits, hospitality, tourism, or related industries preferred.
• Understanding of Arizona's business, tourism, and sports landscape is strongly preferred.

Partnership & Business Development

• Proven ability to identify, cultivate, negotiate, and grow strategic partnerships.
• Experience developing customized partnership proposals, presentations, and activation concepts.
• Strong understanding of sponsorship valuation, asset packaging, and revenue generation strategies.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with executives, corporate partners, community leaders, and key stakeholders.

Leadership & Execution

• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments and influence outcomes through teamwork and relationship-building.
• Self-starter who operates with a high degree of accountability, initiative, and follow-through.

Professional Competencies

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Works with a sense of urgency, professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Adaptable, proactive, and solution-oriented approach to challenges and opportunities.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications and CRM/database management tools.
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment to fostering a collaborative team culture.

Work Environment

• This position is primarily based in the Alliance's downtown Phoenix office and requires regular in-person collaboration with team members, partners, and stakeholders.
• Frequent attendance at meetings, events, partner activations, and community engagements throughout Arizona is expected.
• Due to the nature of major events and partnership activation, occasional evening, weekend, and event-period responsibilities should be anticipated.

Benefits/Perks Summary:

We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is why we offer a thoughtfully curated benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of our team members. We are committed to fostering a positive work environment where team members can thrive both professionally and personally. Team member benefits reflect our commitment to valuing and investing in our employees. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits and perks including:

• Health Insurance Stipend
• Retirement Planning Support: 401 (k) retirement option with employer match contribution
• Vacation, Sick and Holiday Leave Programs
• Wellness Stipend
• Cell Phone Stipend
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Community Engagement Opportunities
• And a variety of other perks

The Arizona Major Events Host Committee, an Arizona 501(c)(3) private non-profit, is an equal opportunity employer.