KSL Sports Partnerships Senior Account Executive

Senior Sports Partnership Sales Executive

KSL is Utah's leading local news source across digital and broadcast platforms, delivering trusted, award-winning journalism through KSL.com and KSL-TV. We provide in-depth local reporting, investigative journalism, and up-to-the-minute coverage that serves communities across the state. Committed to being a trusted voice of light and knowledge, KSL helps Utahns stay informed, connected, and engaged with the issues that matter most. Our sports properties spanning broadcast, digital, audio, and social offer partners a powerful, integrated way to reach passionate fans at every level of competition.

We are seeking a Senior Sports Partnership Sales Executive a driven, experienced hunter who will own and grow sports advertising revenue across KSL's full portfolio of sports media assets. This is a dedicated vertical sales role focused exclusively on sports, with the autonomy to prospect, pitch, and close C-suite decision-makers while building meaningful partnerships with professional, collegiate, and high school sports organizations throughout the market.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned seller who understands the sports landscape, thrives on new business development, and can craft integrated, multi-platform proposals that deliver measurable results for clients and sustainable revenue for KSL.

This position is a hybrid role that requires the employee to sometimes work at our Salt Lake City site. Specific hybrid schedules will be determined based on business needs and evaluated by managers and senior management.

Products & Platforms You'll Sell:

• KSL Sports Zone TV programming and broadcast sports inventory
• KSL TV Sports Broadcast sports segments, sponsorships, and features
• KSL Sports Radio On-air sports programming, live reads, and sponsorships
• KSLsports.com Digital display, video, and content sponsorship
• KSL Sports Podcasts Pre-roll, mid-roll, and presenting sponsorships across the sports audio portfolio
• KSL Sports Social Media Sponsored content, branded integrations, and social campaigns across all KSL sports social channels

What You Will Do:

Primary job duties will include, but are not limited to:

Revenue Generation & New Business Development

• Serve as the primary new-business hunter for KSL's sports sales vertical, consistently building and managing a robust sales pipeline
• Prospect, qualify, pitch, and close new advertising and sponsorship partnerships with a focus on C-suite and senior-level decision-makers
• Develop and exceed individual revenue targets through strategic, consultative selling
• Identify and pursue partnership opportunities with professional sports teams/leagues, collegiate athletic programs, and high school sports organizations in the market

Partnership Development & Strategy

• Create customized, integrated multi-platform proposals that combine TV, radio, digital, podcast, and social assets into compelling partnership packages
• Structure sponsorship and advertising programs that deliver ROI for clients while maximizing KSL sports revenue
• Develop season-long and annual partnership frameworks that build long-term client relationships and recurring revenue streams
• Stay current on sports media trends including streaming, digital measurement, and emerging ad formats to bring innovative solutions to clients

Client Management & Activation

• Manage the full sales cycle from initial outreach through contract execution and campaign launch
• Deliver polished, data-driven presentations and proposals to clients and agencies
• Collaborate with KSL's marketing, production, digital, and creative teams to ensure flawless campaign execution and partner satisfaction
• Represent KSL at games, sporting events, and on-site activations as needed to support partnerships and strengthen client relationships

Reporting & Forecasting

• Maintain accurate pipeline reporting and revenue forecasting for the sports vertical
• Provide regular updates to the Director of Sales on pipeline health, competitive activity, and market opportunities
• Track and analyze competitive sports media offerings in the market to inform pricing and positioning

Skills and Experience We Are Looking For:

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of media sales experience, with a demonstrated track record in sports-related advertising or sponsorship sales
• Proven success as a new-business hunter with a history of meeting or exceeding revenue targets
• Experience selling to and presenting at the C-suite / senior executive level
• Ability to develop and sell integrated, multi-platform campaigns across TV, radio, digital, and social
• Strong understanding of the professional, collegiate, and/or high school sports ecosystem
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and core business productivity tools
• Working knowledge of AI-powered tools and a willingness to leverage emerging technology to enhance sales effectiveness and client solutions
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, and consultative selling skills
• Self-starter mentality organized, accountable, and able to manage time and priorities independently in a hybrid work environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Sports Management, or a related field (equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree)
• Experience in corporate partnership sales with professional or collegiate sports properties
• Established relationships with advertisers, agencies, and sports organizations in the Utah / Intermountain West market
• Familiarity with broadcast traffic and CRM systems (e.g., Wide Orbit, Salesforce we'll train the right candidate on our specific platforms)
• Experience with event activations and on-site sponsorship fulfillment

Physical Demands

• Receive, process, and maintain information through oral and/or written communication effectively.
• Manual dexterity and fine motor skills to operate computer keys and general office equipment. Ability to work on a computer for prolonged periods of time.
• Sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Lift, move, and carry up to 40 pounds on occasion.

Compensation

The compensation for this role is commission-focused. Base salary for this role is $55,000, excluding commission payments.

What We Offer You: Check Out Our KSL Benefits!

• Robust, affordable medical, dental and vision coverage with no wait period for enrollment
• Paid leave for new parents under our Medical Maternity and Parental Leave policies
• Opportunities to apply for tuition reimbursement
• Paid time off for vacation and sick leave in addition to paid company holidays
• 401(k) with Company match, fully vested from day one
• Paid time off for volunteering
• Employer-funded retirement account, fully vested from day one
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Access to an entire team of free financial planners
• Matches on contributions to charitable organizations after one year of service
• Continuous growth and development opportunities
• Dynamic team culture that values teamwork, having fun, and collaboration

Why KSL?

• Dominant local media brand Utah's most-trusted source for news and sports
• Full-platform sports portfolio TV, radio, digital, podcasts, and social all under one roof
• DMC backing stability and resources of a global media and communications company
• Hybrid flexibility a culture that values results over rigid schedules
• Growth vertical you'll be building something, not maintaining the status quo

KSL is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. Minority/female/disability PWDNET/veteran are encouraged to apply.