VP, Partnership Management

Background

Location: Hybrid – work-from-home and Chicago, IL (303 E Wacker Dr., Suite 2200)

Type: Full-time, permanent position

Division: Properties & Media Assets

Reports to: EVP, Properties & Media Assets

Overview

Intersport is an award-winning agency that fills the empty space between marketing campaigns and consumers – helping brands make more meaningful connections. Our industry-leading team includes 200+ team members supporting 50+ clients with services spanning content production, experiential and event marketing, hospitality, partnership consulting, creative, social and digital marketing, and platform development. We also own and operate event properties across the professional and collegiate sports landscape, focused on sports including basketball, football, golf, pickleball, and volleyball.

Intersport is seeking to add a smart and driven VP, Partnership Management to its Properties & Media Assets team. The P&MA team creates, plans, executes, and distributes live event and broadcast media assets to engage consumers and further clients’ brand and business objectives. The VP is responsible for providing leadership and managing a team that will own numerous functions, including: partnership management, media planning.

Responsibilities

General

• Embody and reflect Intersport’s performance-based culture and commit him/herself and team to the highest standards for all agency work.
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver executional excellence.

Sales Operations

• In collaboration with two senior-level sales professionals, oversee the development of all sales and partnership materials on the front- and back-end (e.g., research and lead generation, target list development, writing/editing decks and proposals, etc.).

Partnership Management

• Lead the team as a player/coach for partnership management across the College Sports, NFL, and potentially additional verticals.
• Lead the execution of partnerships, including internal status meetings, client-facing kickoff and execution calls, and related project management and resulting communications.
• Develop strong relationships with media and sponsorship clients, on both the agency and brand side.
• When clients are attending our events, ensure high-touch experience for them on-site (e.g., Final Four properties).

Media Planning

• Oversee the development of media plans necessary to sell across our assets business and report delivery on the back-end of the partnerships through recap decks with media valuations.
• Oversee the trafficking of all media partnership inventory for our roster of programming.
• Develop relationships with networks for in-broadcast integrations, commercial trafficking, etc.
• Ensure detailed inventory trackers are organized and managed, and ensure the team is clear on all processes related to invoicing clients.

Post-Program Reporting/Recaps

• In conjunction with the Insights & Strategy team, lead the Relo process.
• Preparing the Relo system for each event.
• Uploading pre-event photos.
• Lead the recapping process for partners with your team including:
• Work with I&S to determine valuations for partners.
• Design recap decks.
• Full deliverables to clients.

Accounting & Financial Management

• Assist in the management of corporate partner accounting and financial management to ensure invoicing and reconciliations are accurate, timely, and appropriately communicated.

Team Management

• Provide direct management and mentoring to a dedicated team of three to four individuals.
• Develop streamlined processes for the full Strategic Partnerships team and optimize responsibilities for maximum efficiency across the group.
• Work collaboratively with all members of integrated internal and external teams.

Travel Expectations

• November/December (annually): Serve as a member of the sales team on-site to act as the POC for on-site partners, Relo preparation and execution, etc. Expected is to attend an average of five of the 10 total events (to be adjusted over time).
• April (annually): Lead the on-site execution of “College Slam” and “Women’s All-Star Game” and oversee team members executing on-site (in numerous locations concurrently).
• Additional event- and client-related travel on occasion.

Qualifications

• Fifteen (15) or more years’ experience in a partnerships or marketing role at an agency, brand, media company, sports or entertainment property, or related organization.
• Strong working knowledge of the sports and entertainment marketing landscape, specifically sponsorships/partnerships and event/experiential marketing.
• Ability to serve as the leader and main POC for internal stakeholders and external clients/partners across multiple programs/projects concurrently, inclusive of a detail-oriented and organized approach.
• Experience managing and mentoring entry-, junior-, and mid-level professionals, ensuring their career development by establishing clear goals and expectations while providing timely and scrutinizing feedback.
• Application of superior prioritization and time-management skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality work at a fast pace.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proactive, team player with a strong work ethic.
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word; proficiency in Excel.
• Ability to travel for business on trips typically lasting between two to five days and with an interest in working in an on-site/event marketing environment.

Intersport is an Equal Opportunity Employer.