Manager, Partner Management (College Sports vertical)

Background

Location: Chicago, IL (remote/303 E Wacker Dr., Suite 2200)

Type: Full-time, permanent position

Division: Properties

Reports to: VP, Strategic Partnerships

Overview

Intersport, a leader in sports, entertainment, and lifestyle marketing and media for more than three decades, provides expertise in the areas of:

• Agency Services: brand consulting, creative, content production, digital, experiential marketing, field marketing, hospitality, performance marketing, social media marketing, and sponsorship consulting
• Properties – owned-and-operated live sports and lifestyle events and media assets airing on broadcast and digital networks

The Position

Intersport is seeking to add a smart and driven Manager, Partner Management to its Strategic Partnerships team, in support of Intersport’s College Sports vertical. The Strategic Partnerships team leads sponsorship and media sales efforts. The Manager will be responsible for ensuring the flawless execution and fulfillment of all contracted marketing rights and benefits to corporate partners by providing strategic, creative, and responsive client management and service. As such, the right candidate will have experience in sponsorship marketing and experiential/event marketing. Working in collaboration with our partnership sales professionals, the Manager will be expected to retain and grow partner commitments within their portfolio. The right candidate must possess a consultative approach to client management and be able to detail success in having successfully managed corporate partners with six, and seven-figure sponsorship (annual fee) agreements.

Responsibilities

General

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

Partner Management & Communication

• Lead and set an example for responsive and astute management and support of College Sports vertical corporate partner clients
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding and a passion for his/her partners’ industries, businesses, consumers and brands
• Maintain a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of each partner’s rights and benefits (i.e. contractual assets) inclusive of delivery status and related project management and communications
• Establish himself/herself as a trusted strategic business partner and “go to” resource for both the partners and internal partnership sales team members
• Demonstrate leadership and presence in all partner interaction – meetings, calls/video conferences, correspondence, etc.
• Lead coordination and administration of regular conference calls
• Actively contribute in brainstorming and idea generation sessions to conceptualize and develop new and enhanced activation platforms for current and prospective partners

Program & Project Management

• ​​​​​​​Create and maintain administrative documents in a clear, concise and detailed manner for partner and agency backup including points of view, recaps, reporting, agendas, and timelines
• In collaboration with partnership sales colleagues, provide accountability for managing internal legal process and agreement/contract administration

Deliverables Production

• Create PowerPoint presentations (e.g. decks), benefits summaries, program/event recaps, etc., all with a high-level aesthetic and an exacting level of detail
• Provide research and project management for a variety of ad hoc assignments
• Provide administrative support and prep and follow-up materials for partner/prospect meetings and following events and administrative documents in a clear, concise and detailed manner

Event Execution

• Assist in the oversight of College Sports vertical events including coordination and communication between internal departments and external partners/prospects

Qualifications

• Four (4) to six (6) years’ experience in a client or partner/sponsor management role at an agency, brand, media company, sports or entertainment property, or related organization
• Proven success in the sports/entertainment/lifestyle marketing landscape, specifically sponsorship management/servicing and experiential/event marketing
• Demonstrated ability to lead a high-level partner/client management function
• Experience working in a collaborative manner with partnership sales team members
• Experience leading the flawless delivery of a broad range of contractual rights and benefits (i.e. marketing assets)
• Ability to manage multiple programs/projects concurrently, inclusive of a detail oriented and organized approach
• 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
• Graphic design capabilities (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign) a plus
• Ability to travel for frequent business trips typically lasting between three (3) and four (4) days

Intersport is an Equal Opportunity Employer.