The Washington Spirit is looking for an experienced and highly motivated individual to lead the Corporate Partnerships team and be responsible for driving revenue growth and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. The ideal candidate can thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, establishing processes and creating a strategic roadmap to meet revenue goals. They will manage and oversee the entire sales process from the prospecting phase for a new business to the execution of the contractual agreement with the corporate partner, in addition to closing partnership deals. The candidate must possess a unique blend of strategic thinking, business acumen, captivating story telling and relationship-building skills, coupled with anunderstanding of the sports industry and an extensive network of contacts.
The Vice President of Corporate Partnerships will:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive corporate partnership strategy to achieve financial targets and secure significant sponsorships.
- Contribute individual revenue through acquiring new corporate partners
- Drive revenue growth through acquiring new corporate partners, establishing strategic alliances, solidifying renewals through positive client relationships.
- Lead and manage a team of sales and activations professionals to drive revenue, prioritize partner retention, and foster a high-performance culture.
- Develop and implement strategies to drive sales activity and new partnership opportunities against key categories through research, prospecting, meetings, networking events, trade shows, etc.
- Maximize revenue potential through accurate forecasting, pipeline management and innovative revenue streams.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, advertisers, media partners, and community influencers.
- Collaborate with department heads to leverage partnerships in achieving organizational goals.
- Use data to inform partnership strategies and measure performance.
- Tailor storytelling approaches to resonate with diverse corporate audiences, aligning our narrative with the specific interests and objectives of potential partners.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in partnership and sponsorship development, staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide an innovative approach to partnership sales and activations.
Our ideal candidate has:
- 10+ years of experience in corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, or business development within the sports industry.
- A proven track record of driving revenue growth and securing large-scale partnership deals.
- Experience leading and managing a commercial or partnerships team, including sales and service.
- Global or international sales experience in sports is a plus.
- The ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial start-up environment with high performance standards and keep up with a fast pace and are easily able to pivot when something does not work
- Strong network of contacts and relationships within the corporate and sports community, particularly in the Washington, DC area.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and inspire other team members.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to develop innovative partnership solutions.
- Results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes and ROI.
- Experience leveraging digital and social platforms for the purpose of partnerships.
- Passion for women's sports and a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
While the listed qualifications are important, we recognize that unique skills and experiences can bring fresh perspectives to our team. If you’re excited about the opportunity to contribute your diverse talents, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t match every requirement listed above.
Location:
This role is primarily based at our Falls Church, VA office, with occasional work in Washington, D.C. Our front office team follows a hybrid arrangement, requiring presence in the office 3 days a week.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit is a founding club in its 11th season of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) proudly representing the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is the first franchise to have a minority woman hold a majority stake. A visionary entrepreneur, Michele Kang, is leading a new era for women’s sports with a vision to:
1. Become the most preeminent sports organization in the world;
2. Build a high-performance culture of winning on and off the pitch;
3. Train women as women; and
4. Motivate and inspire the next generation of girls and women.
We offer a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package, including health and wellness benefits, retirement plans, unlimited vacation time off, as well as flexible work schedules, hybrid work, and opportunities for career development.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
