Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships and Sales

The Detroit Lions are building something special and we want the right person in the room when it matters most. We're looking for a Senior Director of Corporate Partnership Sales to lead the charge in growing our corporate partnerships portfolio. This isn't just a sales role — it's a chance to shape the commercial future of one of the NFL's most storied franchises.

You'll drive the full sales cycle: identifying prospects, crafting compelling pitches, and closing deals that bring in new revenue while deepening relationships with existing partners. Working cross-functionally, you'll build creative assets and programs backed by data, clearly demonstrating the values of a Lions partnership to sponsors, advertisers, and corporate allies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for creating, developing, and selling fully integrated partnerships with local, regional, and national clients/markets and establishing effective pursuit strategies to secure partnerships.
• Identify and collaboratively assess partnership opportunities while establishing new client relationships utilizing various sales strategies, including research, cold calls, site visits, and outside sales calls.
• Initiate contracts and develop mutually beneficial strategic relationships with partners to drive additional revenue generation.
• Manage the sustained development and management of partner relationships with a focus on plans which accomplish strategic objectives and a measurable return on investment.
• Work with internal departments to develop and execute programs that support partnership elements.
• Execute meetings, calls, and presentations with high-level corporate executives.

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participant of Integrated Sales & Marketing committee to enhance asset ideation and contribution from concept to deployment.
• Work in conjunction with Business Strategy & Analytics, Marketing, and all critical departments to develop presentations that include measurable elements
• Research prospect brands and their competitors to identify opportunities and solution-based programs.
• Create and manage high-value, fully-integrated advertising and sponsorship packages that are in line with the partner’s marketing objectives.
• Participate in the development, ideation, evolution, implementation, and fulfillment of service and activation platform.
• Sell NFL Corporate Sponsors and work with NFL Business Development colleagues to maximize partner investment levels.
• Fiscal responsibility with departmental budget expenses
• Develop, write and present corporate sponsorship sales proposals to key clients.
• In coordination with the Executive Director of Corporate Partnership, create new sales collateral or modify existing collateral as required for both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field.
• Work cross-departmentally to develop new sellable marketing, community, NFL initiatives and digital platforms our sales team can use to monetize business opportunities.
• Manage client programs as they relate to billing/accounting, promotions/marketing, ticket office, broadcasting, community outreach, etc.
• Collaboration with Executive Director of Corporate Partnership with the identification of prospective opportunities
• Maintain weekly reports for personal sale pipeline, revenue achievements, and prospecting
• Incorporate appropriate market research into sponsorship proposals and sales presentations.
• Utilize NFL SABR data to maximize category opportunities for the Detroit Lions.
• Effectively communicate client expectations and contractual obligations to appropriate internal departments.
• Work as a team with partnership service coordinators to provide excellent customer service and to ensure fulfillment of client deliverables with account base.
• Work in partnership with assigned partnership marketing team to form 1:1 team responsible for revenue generation consistent with expectations for new business, renewals and contracted accounts.
• Ability to develop strong, long-term relationships with both clients and co-workers.
• Business aptitude to understand and manage client needs and organizational goals to create unique and innovative revenue generating programs.
• Gameday responsibilities include managing staff, activation setup, entertaining clients and fulfilling sponsorship contract obligations.
• Conducts business during non-traditional hours, taking advantage of opportunities to interact with clients and prospects during games, events and away game trips.
• Event planning and execution for partner-sponsored events or meetings.
• Work with NFL sponsorship colleagues to grow and develop partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in Business, Communications, Marketing, or Management required.
• Minimum seven (7) years of sponsorship sales experience with a major league professional sports team or high-profile entertainment entity.
• Experience leading and coaching a team of sales professionals in a competitive environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with proven interpersonal aptitude.
• Ability to exercise sound business judgment and generate effective solutions quickly.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours including some weekends and evenings.

JLB have been retained by the Detroit Lions for this search.

For all enquiries regarding this role please contact ***email_hidden***.