Senior Manager of Partnerships

Join the team that’s building Spokane’s soccer legacy.

USL Spokane (Spokane Zephyr FC and Spokane Velocity FC) is seeking a passionate and driven Senior Manager of Partnerships. This is your chance to be a core part of a growing professional club and help shape the business engine that powers our mission—both on and off the pitch.

The Senior Manager of Partnerships is responsible for the generation of revenue by working within the partnership department supporting the team with new business sponsorships revenue generation and existing partnership renewal and upsells. This position is responsible for identifying corporate partnership opportunities, selling partnerships, and in conjunction with the marketing department and VP of Partnerships, marketing the partnership programs. USL Spokane partnership programs include all soccer and stadium-controlled assets including, but not limited to, traditional signage, livestream, radio, print, and Internet. This position is responsible for understanding the entire sales process from prospecting new business to the execution of the contractual agreements with corporate partners. Additionally, this position will be responsible for fostering ongoing positive relationships with corporate sponsors for sales retention, corporate activation, and for top level customer service in all interactions representing USL Spokane.

Key Or Essential Functions

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the duties listed below, with or without reasonable accommodations. The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Meet and/or exceed assigned sales goals by developing and selling creative sponsorship packages. Responsible for selling and closing new business for consistent revenue generation.
• Research and build relationships with local and regional companies/brands to highlight the advantages of investing in Professional Men’s and Women’s soccer. Utilizes creativity, innovation, and research to identify corporate partnerships for USL Spokane.
• Execute the entirety of the sales process: prospecting, building/presenting sales presentations and end-of-year recaps, creating proposals, creating/negotiating contracts, upselling/renewing current partners, and all other steps throughout the sales process.
• Manage an existing book of business and be responsible for the upselling and renewing of current partners.
• Build and maintain lasting relationships with our corporate partners and the organizations stadium partners/vendors. Cultivates meaningful ongoing relationships with corporate sponsors and commits to a deep understanding of the needs and preferences of each sponsor.
• Entertain clients and work various game day events (including regular nights and weekends).
• Understand the sports sponsorship landscape including traditional, non-traditional, and digital marketing assets and stay up to date on changes and advancements within the industry.
• Engage regularly with Partnership team members including supporting the VP of Partnerships as needed and mentoring and training other members of the fulfillment team as they grow in sales.
• Collaborates internally with other departments as needed such as ticketing and marketing.
• Establishes and fosters strong and professional relationships with the Spokane Public Facilities District (PFD) and Spokane Public Schools staff. May interact with the Spokane PFD to maintain compliance with stadium related sponsorships assets. Follows all Spokane PFD approval regulations.
• Develops, writes, and presents dynamic corporate sponsorship proposals to current and potential clients that meet or exceed potential partnerships business goals. Continually customizes sales presentations to incorporate a clear understanding of the prospect’s goals.
• Provides ongoing excellent customer services to corporate partners, fields questions or concerns, maintains open lines of communication as needed, and always represents USL Spokane in a professional manner with a focus on valuing others diverse perspectives and input.
• This position must be able to work flexible hours which may include extended days, nights, weekends, holidays, and overnights due to travel.
  
  

Secondary Functions

The startup nature and growth of USL Spokane requires highly skilled employees who can operate in a fast paced and frequently changing environment. All positions require an entrepreneurial spirit to identify new solutions, a can-do attitude with a goal of always finding a way to success, and the ability to thrive in an environment of ambiguity and change. As individual employees, members of a team, and part of the entire USL Spokane eco system, a passion for solving complex problems and contributing to the overall success of all operations is key. Every single employee contributes to a culture of working collaboratively and contributing to all aspects of the club. Employees must contribute fully to their own position and more broadly to all areas of business as needed to support the mission and drive forward success on and off the field.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, marketing, sports management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3+ years corporate sales experience or other related industry. Direct experience selling sports team or stadium related sponsorships at least at the collegiate level or higher preferred.
• Ability to pass comprehensive background check including a motor vehicle report.
• Possess and maintain a current and valid driver’s license and maintain legally required insurance.
• Previous sales experience should include:
• Strong prospecting and project management experience
• Prior experience developing, writing, and presenting sales proposals
• Prior experience creating and implementing sales projections
• Demonstrated ability to produce effective sales campaigns using creativity and innovation
• Prior experience with public speaking and strong presentation skills
• Proven ability to build respectful working relationships and effectively communicate with employees, management, vendors, contractors, and community partners. Ability to work collaboratively with cross functional team.
• High degree of personal initiative.
• Proven track record of personal and team achievements.
• Demonstrates superior customer service skills by ensuring each interaction leaves the individual feeling heard, appreciated, understood, and valued.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience selling multi-faceted advertising and sponsorship platforms to local, regional, and national companies. Experience should include selling building signage and team assets, which include the following: signage, promotions, experiential marketing opportunities, radio, web and print.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the minimum qualifications listed below, with or without reasonable accommodations. These qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required to perform this position:

Leadership

All positions at USL Spokane must perform their position with the mindset of leadership whether leading a team or department, a project, or one’s own daily work; proactively identifies barriers to success for the position and the organization and presents solutions; steps in to help other members of the team even when outside the scope of the position; demonstrates commitment to the growth and success of others at USL Spokane and in the community; empowers others to make decisions and share ideas; has empathy and compassion for others and their experiences; values and embraces diverse perspectives.

Community and Environmental Stewardship

Ability to perform all work with continued commitment to seek solutions with minimal environmental impacts; generates and embraces ideas to adjust work methods to reduce waste; good overall understanding of the Spokane, WA community and makes business decisions to contribute to the overall health of the community.

Adaptability

Ability to be flexible and adapt of changes, expectations, or delays, or unexpected events in the work environment while maintaining professionalism; ability to manage competing demands and prioritize tasks; ability to change approach or method to best fit the situation and prospect needs; ability to multi-task; and ability to thrive in a fast-paced changing environment with multiple interruptions while maintaining the ability to quickly refocus and shift priorities; must be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people with the ability to answer questions in a professional and friendly manner.

Analytical Ability

Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and report on information; ability to use intuition, experience, and creativity to spot trends in data; ability to utilize strong conceptual and strategic mindset in the evaluation of information.

Computer Ability

• Microsoft Office with proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Internet and database research
• Club provided laptop and in office phone system
• Other software as applicable
  
  

Interpersonal Skills

Ability work with all personality types at all levels including staff, management, vendors, contractors, and the community; ability to build strong, meaningful, and respectful relationships; excellent customer service skills; good overall understanding of appropriate human relations; ability to constructively receive and apply feedback to improve performance.

Communication Skills

Ability to articulately draft emails, proposals, and other written communication; excellent communication with ability to adjust communication style to meet the preferences of others; ability to actively listen and value other thoughts, experiences, and feedback; effective negotiation skills; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions.

Dependability

Ability to consistently keep work organized to ensure follow through with completing tasks; ability to follow instructions; ability to meet deadlines; ability to consistently arrive on time and be at work as scheduled.

Equipment/Tools Utilized

Frequent Use Of

• Computer operations (laptop & desktop hardware)
• Office equipment including copy machines, computers, and phone
• Other equipment deemed necessary
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting.
• Ability to work with moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and / or loud noise while performing work in the field and at the stadium.
• Essential position functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to:
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Regularly talk and hear
• Occasionally walk; stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Lift, carry, push, and /or pull light to moderate amounts of weight up to 15 pounds
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard with ability to grasp and reach
• And utilize verbal and written communication to exchange information
  
  

Working Conditions

• While performing the essential job functions, the employee may experience the following conditions:
• Position may require flexible hours which may include extended days, nights, weekends, holidays, and overnights due to travel.
• Deadlines and sales goals may generate stress.
• Noise Conditions: exposed to nose consistent with a standard office environment on a regular basis; exposed to loud noise occasionally.
• Heat / Cold: May be subject to heat, cold, wet and / or humid weather conditions, and occasionally extreme heat and /or cold.
• Atmospheric Exposure: Typical office environment conditions.
• Injury Exposure: May be exposed to mechanical equipment used to support players in their training.
• The club may accommodate some work from home and remote work based upon the needs of the club and suitability for the position.
  
  

Note: USL Spokane retains the right to add or change the job description at any time. This position description is not all-inclusive, and employees may be required to perform duties outside this description to meet the organization’s needs.

USL Spokane is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. USL Spokane provides a work environment for employees that is free from unlawful discrimination. All employment-related decisions including hiring are made without consideration of an employee’s race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identify and expression, religion, age, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, use of a trained service animal or dog guide, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C status, or any other basis protected by local state or federal law.