Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships

FLSA/Status Exempt/Full Time

Reports To: CEO & President GCSC

Location: hybrid (Arena District office, Columbus and WFH)

Travel locally to partner sites, events, and meetings in Columbus.

What You Will Accomplish

The Director of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for overall strategy and successful revenue production through creating and implementing key community and business partnerships. You will work closely with internal cross-functional teams such as marketing, events and business development. You will be responsible for executing aspects of partnership programs including communications, co-op marketing, sales, billing, retention and managing contract fulfillment. The role leads a Partnerships Manager team member.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and oversee the Greater Columbus Sports Commission (GCSC) overall strategy for mutually beneficial corporate partnerships, serving as the point of contact for companies looking to engage with the sports commission while identifying opportunities and aligning available assets to partner needs.
• Initiate, build, maintain and expand potential and existing relationships with local and regional organizations, as well as develop and implement new partnership initiatives.
• Manage the growth and monetization of existing partners through scalable programs that can span across multiple activations.
• Lead partnership team efforts with marketing to create sales materials, emails, videos, web page, advertising, presentation materials, new partner packet and newsletter.
• Create and implement a uniform and consistent approach to identify and recruit key partners.
• Responsible for overall partner relationships, including strategic planning, revenue growth targets.
• Develop pipeline to meet and exceed annual quota for corporate partner support.
• Direct all aspects of strategic partnerships, including contract negotiations, complex in some cases, closing, invoicing and fulfillment. Ensure the agreement provides meaningful value for all parties.
• Establish and manage the departmental budgeting, ticket gifting program, and P&L to ensure accuracy and consistent year-to-date tracking.
• Partner with Experience Columbus on “large asks” and citywide event fundraising strategies. Develop and oversee sponsorship sales for GCSC owned events, i.e. Community Cup, Community Youth Camp, The Women’s Sports Report and large sporting events like The Women’s Final Four.
• Work collaboratively with sports teams, venue operators, local brands, attractions, and businesses to creatively design activations that enhance the community and positively impact our resident and visitor experience.
• Monitoring the industry, local news, market trends and proactively engage companies to create partnerships and act as the front door for companies who seek GCSC as a potential partner.
• Participate in community and industry-related events, conferences and associations that will enhance GCSC’s reputation and potential for success while building new relationships with local/regional industry leaders.
• Represent GCSC at Central Ohio civic, charitable, and athletic events.
• Actively engage with the Board of Directors including presenting at Board Meetings. Serve as liaison with GCSC Nominating and Governance committee.
• Lead, support, and mentor team members to grow in their roles to exceed expectations and support our culture and values.

You will love this job if you are:

• Experienced in the following fundraising and development areas below (either through education, work experience or a combination of both) typically 7+ or more years.
  • Client Relationships and/or Corporate Partnerships, preferably in Sports Organizations, Events, Non-Profit or DMO Industry
  • Identifying opportunities, building business programs, and developing account strategies and develop and maintain a pipeline
  • Leading and developing others
  • Experience selling to all levels of relationships with corporate clients
  • Negotiating contracts
  • Managing financial budgets, revenue forecasting and reporting on key metrics and ROI
• Focused on helping the team with a positive attitude. Do what it takes on-site and pitch in at any capacity for day of events.
• An excellent communicator (written and verbally) both professionally and authentically connecting with an audience at all levels of an organization
• Detail oriented and highly skilled in project management amid complex situations.
• Experience utilizing CRM (e.g., Simpleview) to leverage data-driven insights on prospective partners.
• A strong organizational, interpersonal, relationship builder with proven ability to interact with and effectively influence C-level executives and team members.
• A strategic planner with ability to be flexible and problem solve within a fast-changing environment
• Approachable and open with a team mentality, ability to work collaboratively, and who makes time for projects large and small.
• Proficiently skilled with Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Passionate about the product (Columbus) and motivated to exceed expectations.
• Able to travel as needed, primarily locally to partner sites, and participate in evening and weekend activities
• Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in our community, industry and workplace.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. The Greater Columbus Sports Commission reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Greater Columbus Sports Commission or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.