Washington Spirit
Job Description
The Director, Partnership Development will
- Identify and Prospect: Research and identify potential corporate partners that align with the Washington Spirit’s brand and values.
- Sales Outreach: Initiate and manage sales outreach efforts, including cold calling, emailing, and networking to generate new business leads.
- Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers at prospective partner organizations.
- Proposal Development: Create compelling partnership proposals and presentations tailored to the needs and objectives of potential partners.
- Presentation Skills: Deliver compelling presentations to C-Suite clientele and prospective partners in person.
- Negotiation: Negotiate partnership agreements, ensuring mutually beneficial terms for both the Washington Spirit and the partner.
- Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, including marketing, operations, and community relations, to ensure seamless execution of partnership agreements alongside the Partnership Activation team.
- Reporting: Track and report on sales activities, pipeline status, and partnership performance metrics.
- Other Duties as Assigned
- Note: This role does not involve managerial duties, but will act as a leader, coach, and mentor to other sellers in the department.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
- Minimum of 6+ years of sponsorship sales experience within sports, media, and entertainment
- Proven “goal hitter” who maintains an evolving pipeline to exceed revenue targets with six- and seven-figure partnerships
- Passionate about relationship development and prioritizes in-person interactions (e.g., hosting at matches, dinners, coffee)
- High emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to grow professionally
- Keen attention to detail, strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, and the ability to maintain productive, positive relationships through strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Comfortable interacting with all levels of staff, clientele, and vendors
- Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and other creative and research-oriented resources (e.g., Zoomph, Sponsor United)
- Able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required
- Puts team over individual and is enthusiastic about the mission of the Washington Spirit
Compensation
The annual salary for this role ranges from $120,000 – $130,000, with opportunity for commission.
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 4 days a week.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit is a founding club in its 14th 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.