Corporate Development Sales Manager

Job Description

Overview:

Are you passionate about the Sports and Entertainment industry? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where innovation meets excellence? The Houston Rockets are on the lookout for a dynamic Corporate Development Sales Manager to join our team. If you're ready to make a significant impact and grow with a company that values creativity, collaboration, and career development, we want to hear from you!

Essential Responsibilities:
• Demonstrates our One Team philosophy of Passion, Accountability, Customer Focus, and Teamwork
• Cultivate new corporate partner relationships with local, regional, national and international brands to secure new sponsorship revenue through prospecting, negotiating and closing partnership agreements across a diversified book of business
• Possess a clear understanding of the partnership sales process: prospecting, needs analysis, proposal development, presentation skills, negotiation and contracting process
• Achieve and surpass individual and department new business sales goals
• Identify industries, organizations and emerging categories to grow new partner client list and revenues
• Develop creative strategies to source and connect with key corporate decision makers at the Executive level and establish strong relationships throughout partner companies
• Manage and maintain strong relationships with internal staff across all Departments for collaboration on prospecting and sales opportunities
• Compile information via research and probing of accounts to create customized proposals, presentations, budgets, and for financial or competitive analysis, understanding each company's business and industry
• Develop written proposals for current or new business prospects; design proposals using a consultative sales style incorporating research of category dynamics and target demographics
• Ability to understand each prospect's marketing goals and translate effectively into customized business solution opportunities through team and venue assets
• Guide the creation of persuasive presentations that demonstrate the value of the team, arena and market
• Lead contract negotiations and work closely with Team Counsel to finalize agreements
• Work with internal constituents on partner research and data for Departmental needs
• Pipeline management tracking all account history, relationship details and deal points in CRM system (Salesforce) to provide accurate, reliable information for sales forecasts
• Have a clear understanding of all sellable inventory and continuously work to define new sellable assets
• Manage and maintain existing relationships on an annual basis and responsible for renewals and upsells of accounts to contribute to overall Department revenue goals
• Work closely with Corporate Activation team to provide client KPIs and ensure objectives are being met
• Conduct weekly Sales Team meetings with the Sr. Director and Department VP
• Various other duties as assigned by CRO, VP, Executive team and Sr. Sales Director

Minimum qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 3 years' experience in partnership sales and account management, preferably in sports sponsorships, agency, media or closely related field
• Experience in NBA or professional sports preferred
• Strong interpersonal and leadership abilities with excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent computer skills with a high proficiency in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and CRM systems
• Must be multi-task oriented with great attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to a team player environment, while being able to work independently as a self-starter and demonstrate innovation and initiative
• Must have strong work ethic and be extremely flexible with the ability to handle fast-paced environment with short deadlines
• Must have high level of decision making and accountability
• Experience building relationships with top marketing decision makers at brands and agencies
• Ability to handle multiple customers with high degree of detail
• Must have proven record of success in negotiating and closing business
• Strong knowledge of partnership assets, including signage, media, digital media, hospitality and events/marketing
• Must be able to understand partners' objectives and look for ways to associate with the Team's assets
• Must be able to identify and address issues or problems which may arise during relationship/partnership and resolve quickly and effectively
• Must be available to work extended hours, holidays, game nights and events
• Available to travel for client meetings, pitches, team games/events, as needed
• Outgoing, ambitious personality with experience as a skilled presenter and storyteller
• Ability to work successfully with all team departments
• Experience with TV, radio, and print media sales preferred

Physical & mental requirements:
• The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, use handle or feel, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, communicate with others
• The vision requirement includes the ability to review written and electronic materials in both digital and physical format
• Must be able to transfer and move items for departmental needs
• Must be able to adjust to changing work hours and locations as needed in light of the strong focus on external communications and relationships

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.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g3e989-18-117-100-224-42 in your application.