Business Development Director- Emerald Acres Sports Connection

The Sports Facilities Companies•Mattoon, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Emerald Acres Sports Connection is a premier sport, recreation and entertainment destination focused on improving the health and economic vitality of Mattoon, IL. You will be joining a championship level team focused on fun, fulfillment and service built to enrich the community as well as your career and personal growth. Emerald Acres Sports Connection is a managed facility by Sports Facilities Management, LLC, a Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) company. SFC is the nation's leading resource for managing and developing sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. We provide a highly collaborative and supportive culture that raises our team members to new levels of career growth. Together, we will carve a path in a hyper-growing industry where you will enjoy the journey and learn from the industry's best while having some fun. SFC has been awarded national recognition as a Top Workplace and is considered a workplace of choice. Our mission-focused company is highly entrepreneurial, team-oriented with a culture centered on collaboration, accountability, excellence, and service. We are growing rapidly and looking for high performers at every level to grow with us.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in recreation, sports management, or related field
5+ years appropriate experience required
Proven experience in youth sports, trade shows, consumer shows and convention sales
Proven experience in contract negotiations, event creation and planning
Experience with and expert understanding of hotel rebates and strategic partnerships between hotels, CVB, and venue
Must have excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and negotiating skills
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
Must have excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Must be able to work flexible schedules including weekends, nights, and holidays
Prior responsibility in P&L management and budget oversight

Responsibilities

Proactively identify, pursue, and secure new events, tournaments, conferences, tradeshows, and revenue-generating opportunities
Serve as a primary role in driving event bookings and revenue production, contributing directly to achieving facility utilization and financial targets
Build, manage, and maintain a strong sales pipeline through consistent outreach, networking, and relationship development
Establish and maintain relationships with event rights-holders, tournament directors, CVBs, hotels, and key community partners
Lead sponsorship sales efforts to support revenue targets
Develop and implement strategies to increase event bookings, facility utilization, and market share
Oversee and coordinate event agreements, ensuring accurate pricing, terms, and deliverables
Maintain oversight of the master event calendar to support strategic booking decisions and maximize high-quality, revenue-generating events
Analyze market trends, customer data, and event performance to identify new business opportunities
Maintain urgency and accountability in converting leads into contracted, revenue-producing events
Forecast sales volume and revenue expectations; track and report on sales performance and KPIs
Collaborate with the marketing team to support lead generation and promotional efforts (no direct oversight of marketing)
Maintain CRM activity including pipeline tracking, outreach documentation, and reporting
Serve as Manager-on-Duty (MOD) for select events as scheduled
Participate in strategic planning and organizational meetings
Perform other duties as assigned by management