Business Development Manager - University of Rhode Island

Learfield•Kingston, RI

About The Position

Learfield is seeking a motivated, relationship-driven sales professional to join its growing sponsorship team for the University of Rhode Island. The Business Development Manager manages existing client relationships while building a pipeline of new business to drive revenue growth. The role owns partner agreements from prospecting through renewal and collaborates with internal teams and university stakeholders to deliver campaigns aligned with partner goals. The position involves developing and selling integrated sponsorship packages, managing a defined book of business, and creating and negotiating proposals across digital, social, broadcast, in-venue, and experiential platforms. The manager represents Learfield and the university to partners and stakeholders, supports campaign execution and renewal planning, and participates in game-day operations and client hospitality events, including occasional nights and weekends.

Requirements

At least 4 years of sales experience focused on building and maintaining client relationships.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet or exceed sales goals.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with a customer-first approach.
Comfort navigating CRM systems and working in a performance-driven sales environment.
Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for game days and events.

Nice To Haves

Experience in sports sponsorship or media sales, including radio, signage, social, or digital.
Familiarity with marketing solutions that include digital and experiential assets.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Responsibilities

Meet or exceed assigned revenue goals by developing and selling integrated sponsorship packages.
Manage a defined book of business and own the full sales cycle for renewals and new business deals.
Build, present, and negotiate proposals across digital, social, broadcast, in-venue, and experiential platforms.
Develop relationships with local, regional, and national partners to demonstrate the value of collegiate sponsorships.
Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, corporate sponsors, and internal stakeholders, serving as a trusted representative of Learfield and the university.
Collaborate with internal teams to execute partner deliverables according to contract terms and brand standards.
Maintain accurate records of sales activity and pipeline progress in CRM systems.
Support year-end recaps and participate in renewal planning discussions.
Attend and contribute to game-day operations and client hospitality events, including occasional nights and weekends.
Stay informed about industry trends and best practices, brand activations, digital marketing tools, and emerging sponsorship platforms.
Perform other related duties as required.