Director, Corporate Partnerships

Los Angeles Football Club•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is an MLS soccer club serving the greater Los Angeles area. LAFC is dedicated to building a world-class soccer club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. LAFC’s ownership group is comprised of local leaders and innovators of industry with intellectual capital, financial prowess, operations expertise, and success in the fields of entertainment, sports, technology, and media. LAFC is invested in the world’s game and Los Angeles, constructing, and developing the 22,000 seat BMO Stadium and a top-flight training center on the campus of Cal-State Los Angeles. The Director, Corporate Partnerships, will focus on sales efforts to develop new multi-year sponsorships, as well as renewing sponsorships, for LAFC and BMO Stadium located in downtown Los Angeles. This individual will successfully cultivate high-level client-direct relationships across top brands on a regional, national, and international level with a hyper focus on maximizing revenue for the organization. Thus, the ideal candidate is someone who has a sharp sales acumen that thrives in a high-pressure, high-reward role that is responsible for contributing to an annual department revenue goal. This role is a salary-based position with additional compensation available through competitive commission opportunities. The candidate will report to the VP, Corporate Partnerships. LAFC is currently operating on a hybrid work model with a minimum of 2 in-office days per week. Please note that this may vary by role, and your scheduled in-office days are up to the discretion of your supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited College/University in business, communications, sports management, or a related field
Minimum of 6 years’ of experience in sponsorship sales at property, agency, or professional sports team required.
Proven track record of sales success, specifically generating mid seven-figures of annual revenue on a consistent basis.
Prior experience developing innovative sponsorship packages required.
Strong knowledge of sports and stadium sponsorships including but not limited to promotions, events, brands, and media.
Superior public speaking and persuasive presentation skills to senior management teams and C-suite executives.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships and interact with internal and external clients across all levels.
Ability to multi-task and make sound decisions in a fast-paced and unstructured environment with frequent interruptions and demanding deadlines.
Must be able to serve as an extension of the Club by always maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.
Possess critical thinking skills to address and solve internal and external challenges effectively and efficiently.
Proficient in all Google Suite products, KORE Software, Salesforce, and a myriad of third-party research.
Ability to always maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of the global soccer landscape on both a local and national level is preferred.
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead all facets of the individual sale cycle including prospecting, researching/qualifying leads, setting up face-to-face appointments, ideating sponsorship solutions tailored to prospect business goals, proposal development, presenting final proposal, negotiation, contract generation.
Work cross-functionally with all departments to create comprehensive sponsorship proposals, while ensuring a high level of streamlined internal communication.
Employ the latest prospecting tools, research data, and market knowledge to develop effective, brand-centric sales positioning.
Understand prospective partner brands and their competitors to develop solution-based platforms to amplify partners’ brands, enable them to break through the clutter, and achieve their marketing objectives.
Serve as a mentor and coach to teammates providing impactful support and guidance.
Meet and/or exceed sales expectations and goals for new business revenue.
Leverage LAFC matches and other events to demonstrate sponsorship potential to prospective brands.
Other duties as assigned by Supervisor/Management.