Director, Sponsorship Activations

Dallas Mavericks•Dallas, TX

About The Position

The Director of Sponsorship Activations oversees high-value partner relationships, drives incremental revenue through renewals and upsells, and ensures best-in-class delivery of all contractual assets while staying true to the Dallas Mavericks brand and core values. This position serves as a senior activation leader and cross-functional connector, managing people, processes, inventory, and performance measurement across the full partnership lifecycle. The Director collaborates with clients and internal stakeholders to drive satisfaction, renewals, and long-term relationship growth.

Requirements

Proven leadership and people management experience with the ability to coach, motivate, and develop talent
Strong relationship management skills with a retention-first mindset
Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through
Strategic, solutions-oriented thinker with the ability to manage complex partnerships
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with executive-level presence
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
High sense of ownership, accountability, and urgency
Bachelor’s Degree required (Marketing, Sport Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or related field preferred)
Minimum 5–8 years of professional sports partnership activation and/or account management experience
Minimum 2 years of sales experience
Minimum 1.5–2 years of people management experience
CRM and inventory management systems (KORE, Salesforce)
Microsoft Office Suite
Project management platforms (Asana or similar)
Ability to work Dallas Mavericks home games and events, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events
Ability to lift up to 25–50 lbs. as needed

Nice To Haves

Experience in arenas, stadiums, or high-volume live events preferred
Proven experience managing senior-level partner and agency relationships
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator preferred)
Analytics platforms such as Nielsen Scarborough or custom fan data tools

Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy, Execution & Implementation Lead the strategy and execution of corporate partnership activations across all platforms including arena, digital, social, community, content, hospitality, and experiential assets
Develop a deep understanding of partner business goals and proactively deliver activation strategies that drive value, performance, and renewal
Serve as senior point of contact for assigned key partners, ensuring flawless execution, exceptional service, and high retention rates
Oversee fulfillment of all contractual assets, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with NBA guidelines and arena restrictions
Work Dallas Mavericks home games and special events, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to execute and monitor partner activations
Account Renewal, Growth & Inventory Optimization Lead renewal strategy for assigned corporate partners by aligning performance with partner objectives and KPIs
Identify upsell opportunities that strengthen existing partnerships and support long-term renewals
Partner with Business Solutions, Marketing and Analytics to support renewal discussions, asset optimization, and deal structuring
Utilize research, fan data, and performance insights to refine activations, reposition assets, and demonstrate proof of performance
Partner Relationship Management & Reporting Build and sustain trusted relationships with partners and agency partners through consistent communication and executive-level service
Lead partner planning meetings, mid-season check-ins, activation reviews, and renewal-focused strategy sessions
Deliver comprehensive recaps, performance reporting, and ROI storytelling, including proof-of-performance and renewal support materials
Plan and execute partner events, promotions, sweepstakes, VIP experiences, and hospitality programs
Leadership & Team Development Directly manage, coach, and develop the Partnership Marketing team through regular one-on-ones, performance feedback, training, and development planning
Serve as a real-time resource to troubleshoot challenges, support execution, and elevate team performance
Oversee onboarding and training of new activation staff, establishing standardized processes and best practices
Delegate accounts and responsibilities to ensure best-in-class service and professional growth opportunities for team members
Activation Operations & Cross-Functional Collaboration Centralize and manage the activation calendar, ensuring all deliverables are tracked, communicated, and executed efficiently
Lead cross-departmental collaboration with Ticketing, Game Operations, Marketing, Digital, Social, Community, Broadcast, Legal, Finance, and Analytics teams
Ensure activation processes, approvals, and contractual obligations are followed consistently and accurately
Partner with Business Analytics to support performance reporting, brand exposure valuation, and fan insights
Sales Integration & CRM Oversight Maintain accountability for CRM and inventory management systems
Review deal sheets for structural accuracy, asset availability, and execution feasibility prior to finalization
Integrate into the sales process as an activation voice, supporting renewal and upsell conversations when needed
Support departmental revenue reporting and league submissions