Director, Sponsorships, Business and Corporate Development

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

A proven relationship manager, the Director, Sponsorships, Business & Corporate Development is expected to have a broad and comprehensive knowledge of all matters related to the business of the organization emphasizing growth as well as retention of current business and corporate relationships. This position must have the ability to identify, create, and cultivate strategic business and corporate relationships and close deals that produce revenue and earnings for the organization. The Director will lead the sponsorship team in implementing and maintaining the sponsorship and corporate development program, with a value of approximately $35 million in cash/trade revenue annually. The program includes naming rights, sponsorships, presentations, advertising sales and vendor pour rights. Responsible for agreements for the organization’s legacy programs and any additional joint marketing opportunities at NRG Park. This position will coordinate and co-market joint marketing programs along with representatives from the Houston Texans NFL football team and Legends Global (NRG Park manager) which serves as agent for the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation; manage the organization’s responsibilities for business-back in representing Legends Global/NRG Park service agreements; direct sales of NRG Stadium video display system advertising.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business administration, economics, communications, marketing or advertising or at least 4-6 years of related experience.
Must have a demonstrated and recognized ability to work C-Suite, as well as advertising and marketing representatives and marketing partners.
Must have the ability to build and nurture business relationships, both internally and externally.
Must have the ability to establish a high degree of recognition with and respect from established marketing and marketing executives in the Houston marketing area and the greater Southwestern marketing region.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to effectively present information to executive management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Must have ability to manage tasks at a high level of proficiency and to utilize state of the art information, presentation and processing technology.
Requires expert skills in Microsoft applications including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word.
Able to plan and execute projects.

Responsibilities

Create, design, develop, negotiate and execute Official Show sponsorships while approving all fulfillment executed by sponsorship staff.
Oversees staff’s research and development of untapped categories, digital inventory growth and comparisons with other properties.
Work with and direct others in working with the organization’s consultants providing valuation, measurement, research and training to ensure sponsorship assets and packages continue to be relevant and correctly priced.
Responsible for identifying and developing sponsorship assets, assessing new markets and analyzing business opportunities, conducting financial feasibility analyses, developing proposals for new business opportunities, and managing licensing initiatives and programs.
Create and implement a business development and corporate sponsorship strategy that improves the organization’s revenue and earnings.
Create and implement metrics to measure the success of the organization’s business development and corporate sponsorship strategy.
Actively participates in city, state and national sponsorship industry associations to promote strength of the HLSR brand while staying abreast of industry standards.
Responsible for contract origination, contract renewal and filing fully-executed contracts with the Show’s legal office.
Working with the Show’s General Counsel to ensure that Show- and sponsor-generated contracts accurately reflect sponsorship terms and that any revisions are mutually agreed to and accurately documented.
Ensures electronic contract files are maintained for Show and joint agreements.
Manage and direct delivery of all Sponsorship program benefits and amenities.
Develop and negotiate joint agreements with Houston Texans NFL Football Team sales/sponsorship representatives and prospective sponsors.
Responsible for program correspondence, including annual sponsorship renewal proposals as well as the assimilation, study and analysis of additional opportunities for exposure by current sponsors and advertisers.
Consistently maintain communication with current and potential sponsors and/or advertising agencies, consultants and marketing partners.
Oversee and facilitate an annual Sponsor Summit.
Direct others in working with audio visual production facility to deliver electronic signage benefits to sponsors, including proof that the signage ran during the Show.
Responsible for maintaining a high degree of interest, involvement and enthusiasm from corporate and marketing partners by providing outstanding customer service.
Respond to direct inquiries from companies nationwide that are seeking involvement in or affiliation with the organization.
Maintain relationships with Sponsors and prospective sponsors, including being available to them by phone at all times.
Collaborate with the Marketing, Public Relations and Presentations Department as well as other members of the management team to ensure sponsor needs are met annually.
Responsible for supervising full-time employees: Business and Corporate Development Managers, Manager, Sponsorship Fulfillment, and Specialist, Sponsorship Fulfillment and any seasonal, part-time employees hired to support the department leading up to and during Show.
Responsible for cross-training other members of the division to provide the best possible customer service to sponsors.
Responsible for promoting and nurturing collaborative efforts among team members.
Assignment of sponsor accounts to others to enable achievements that result in professional growth.
Must be available for guidance and committed to developing employees to their fullest potential.