Partnership Sales Manager
About The Position
The Partnerships Manager is a relationship-driven sales and business development professional responsible for growing USA Triathlon’s portfolio of endemic partnerships, exhibitor relationships, and industry-facing sponsorship opportunities. This role focuses on cultivating and converting partnership opportunities within the triathlon, endurance sports, health and wellness, outdoor, and active lifestyle marketplace. Working in close collaboration with the Sr. Director of Marketing, Communications & Partnership, external sales agency partners and internal fulfilment team, this position supports USA Triathlon’s corporate revenue strategy through proactive prospecting, relationship management, expo and event sales, and the development of integrated partnership opportunities that strengthen engagement across the multisport ecosystem. The ideal candidate brings strong relationship-building and sales instincts, a passion for endurance sports, and the ability to grow long-term industry partnerships through consistent outreach, thoughtful account management, and dedication to collaboration.
Requirements
- Demonstrated track record of closing partnership sales at multiple levels, from transactional event activations to complex, multi-year agreements.
- Strong instincts for prospecting, qualifying, and moving deals through a structured sales process with consistent daily activity.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives and present confidently to prospects at all organizational levels.
- Ability to work cross-functionally across departments and contribute to a team-oriented sales culture without losing individual accountability.
- Ability to manage multiple deals, projects, and relationships simultaneously with strong follow-through and attention to detail.
- Comfort with sales data, reporting, and using metrics to evaluate pipeline health and inform strategy.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Salesforce CRM experience required; comfort with pipeline reporting and forecasting within the platform.
- Maintains a constructive attitude in a fast-paced environment; solution oriented, handles rejection as part of the sales process.
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, sports administration, or a related field - required.
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in sponsorship sales, exhibitor sales, account management, sports marketing, or business development, with a demonstrable record of closing deals at varying investment levels.
- Experience managing a full sales cycle, from prospecting and proposal development through negotiation and contract execution - required.
- Demonstrate ability to manage pipeline, log activity, and generate reports within the platform – experience or understanding of a CRM based system required.
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working within the endurance sports, active lifestyle, wellness, outdoor recreation, or event industry - strongly preferred.
- Experience with event-based sales, expo/exhibitor programs, or sports property partnerships - strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of or passion for the multisport, triathlon, or endurance sports industry – preferred.
Responsibilities
- Proactively build and manage a deep, multi-tiered sales pipeline.
- Conduct outbound outreach daily via calls, email, and in-person engagement.
- Lead outreach and relationship development efforts targeting endemic brands and businesses within the triathlon, endurance sports, outdoor recreation, health and wellness, nutrition, recovery, coaching, training, and active lifestyle sectors.
- Build tailored sponsorship proposals and presentations that clearly articulate USA Triathlon's value proposition, audience reach, and activation potential to prospective partners at every investment level.
- Own the full partnership sales cycle for endemic sponsorships, exhibitor relationships, and event-based partnership opportunities — from prospecting and outreach through proposal development, negotiation, and execution.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all sales activity, pipeline status, and partner communications in Salesforce.
- Generate pipeline and forecasting reports as needed to support leadership visibility and revenue planning.
- Manage and grow exhibitor and vendor relationships connected to USA Triathlon National Championships, Endurance Exchange, and other owned events, with an emphasis on long-term industry engagement and retention.
- Serve as a relationship ambassador within the multisport industry by building trust with brands, vendors, coaches, race directors, and community stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the Senior Director and cross-functional teams — including Partnership Fulfilment, Marketing, Communications, High Performance, Constituent Relations, and Foundation — to align/develop new sellable assets and integrated partnership opportunities.
- Collaborate with the external Sales Agency to contribute to annual asset valuation reviews and support the development of tiered partnership packages that reflect current market value.
- Assist with renewal strategy and coordination for existing partners, including identifying growth and expansion opportunities within the current portfolio.
- Potential to oversee interns or temporary staff, including onboarding and workflow management.
Benefits
- Performance-Based Bonus Opportunity of up to 20% bonus for hitting performance metrics.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
