Storrs Central is the official NIL Marketing Partner of UConn Athletics.
Job Description
As the Manager of Athlete Partnerships at Storrs Central, this role is responsible for business development efforts around UConn Athletics. You will be driving revenue by securing partnerships, leveraging UConn Athletics' teams, student-athletes, and owned events. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment and is both a self-starter and team player. The person is detail-oriented, organized, thorough, and possesses strong written and oral communication skills. Previous experience across partnerships at an agency, professional sports team, league, or collegiate athletics is a plus.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct partnership development meetings with prospective clients through both relationship leveraging and strategic outreach
- Create new business pitch presentations and draft partnership proposals
- Regular reporting to leadership regarding partnership pipeline
- Regular attendance at internal meetings to support company-wide collaboration on new initiatives
- Cultivate long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with key decision-makers in organizations
- Develop strategies to enhance partner engagement and maximize revenue generation
- Work cross-functionally with all departments to create comprehensive packages for sponsors, while ensuring a high level of internal communication relative to sales activities and internal approvals
- Maintain and grow a robust pipeline of new partnership prospects
- Negotiate, close, and execute partnership agreements in collaboration with leadership
Skills/Qualifications:
- Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree
- 1-3 years of experience in partnerships, sponsorships, business development, or related field.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Suite, particularly with PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
- Up-to-date knowledge of the sports and entertainment industry, particularly within the collegiate sports space and NIL.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills - a collaborative style and ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
- The ability to multi-task and self-manage to meet deadlines and handle multiple priorities.
- Self-starter; carries out responsibilities with minimal direction.
- Demonstrates excellent follow-through on information and project status.
- Proactive and accountable; creative analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Upbeat temperament, dynamic personality and highly team-oriented approach to work and ability to work independently and autonomously.
- Resourceful, focused and goal oriented. Strong tenacity to overcome challenges/objections and seek new ideas.
- Sponsorship sales experience with a demonstrable track record of sourcing new business and opening doors.
- Proven track record of successful client relationships and strategic account management/engagement.
- Experience at an agency, sports team, league, or university setting
- Experience initiating and driving partnerships with limited hands-on guidance.
- Track record of leveraging referrals, developing leads and securing meetings with prospective partners through research and cold outreach.
- Experience in presenting partnership opportunities to and engagement of senior and c-level executives and targeted companies and brands.
- A thorough understanding of the end-to-end sales process and the customer buying process.
- Working knowledge of closing deals including negotiation of commercial terms and working alongside the legal team to negotiate and conclude contractual agreements.
Compensation:
- The annual base salary for this position is in the range of $50,000 - $65,000 + commissions. This position also is eligible for benefits and a discretionary bonus.
Travel:
- Occasional travel for meetings, partnership activation, and attending games at UConn