Executive Director

This position has been filled - Job#: 453384605

Job Summary

Essential Functions (Duties & Responsibilities): 

Research

• Research and qualify leads (companies/people) and set up face-to-face appointments in pursuit of new business (usually spearheading 2-3 meetings before final proposal)
• Brainstorm creative leads in new categories capitalizing on changes in sports industry, team, fan preferences, what other NBA teams are doing, etc.

Sales

• Work cross-functionally with all departments to create comprehensive packages for sponsors, while ensuring a high level of internal communication relative to sales activities
• Understand partner brands and their competitors to develop solution-based platforms to help amplify partners' brands, enable them to break through the clutter and achieve their marketing objectives
• Provide new, innovative marketing ideas to assist in the advancement of sales efforts or upselling renewals
• Leverage games and other events to demonstrate the full-range of sponsorship potential to warm leads
• Creatively capture business and maintain accurate reporting regarding sales, forecasting, and account maintenance

Activation & Servicing

• Manage client relationships and drive renewals for future marketing programs (e.g. understand clients’ business priorities, timelines, and budgets to adapt past proposals and drive increased revenue)
• Represent the at games and promotional events
• Management
• Lead, direct, and partner with the Coordinator(s), Corporate Partnerships to prepare complete sponsorship proposals
• Coach the Coordinator(s), Corporate Partnerships on partner brands in portfolio to better understand new brand strategies and changing budgets/ priorities to pitch strongest proposal

Education (required/ preferred): 

• Bachelor’s Degree (Business Administration or Marketing, preferred)Previous experience: 
• A minimum of five (5) years work experience in corporate partnership sales
• A proven track record of sales success (including cold calls and environments with high rates of rejection)
• A minimum of one (1) year managing a team
• Past experience making impactful presentations to senior executives
• A good reputation within the sports industry, in LA and nationally

Technology Capabilities: 

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PPT essential)
• LinkedIn (Sales Navigator)
• The List
• The Sports Business Journal (Resource Guide)
• Yahoo Finance, and other online lead generation tools. 
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop preferred. 

Knowledge, skills, abilities:

• Strong Interpersonal skills (high EQ)
• Excellent people management skills
• Excellent presentation skills (must be client-ready)
• Creative problem solver who is able to connect today’s trends with Lakers inventory and differentiate new sponsors from existing sponsors
• Strong networking skills within the corporate community and the ability to develop lasting relationships
• Strong client relationship management (CRM) skills and exceptional responsiveness 
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership
• Strong negotiation and sales tactics 
• Proven ability to meet ambitious deadlines and quotas
• Proven ability to navigate office politics and create internal buy-in around new ideas
• Proven track record of prioritization, organization, and the ability to multi-task