LEGENDS

Founded in 2008, Legends is a premium experiences company with more than 1,500 full-time and 30,000 seasonal team members globally. Legends has six divisions operating worldwide - Global Planning, Global Sales, Hospitality, Global Partnerships, Global Merchandise, and Legends IQ - offering clients and partners a 360-degree service solution platform to elevate their brand and execute their vision. Currently, Legends works with marquee clients across business verticals including professional sports; collegiate; attractions; entertainment; and conventions and leisure. We are the industry leaders in designing, planning, and realizing exceptional experiences in sports and entertainment.

NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NDGP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights and branding services for the University of Notre Dame’s Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame's status as one of most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University's mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition

JMI SPORTS

JMI Sports is a multimedia rights partner to intercollegiate athletics programs seeking innovative solutions and superior customer service.  With a focus on integrity and transparency, JMI works as an extension of Notre Dame to maximize the value of all marketing assets, while developing valuable relationships with sponsors, fans, alumni and students through the delivery of the following services: radio and television broadcasts, coaches’ shows and endorsements, website and social media, game programs and publications, in-game production, game day hospitality, special events, corporate partnership programs, sponsorship sales, sponsorship activation, and marketing, venue signage and brand management.  For more information, visit www.JMISports.com

THE ROLE   

The Director, Partnership Development with NDGP will act as a high-level individual sales contributor, helping to identify, source, negotiate and close new business.  They will connect directly with brand decision makers on a regular basis to increase market awareness of new opportunities and solicit new partnership engagements. The ideal candidate possesses a strong passion for sales development and positive enthusiasm for collaboration with teammates. This role will report to the VP, Partnership Development.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Be accountable for annual revenue goals, pipeline management and growth goals.
• Individual contributor yet strategic thinker to drive long-term partner opportunities, while executing against short-term go-to-market sales strategies.
• Self-starter who likes to develop and build partner opportunities from the ground up.
• Leverage network, relationships, and cold outreach to identify potential new partnerships.
• Flexible and nimble to work within an ever-changing and ever-growing environment.
• Create newsworthy innovative partnerships that pioneer new categories, inventory, campaigns/platforms, and/or partner integrations.
• Develop a deep understanding of target partner categories.
• Ability to prospect through extensive company and executive research for strategic market engagement.
• Ability to construct a brand prospect pipeline and creative outreach plan (via targeting and qualifying leads. through calls and referrals) for potential opportunities with regional, national, and international companies.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with prospects and clients from VPs through the C-suite.
• Communicate with external executive staff and stakeholders to coordinate meetings and other touchpoints throughout the sales process.
• Collaborate with internal and external staff to plan, ideate, and develop strategic marketing platforms to present to new prospects.
• Coordinate with NDGP teammates to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of sales process, inclusive of managing and maintaining internal   communication platforms (i.e., CRM).
• Self-motivated with entrepreneurial spirit.
• Possess an optimistic team attitude and competitive desire to be the best.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, the candidate must be able to perform each essential duty above at the highest levels. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• 8+ years of successful corporate sales, premium sales, or brand sponsorship sales experience directly in sponsorship/corporate partnerships.
• Proven track record in closing long-term, six and seven-figure integrated marketing partnerships while reaching/exceeding new revenue goals.
• High-level relationships at large corporations, particularly companies with national and global sponsorship portfolios.
• Experience driving revenue growth with emerging opportunities and established partnerships.
• Demonstrates experience using sales materials and market insights to craft strategy and narrative.
• Storyteller with experience communicating the benefit of marketing opportunities to clients.
• Communication and presentation experience with an emphasis on translating insights, product information, and data into partner value
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills to develop strong working relationships with partners, teammates, and other stakeholders.
• Capacity to meet challenging sales objectives in a high-profile, competitive marketplace.
• Ability to manage a high level of detail across multiple projects and to prioritize efficiently.
• Expertise in identifying opportunities, developing strategies, and negotiating creative solutions.
• Familiarity with digital media marketing and social media platforms.
• Creativity to develop strategic and purpose-driven marketing platforms.
• Experience in building out innovative presentations in PowerPoint and/or other presentation development technologies.
• High emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and desire to grow professionally.
• Ability to prioritize and meet competing deadlines independently.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while remaining organized, efficient, and calm under pressure
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including weekends, holidays, and games.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

LOCATION

Chicago, IL HQ

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid vacation, and 401k plan.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear; use hands and fingers, and handle controls. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand, walk, and stoop. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Legends is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or genetic information.

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