Offer summary

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required., Minimum of 10 years’ experience in sponsorship, hospitality, and media sales., Proven success in selling six- and seven-figure sponsorship agreements., Strong relationships with sponsorship and media buyers at various levels..

Key responsibilities:

Generate revenue through sponsorship and media agreements.

Lead the APP’s presence and business development in Mesa/Phoenix.

Manage and mentor a team of partnership professionals.

Build and maintain relationships with clients and agencies locally and nationally.

Job description

Background
Location: work-from-home/must be located in the Mesa/Phoenix market
Type: Full-time, permanent position
Division: Strategic Partnerships
Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer

Overview
The Association of Pickleball Players | The APP Tour (APP) is dedicated to providing the best pickleball tournament experience for all. The APP, owned by Intersport, was founded in 2019 and serves professionals, senior professionals, and amateurs in the fastest growing sport in the country. The first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the 2025 APP Tour slate boasts 19 tournament stops, in addition to Signature, International, and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its Next Gen Series and other youth initiatives. You can view the 2025 Tour schedule here: https://www.theapp.global/tour

The Position
The APP is seeking to add a smart and driven Executive Director to its Strategic Partnerships team. The Executive Director will be responsible for generating revenue for the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and will be the leader of the APP’s presence in Mesa/Phoenix. The right candidate will have proven success in a combination of sponsorship sales, hospitality sales, naming rights sales, ticket sales, and Pro-Am sales. Additionally, the ED must have relationships with key clients nationally, regionally and locally and have the ability to create new relationships among buyers, and a strong client-direct/agency network in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace. A candidate must possess a consultative selling approach and be able to detail success in having sold six, and seven-figure sponsorship agreements.

Responsibilities
General

Embody and reflects Intersport’s performance-based culture and commits him/herself and team to the highest standards for all agency work
Work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver executional excellence

Business Development

Prospect, pitch, and close six- and seven-figure sponsorship and media agreements with clients and agencies nationally

Team Management

Apply a genuine eagerness to mentor, grow, and learn from a diverse and talented team
Play a lead role to hire, and ultimately train select team members with responsibility for goal setting, feedback, and constructive guidance
Projected team will consist of:
- Manager, Strategic Partnerships (sponsorship and hospitality sales)
- Coordinator, Partnership Marketing (sponsor management/servicing)

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum of ten (10) years’ full-time experience in sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales
Strong understanding of the sales process with a passion for pitching and closing new business
Ability to detail a history of having sold numerous six- and seven-figure sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales agreements
Current key relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers at clients and agencies nationally, regionally and locally.
Ability to develop new relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers
Must be located in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace
Must have an strong client-direct/agency network of sponsorship marketing decision-makers in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace
Experience managing, training, and mentoring junior-level staff

Exemplary verbal and written communication skills with high-level presentation ability
Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively in an entrepreneurial environment
Proficiency in PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Salary and Benefits
The targeted salary range for this position is $125,000 to $175,000 and includes sales target bonuses.

This position includes medical, dental, vision, parental leave benefits and 401(k) with company match for qualified employees.

The APP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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