CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Title: Corporate Partnerships Manager 

Department: Corporate Partnerships 

Reports To: Director of Corporate Partnerships 

Supervises People: No

About the Role

The Chicago Bears are seeking a dynamic, innovative, and results-driven sales professional with a passion for building meaningful and lasting partnerships. This individual will play a critical role in driving substantial revenue growth by developing and securing high-impact marketing and media partnerships that span all areas of our business. This role offers the opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio of assets and create customized solutions that deliver measurable value to our partners. As an individual contributor, the Corporate Partnerships Manager will be responsible for the full sales cycle, from prospecting and pitching to negotiating and closing deals. The ideal candidate is an organized, strategic thinker who is a persuasive communicator and thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. They should be passionate about building long-term relationships and delivering innovative solutions that align with both client objectives and the Chicago Bears brand. 

This position is new business revenue-focused and will be held accountable for achieving clearly defined financial targets. We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running and is available to start as soon as possible. This role will be based at the Chicago Bears downtown offices (123 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL) and will require regular travel to client meetings, events, and the Club’s corporate headquarters location in Lake Forest, IL.

Who We Are

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through our values of respect, championship mindset, community, and perseverance. We’re different from other companies, as our vision is to be “one of one”. We strive to be a championship football organization that consistently performs at a level of excellence on and off the field Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource. Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community. 

Responsibilities

New Business Development, Prospecting, & Relationship Management

• Identify and target prospective corporate partners at the local, national, and international levels.
• Initiate cold outreach to secure introductory meetings and pitch opportunities.
• Conduct comprehensive needs analyses to uncover partnership opportunities across all business lines.
• Qualify leads effectively and maintain a robust pipeline of high-potential sales prospects.  
• Establish new corporate partnerships to meet or exceed individual and team revenue targets as set by the Club. 
• Build and nurture strong relationships to ensure satisfaction and long-term engagement. 

Presentations & Contracts

• Develop and deliver fully integrated sales proposals, incorporating IP rights, media, activations, promotions, signage, community engagement, and hospitality assets tailored to client needs.  
• Present proposals confidently to a wide variety of audiences including C-Suite executives. 
• Create and sell comprehensive media packages, including digital, social, radio and television assets. 
• Lead negotiations and finalize partnership agreements, ensuring mutual value and alignment with organizational goals. 

Collaboration, Project Management, & Reporting 

• Leverage insights from the Business Strategy and Analytics team to support data-driven sales strategies and decision-making.  
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of weekly activities and proposal pipelines in CRM.    
• Provide regular sales reports, updates, and prospecting data to the department Director.
• Collaborate effectively across departments including partnership activation, business strategy and analytics, digital, social, accounting, marketing, community relations, ticket operations, etc.  
• Support team marketing events and initiatives. 
• Host current and prospective clients during game days and special events. 
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organization success. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communication, Business, Sports Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant sales experience, with a strong emphasis on sponsorship sales and large-market media.  
• Proven success in selling integrated media packages including digital, radio, television, and social media.
• Deep understanding of media sales, digital platforms and advertising principles.
• Skilled negotiator with the ability to represent the department’s standards and values with professionalism. 
• Excellent time management, organizational and creative problem-solving abilities. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also thriving in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressure setting, with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.   
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to confidently engage a wide range of audiences. 
• Strong relationship-building skills, both internally and externally. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Word and CRM/Microsoft Dynamics 
• Willingness and availability to work non-traditional hours including all home games and select road games, as required. 

What We Offer

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. Our goal is to provide quality support and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our most important resource, our people.  

COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY PAY 

The Corporate Partnerships Manager is a full-time noncontract position. This role has a base salary of $125,000 plus a discretionary sales incentive plan. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and other job-related factors.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Our full-time offerings include but are not limited to: 

• Core Coverage: 100% paid premium for healthcare and dental coverage, affordable vision offerings, 100% paid premium for disability and employee life insurance coverage, paid FMLA (including paid paternity leave) 
• Investments: employer paid pension plan, 401K with matching  
• Flexible Work Location: Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent) 
• Time to Recharge: Minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 5 paid sick/mental health days, 4 paid floating holidays, 2 paid days to volunteer, 2 paid days to volunteer, plus 10 paid holidays
• Experiences: complimentary home game tickets & parking, ability to buy tickets to away games and fan events 
• Gear: yearly Bears gear package plus 50% off at the Bears Pro Shop 
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit, complimentary Calm app access 
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, Service Milestones, and more 
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, leadership programming, guest speakers, mentorship, and more  

Additional information on employee benefits can be found by visiting www.ChicagoBears.com/jobs.  

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture. The Chicago Bears seek to attract, retain and develop top talent, regardless of personal characteristics, and we invite and encourage all individuals to apply for positions of interest.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.