ABOUT US:

The Lions, much like the city and community they represent, are built on a blue-collar work ethic that values hustle and conviction.

Ford Field, the home of the Lions since 2002 in the heart of Detroit, is part of a vibrant sports and entertainment district featuring all four major professional sports franchises. Ford Field is also home to a dedicated and passionate multi-generational fan base reflective of the innovation, creativity and drive synonymous with Detroit.

Under the leadership of Sheila Hamp, the great granddaughter of Henry Ford, the Lions have ushered in an era of rebirth focused on creating an inclusive and equitable experience for employees, partners and fans. Building off the rich and diverse history of the city, the Lions embrace transparency and value contribution from all areas of the organization. We believe in the power of a pride, and acknowledge winning together takes understanding, acceptance, and teamwork. We believe in our “we” culture and are committed to building a new tradition that Detroit and Michigan can be proud of.

One Pride. For All.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Corporate Partnerships Sales Director will be responsible for sales interactions and strategies to acquire, develop, and retain corporate sponsors, advertisers, and partners to generate new and sustain existing revenue streams that support the Detroit Lions’ business objectives. The candidate will work with various departments to build assets and programs with an analytical approach to demonstrate the value proposition of a partnership. This role will implement sales presentations to prospects to foster new business acquisition, and revenue optimization objectives. The position will identify new opportunities to strengthen and ensure sustainable growth opportunities. The position will work with the Executive Director of Corporate Partnerships.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (including, but not limited to):
The Corporate Partnerships Sales Director position will have daily responsibilities including, without limitation, the following:

Responsible for creating, developing and selling fully integrated partnerships with local, regional and national clients/markets and establish effective pursuit strategies to secure partnerships.
Identify and collaboratively assess partnership opportunities while establishing new client relationships utilizing various sales strategies, including but not limited to, research, cold calls, site visits, and outside sales calls.
Initiate contracts develop and nurture strategic/mutually beneficial relationships with partners to drive additional revenue generation.
Manage the sustained development and management of partner relationships with a focus on the creation of plans which accomplish strategic objectives and a measurable return on investment.
Work with internal departments to develop and execute programs that support partnership programs and elements.
Execute meetings, calls, and presentations with high-level corporate executives.

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Work in conjunction with Business Strategy & Analytics, Marketing, and all critical departments to develop presentations that include measurable elements.
Research prospect brands and their competitors to identify opportunities and solution-based programs.
Create and manage high-value, fully-integrated advertising and sponsorship packages that are in line with the partner’s marketing objectives.
Participate in the development, ideation, evolution, implementation, and fulfillment of service and activation platform.
Sell NFL Corporate Sponsors and work with NFL Business Development colleagues to maximize partner investment levels.
Fiscal responsibility with departmental budget expenses.
Develop, write and present corporate sponsorship sales proposals to key clients.
In coordination with the Executive Director of Corporate Partnership, create new sales collateral or modify existing collateral as required for both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field.
Work cross-departmentally to develop new sellable marketing, community, NFL initiatives and digital platforms our sales team can use to monetize business opportunities.
Manage client programs as they relate to billing/accounting, promotions/marketing, ticket office, broadcasting, community outreach, etc.
Collaboration with Executive Director of Corporate Partnership with the identification of prospect opportunities.
Maintain weekly reports for personal sales pipeline, revenue achievements, and prospecting.
Incorporate appropriate market research into sponsorship proposals and sales presentations.
Utilize NFL SABR data to maximize category opportunities for the Detroit Lions.
Effectively communicate client expectations and contractual obligations to appropriate internal departments.
Work as a team with Activation Account Managers to provide excellent customer service and to ensure fulfillment of client deliverables with account base.
Work in partnership with assigned Activation Account Manager team to form 1:1 team responsible for revenue generation consistent with expectations for new business, renewals and contracted accounts.
Ability to develop strong, long-term relationships with both clients and co-workers.
Business aptitude to understand and manage client needs and organizational goals to create unique and innovative revenue generating programs.
Gameday responsibilities include activation setup, entertaining clients and fulfilling sponsorship contract obligations.
Conducts business during non-traditional hours, taking advantage of opportunities to interact with clients and prospects during games, events and away game trips.
Event planning and execution for partner-sponsored events or meetings.
Work with NFL sponsorship colleagues to grow and develop partnerships.
Will accept other responsibilities and duties required by the supervisor consistent with the objectives and essential functions of this position. Such responsibilities shall be incorporated into the position description if they are ongoing.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in Business, Communications, Marketing or Management required.
Minimum five years of sponsorship sales experience with a major league professional sports team or high-profile entertainment entity, while working in a competitive sales environment.
Exceptional organizational skills with an ability to handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with proven interpersonal skills.
Ability to exercise sound business judgment generating effective solutions quickly and raising issues to management as necessary.
Team player spirit with an exceptional customer service attitude.
Strong working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Must be able to work flexible hours including some weekends and evenings.
May require work out of both the Ford Field Management Office and the Allen Park Training Facility.
A valid Driver’s License and a good driving record.
Willingness to travel, including weekends.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please submit a copy of your resume along with a cover letter detailing your interest and related experience to the position.

Due to the high volume or resumes received, we regret that we are unable to update candidates on the status of their application. Those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please no phone calls or emails.

Apply for this Job

* Required

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Resume/CV *

Dropbox Google Drive

(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)

Cover Letter

Dropbox Google Drive

(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)

LinkedIn Profile

Are you at least 18 years of age? *

Have you worked for our company prior? *

If you answered yes above, please list the dates:

Do you now, or will you in the future, require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.) to work legally for our Company in the United States? *

Do you have any relatives currently working here?

If you answered yes to the above, please list your relatives names:

If job requires weekends/nights, would you be willing to accept it? *

Please list your earliest start date: *

Are you subject to a non-compete or confidentiality agreement with a previous employers that might affect your ability to accept a job offer? *

Have you ever been convicted of a crime or are there any felony charges pending against you? *A yes response does not automatically disqualify a job application. *

If you answered yes to the above, Please identify all misdemeanors & felony convictions: Please give dates, places, charges and disposition of all convictions, and any other information about convictions you would like the Detroit Lions & Ford Field Management to consider.

How'd you hear about us? *

If you selected Job Board in the previous question, please let us know which one!

Do you have a minimum of five years of sponsorship sales experience with a major league professional sports team or high-profile entertainment entity, while working in a competitive sales environment? *

What is your desired compensation for this position? *

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Detroit Lions’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Gender

Are you Hispanic/Latino?

Please identify your race

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran Status

Form CC-305

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 05/31/2023

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor required by law to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We are also required to measure our progress toward having at least 7% of our workforce be individuals with disabilities. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had a disability. Because a person may become disabled at any time, we ask all of our employees to update their information at least every five years.

Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions. Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self-identified in the past. For more information about this form or the equal employment obligations of federal contractors under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition.

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Autism
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or hard of hearing
Depression or anxiety
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, or irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual disability
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Nervous system condition for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Psychiatric condition, for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or major depression

Disability Status

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Please reach out to our support team via our help center.