COMPANY BACKGROUND

Founded in 1959, the Buffalo Bills are one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills have won the AFC East division title the last four years, as well as won two American Football League (AFL) Championships (1964-1965), and an NFL record four straight AFC Championships (1990-1993) that included four trips to the Super Bowl. Located in Orchard Park, New York, the Bills are proud to be a member of the Western New York community for more than 55 years.

Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills in 2014 and are only the second owners in the team’s history. Terry Pegula rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected leaders in the energy industry, and the Pegula’s are one of the few professional sports owners to operate franchises in multiple sports, also owning the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Bandits (NLL), Rochester Americans (AHL), and Rochester Knighthawks (NLL).

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Partnership Activation is responsible for the strategy and leadership of the partnership activation team, managing the development of best-in-class partnership platforms and sponsorship activation for Buffalo Bills and Highmark Stadium partners. The ideal candidate is a storyteller, creative and commercially aggressive individual who has a desire to create and build world-class partnerships and solutions while maintaining first-class client service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and develop the Partnership activation team in the creation and execution of marketing programs and platforms
Direct the planning and implementation of best-in-class partner activation practices, managing partner programs at Highmark Stadium and as they extend into the community
Assist the Partnership Sales team with new business and renewal presentations and pitch meetings
Act as liaison with Bills Strategy & Analytics Department providing sales team with relevant data to support partner presentations
Work with the Bills Strategy & Analytics Department and external vendors to develop and monitor key partnership valuation metrics and proof of performance
Oversee the annual installation of new partnership signage assets both physical and digital at Highmark Stadium
Supervise the inclusion of partners within the in-game experience including but not limited to scoreboard promotions, game triggers, signage, pre-game presentations, etc.
Develop partner communication plan to drive touchpoints for regular contact throughout the calendar year including mid and end of year recaps
Oversee Partner hospitality assets and specialized ticket programs and access
Partner with other department key stakeholders to improve performance, communication, offerings and shared capabilities
Manage, plan and direct budgets and forecasts for the business development activation team
Direct and manage the business development activation team
Support the VP of Business Development in long-term development efforts and optimization of staffing, including identifying talent
Other duties as assigned and as determined by business needs

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communications skills
Previous experience in managing multiple direct reports
Highly organized with the ability to manage various projects simultaneously
Ability to provide leadership, focus, and organization for the department
Understanding of the sports business landscape and industry trends
Ability to present, interact and influence C-Level decision makers
Expertise in relationship building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively at all levels in the organization
Strong event operations and planning experience
Financial acumen to manage expenses associated with partnership agreements

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree required
8- 10 years of related experience in marketing strategy, sponsorship activation, experiential marketing or hospitality
Proficiency in Microsoft Office required. Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a plus
Ability to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed

Salary will be based on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

THE BUFFALO BILLS ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER