TITLE: Director, Partnership Marketing

POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Exempt

COMPANY: Sharks Sports and Entertainment, LLC (SSE)

LOCATION: San Jose, CA

REPORTS TO: Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships

POSTING DATED: 10/25/2024

Pay Range: The pay range for this role is $125,000 - $145,000 per year

Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Position Overview

The Director, Partnership Marketing is responsible for delivering industry-leading value to partners and protecting/growing SSE overall revenue. This role leads a functional group which deeply understands and supports the marketing objectives of our partners, safeguards and grows revenue through renewals and upsells, and acts as Team Teal brand ambassadors in helping deliver the end-to-end experience to our partners. The Director, Partnership Marketing must be adept at collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners to create mutually beneficial marketing initiatives. The core mindsets for this role includes creative storytelling (think like an agency), detailed-oriented dedication to excellence, and a relentless pursuit of value creation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Employee Development

Build and inspire a group of creative storytellers that celebrates collaboration and innovative thinking to make a business difference for each partner.
Share clear expectations on performance and plans for success. Hold employees accountable as needed. Provide regular coaching and individual development plans, as needed.
Ensuring that all group members have a strong sense of purpose and understanding of Team Teal overall strategy, the partner organization strategy, and their specific role in accomplishing both.
Foster a collaborative culture internally and with other Team Teal stakeholders.

Strategy & Planning

Develop strategy for partnership marketing including but not limited to, upsells and renewals, major partner touchpoints, internal collaboration, comp plans etc.
Identify and track key performance indicators, reporting monthly to stakeholders.
Lead budget forecasting, reporting, and approvals for partnership marketing.

Relationship Management

Create and maintain strong relationships with key partners, especially at the executive level, ensuring alignment and collaboration on marketing initiatives.
Develop strategy for touchpoint program to gain access to key stakeholders at partner events and hosting opportunities. Produce scalable storytelling materials for presentation.
Understand the specific business of each partner and identify ways to deliver on objectives.
Identify and handle important issues; adapt to changing plans and strategies; find solutions when conflicts arise.
Drive awareness of our partners across Team Teal.

Revenue Generation

Develop ways to create new value for current partners, renewing and extending those relationships early, and growing investment from our current partners.
Ensure partner visibility across all Team Teal (multiple teams, venues, non-hockey assets), not just core Sharks Partnership.
Maximize partnership renewals and upsell active base to compensate for non-renewals.
Develop and review proposals and packages that create favorable business outcomes.

Campaign Execution

Lead the planning and execution of co-marketing campaigns, ensuring timely delivery and performance tracking.
Collaborate with creative teams to develop compelling marketing materials and messaging and scalable solutions for execution.
Continually reimagine the status quo and build and execute breakthrough partnerships.
Along with PM group, maintain a strong presence at home games, and travel as necessary for relationship building, value delivery, etc.

Performance Analysis

Monitor, analyze, and report on partnership performance metrics and ROI.
Utilize data-driven insights to refine strategies and optimize future initiatives.

Market Research

Stay informed about industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging partnership opportunities, and evangelize best practices inside Team Teal.
Conduct regular assessments of partnership effectiveness and recommend improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field
10+ years of progressively increasing responsible experience in partnership marketing, business development, or related roles. Management experience is required.
Proven track record of successfully managing strategic partnerships and marketing campaigns.
Commitment to a vision of service excellence, making us the preferred partner of our partners.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive decision-making.
Familiarity with standard value tracking and measurement tools
Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel, knowledge of KORE or similar CRM platform
Excellent communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit, stand and utilize a computer for extended periods of time
Communicate via phone and email with a variety of individuals
Ability to bend at the waist, reach overhead and lift up to 15 lbs with or without accommodation
Physically navigate stairs and catwalks at SSE facilities during normal work hours and events with or without accommodation
Ability to work extended hours for events including nights, weekends, holidays (all with advance notice)
On-site at SAP Center location. May be required to travel to other company locations
May be required to attend conference, events, and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.

What We Offer

Competitive compensation (base salary and variable incentive plan)
Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts (all LGBTQ+ friendly)
Pretax Transportation Benefit
401K (pre-tax and Roth options)
Generous Paid Time Off Policy
Minimum of 10 Paid Holidays and Wellness Days per year
Complimentary or discounted sports and concert tickets
Other League & partner discounts
Central office location in downtown San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley; convenient access to Caltrain, VTA, major freeways and free parking
An inclusive culture which values diversity of background and a passion to improve our SSE’s commitment to change with impact on our community and industry
Potential for flexible scheduling and telework opportunities
Free access to on-site Volta EV charging stations on non-event days

This position is not eligible for U.S. work authorization sponsorship.

Summary:

Born in 1991, Sharks Sports and Entertainment (“SSE”) has grown into a multi-faceted organization that includes the SAP Center, the NHL San Jose Sharks, the AHL San Jose Barracuda, the Tech CU Arena, three Sharks Ice facilities, and the non-profit Sharks Foundation. Additionally, we are growing our organization through expansion in the Bay Area and surrounding communities in Northern California.

We work and play in the Bay Area, and are deeply influenced by the technology, innovation, diversity, and commitment to excellence that surrounds us.Our culture is transforming to reflect those values, with an eye towards a pioneering, forward-thinking, and inclusive environment in sports and entertainment.

We live, work, and innovate by a set of Pioneering Principles:

T – Team success is more important than individual success

E – Exceptional experience is non-negotiable in everything we do

A – Appreciate others for their diversity and opinions

M – More risk leads to more rewards and expands our comfort zones

T – Trust that all teammates have the best intentions

E – Empower all teammates to make informed decisions

A – Always say what you really mean and do what you say

L – Lead by showing the respect to others you expect from them

We strive to unite people through a shared love of ice sports, entertainment, and our hometown. We are #TealTogether.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

Here at Team Teal, we recognize and celebrate that individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent well beyond any list of required skills and qualifications – in fact, we believe diversity of backgrounds and skills, combined with passion, are the most important keys to meaningful innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to ourpositions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sharks Sports and Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), physical or mental disability, military service or veterans’ status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

Notice to Recruiters and Agencies

SSE recruits candidates directly, rather than through third-party recruiters or agencies. Under no circumstances will SSE pay a fee for candidates submitted or presented without a signed recruiting agreement in place between SSE and the recruiter or agency prior to the submittal; any submittal must be for requisition specifically and individually assigned in writing by SSE’s HR department. In the case of candidate(s) submitted or presented to SSE by a recruiter or agency without a signed agreement AND written assignment by SSE Human Resources, SSE explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) with no financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.