VP Partner Management & Activation – Team Lead
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports) is a leading professional sports company, with a collection of assets that includes the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL), as well as two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also operates a professional sports team performance center – the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, NY. More information is available at www.msgsports.com.
Who are we hiring?
The Vice President will lead a world-class team that is responsible for overseeing sponsorship, marketing and media relationships with partners, with an emphasis on revenue management. Responsibilities include contractual delivery, brand strategy, account management, activation, new business development and renewal sales processes. This role must demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and the ability to strategically grow business relationships with external partners and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will implement MSG’s commercial partnerships strategy while cultivating relationships to bring value and profitability.
What will you do?
- Build strong relationships with key account decision makers to ensure strategic alignment, inclusive of C-suite, brand leads, sponsorship, marketing, media and agencies through hosting at games, attending partner led industry events while keeping consistent communication
- Deliver top and bottom line revenue through asset creation/placement, program development and cost management
- Lead upsell strategy and renewal efforts for each partner driving incremental value for both the partners and MSGE and MSGS
- Oversee a team delivering activation strategy, tactics and programming for partners, including management of creative, internal stakeholder engagement, sell-in and onsite delivery
- Effectively lead and grow an account team, promoting an inclusive culture and creating defined developmental paths
- Lead contractual process with legal & finance on the creation of new contracts, amendments and/or formalized email approvals for all new agreements
- Review all contract terms for new business and renewals to ensure assets can be fulfilled and align with MSGS/MSGE on partnership strategy
- Oversee the team that coordinates with cross-functional business units for overall sponsorship fulfillment and event execution, including specific events, hospitality, promotion fulfillment, execution of signage commitments and planning sessions.
What do you need to succeed?
- Minimum 15+ years senior-level, marketing partnerships, agency, media, or brand background.
- First mover / disruptor mindset. You love to think outside the box.
- Knowledge of sports, music, media and entertainment marketing platforms.
- Ability to lead a team securing incremental new business revenue and retaining existing clients.
- Experience leading high value contract negotiations and management of P&L’s.
- Excellence in pitching, negotiating, and closing annual marketing partnership deals.
- Proven ability to influence others in the organization without direct reporting structure.
- Developer of talent with the ability to recruit, manage, motivate and retain top-notch talent in all areas
- Superior organizational skills, incredibly strong written and verbal communication skills
#LI-ONSITE
At MSG, we recognize the importance of upskilling employees’ talents and strengths so they can drive their careers forward. We are proud to offer a robust set of tools and resources to help employees understand their interests and purpose, harness their talents and obtain the skills they need to reach the next step in their careers. Growth and longevity for our employees are top priorities here.
We value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! MSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, MSG complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.