Manager of Championship Sales

Description

The Manager of Championship Sales is responsible for driving sponsorship sales and developing partnerships that support the growth of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship and other NAIA championship events.

Success in this role is built on generating revenue, developing relationships, and actively engaging with corporate partners and the Kansas City business community. The ideal candidate excels at identifying sponsorship opportunities, building trust with decision-makers, and converting relationships into long-term revenue partnerships.

This role serves as a key NAIA ambassador, focused on cultivating and expanding sponsorship relationships with local businesses, corporate partners, community leaders, and strategic stakeholders.

• Drive revenue growth through strategic sponsorship sales and partnership development.
• Serve as a visible and engaged representative of the NAIA within the Kansas City business and community landscape.
• Build and maintain long‑term relationships with corporate partners, sponsors, and community stakeholders.
• Develop engagement opportunities that strengthen partner relationships and deepen community connection to the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
• Act as the primary relationship manager for championship partners through consistent communication, follow‑through, and personalized engagement.
• Identify opportunities to connect businesses and organizations with the mission, visibility, and experience of the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship.
• Lead outreach efforts to drive sales and support attendance initiatives throughout the Kansas City market.

• Drive revenue through sport‑specific sponsorship sales and partnership development.
• Collaborate with the NAIA Revenue Generation Team to develop strategic partnership opportunities.
• Create customized sponsorship strategies aligned with partner and organizational goals.
• Identify opportunities to expand partner engagement and increase visibility across NAIA events.

• Maintain CRM records, partner communications, and pipeline tracking.
• Coordinate sponsorship contracts, agreements, and related documentation.
• Prepare partnership and revenue activity reports.
• Support championship event operations and logistics, including travel and weekend responsibilities as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Management, Marketing, Communications, or related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in sales, sponsorship, business development, or revenue generation, preferably in sports or events.
• Proven ability to prospect, build pipelines, and close sponsorship deals.
• Strong communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
• Experience using CRM systems for pipeline and account management.
• Self‑motivated, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Professional presence with the ability to engage clients, partners, and community stakeholders.