Sports Sales Director

Job Summary

The Sports Sales Director will lead and manage the sales department within OKC Sports, a division of Visit OKC underneath the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Work will include the oversight of all sports business recruitment for the Oklahoma City market spanning events with an international, national, collegiate, and youth/amateur scope with the goal of providing significant economic impact to the community.

• Works with local key venues, area hotels, and other citywide stakeholders to identify and pursue appropriate events, often of a championship caliber. This individual serves as a liaison between clients and these essential stakeholders.
• Oversight and management of department goals, both team and individual, to include generated room night targets, sales pipeline, and prospect site visits
• Manages all booking reports, bid presentations, CRM input and site inspections conducted by the department
• Attends trade shows, sales missions, networking meetings and local partner meetings to strategically identify and solicit major sporting events to Oklahoma City
• Provides ongoing training and development to enhance the sports sales team's skills and capabilities
• Sets clear performance expectations, conducts regular performance reviews, and implements strategies to optimize team productivity
• Position requires a professional, diplomatic demeanor and exceptional relationship building skills. Position deals with a variety of personalities and situations and will heavily consist of interpersonal communication on a daily basis
• Extensive knowledge of the collegiate, professional & international sports markets, as well as youth events sanctioned by national governing bodies, to assist with intentional recruitment of events that will increase visitation, economic impact, and public recognition for the Oklahoma City community
• Public speaking and sales presentation skills. This position will be publicly presenting on a frequent basis to clients and community stakeholders
• Leads the preparation and presentation of competitive bids to nationally recognized organizations in an effort to book events; when appropriate provide local businesses with bid materials and organizational resources to pursue similar business
• Regularly meets with local hotel leadership, local organizing committees (LOCs) and industry partners to discuss future opportunities
• Works with marketing team to develop and coordinate strategic opportunities for amplification of OKC Sports brand
• Supports events onsite when needed, including tasks related to event management and operations
• Must be willing and able to work some evenings, weekends and/or holidays based on client and office demands

• Four-year degree from an academic institution in a related field. Master's degree in related field is preferred but not required.
• Five years of experience with a sports commission, local organizing committee, national governing body or related special event field.
• Experience booking, planning, and operationally executing, championship sporting events. Preference given to candidates with experience working with NCAA Championships and national governing bodies, or comparable clients.
• Experience in the hospitality industry, with an understanding of hotel contracts, facility negotiations and vendor relations.
• Strong written and oral communications skills; experience presenting to a Board of Directors, internal leadership teams, or community stakeholder executives.
• Preference given to candidates with experience in leadership positions that require managing a team.
• Able and willingness to travel on behalf of OKC Sports.