Marketing Manager, Sponsorships & Partnerships

WestJet; Calgary; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian airline in Calgary is seeking a Marketing Manager, Sponsorships & Partnerships to lead sponsorship strategies and manage a talented team. This role demands a strong background in sponsorship marketing and experience in activating partnerships. The ideal candidate will excel in building relationships and driving brand effectiveness through successful activations. Offering a blend of creativity and strategic oversight, this position is an opportunity to significantly impact partnership activation and guest experiences.

Benefits

Travel privileges for you and your family

Flexible savings and benefit programs

Collaborative work culture

Qualifications

• 10+ years in sponsorship marketing, sports marketing, partnerships, or brand roles.
• Proven experience activating large-scale sponsorships and partnerships.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing high-performance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead activation strategy for sponsorships and strategic partnerships.
• Translate partnership assets into integrated plans for business value.
• Develop integrated 360° activation plans across various mediums.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication

Project management

Creative problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree in Marketing, Communications, Commerce, or a related field

Job description

Employment Type: Full-time Temp Contract 6+Mos

City: Calgary, AB (YYC)

Posting Open Date: 11/25/2025

Posting Close Date: 12/09/2025 (Please note the posting will close at 11:59pm MST)

Why WestJet

Every WestJet journey has the potential to enrich lives; a career with us is no exception.

WestJet arrived on the Canadian airline scene in 1996 and changed the industry for the better. We made air travel more affordable for Canadians and now we're going global.

Join us, this is where your career story takes off

Please note: This position can be based out of Calgary, Alberta or Toronto Ontario.

Overview of role

As Marketing Manager, Sponsorships & Partnerships, you’ll lead how WestJet shows up across some of the most exciting brand, sports, and loyalty partnerships in the country. Reporting to the Director, Marketing and managing a team, you’ll drive the activation strategy for our portfolio, turning rights and relationships into meaningful guest experiences, memorable moments, and measurable business impact.

You’ll steward the marketing efforts for major partners like the Toronto Blue Jays, CFL teams across Canada, the Canadian Premier League, Northern Super League and key loyalty partners such as TELUS, Skip, and Canadian Tire. Your work will amplify brand reach, enhance brand favourability, unlock storytelling opportunities, and deliver against partnership goals, all while showcasing our distinctive WestJet spirit.

About You

• You’re a relationship-builder who excels at working across teams and with external partners.
• You know how to take a sponsorship from contract to activation and love finding creative ways to elevate the guest and fan experience leveraging our relationships.
• You balance strategy with strong execution, bringing discipline and imagination to every project.
• You stay calm, collaborative, and solutions-oriented in fast-moving environments.
• You’re tuned into sports, culture, and what gets fans talking, and you know how brands can show up meaningfully.
• You’re a confident communicator who can brief teams, align stakeholders, and present with clarity.
• You take ownership, anticipate what’s needed next, and follow through to make great work happen.

What You’ll Do

Lead Partnership & Sponsorship Strategy

• Lead the activation strategy for WestJet’s sponsorships and strategic partnerships to amplify reach, enhance brand favourability, unlock compelling storytelling opportunities, and deliver against partnership objectives.
• Translate partnership assets into integrated plans that maximize business value, fan engagement, and brand impact.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with partner organizations and internal stakeholders across Marketing, Creative, Social, Communications, and Commercial.

Bring Partnerships to Life Through Standout Activations

• Lead planning and execution across sport, loyalty, and brand partnerships, from concept to launch.
• Develop integrated 360° activation plans spanning social, digital, content, in‑stadium, experiential, and earned opportunities.
• Create fan‑favourite, culturally relevant moments that bring WestJet’s fun, welcoming personality to life.

Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team

• Manage, coach, and support a team of 3 specialists, helping them grow, stretch, and do their best work.
• Set clear priorities, remove roadblocks, and foster a collaborative, energizing team culture.

Drive Performance & Operational Excellence

• Establish KPIs, measure performance, and use insights to optimize campaigns and long-term partnership strategy.
• Manage budgets with care and creativity, ensuring investments deliver clear value.
• Represent Sponsorships within cross‑functional planning processes to ensure alignment and integration across the broader Marketing organization.

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Marketing, Communications, Commerce, or a related field
• 10+ years in sponsorship marketing, sports marketing, partnerships, or brand roles.
• Proven experience activating large-scale sponsorships and partnerships, ideally within sports or fan‑centric environments.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing people and building collaborative, high‑performance teams.
• Exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to align and influence across internal teams and partner organizations.
• Ability to translate strategy into impactful, multi‑channel activation programs.
• Strong project management capabilities, organized, detail‑oriented, and able to juggle multiple priorities.
• Data‑informed mindset with experience measuring performance and using insights to guide decision‑making.
• Creative problem‑solver with strong execution discipline.
• Agency experience is considered a strong asset.
• Flexibility to travel as required.

The benefits of being a WestJetter

WestJet provides all WestJetters with a competitive total rewards package. On top of that, we offer:

• A fun and friendly culture with colleagues who work together to win
• Travel privileges for you and your family, effective from your start date
• Savings and Benefit programs that are flexible to meet your specific needs

Think we are a fit? Apply now

About WestJet Group Of Companies

WestJet took to the skies in 1996 with just over 200 employees and three aircraft operating service to five destinations. Since then, WestJet has pioneered low‑cost travel in Canada, cutting airfares in half, and increasing the flying population in Canada by more than 50 per cent. Following integration with Sunwing in 2025, more than 14,000 WestJetters support nearly 200 aircraft and connect guests to more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

As a major Canadian employer that includes WestJet Airlines, Sunwing Vacations Group and WestJet Cargo, the WestJet Group is Canada’s leading low‑cost airline and largest vacation provider, with a united purpose of providing affordable and accessible air and vacation travel to Canadians.

Our Safety Promise

At WestJet, the safety and security of our people and our guests is a core value and at the heart of what we do. As safety and security is a shared responsibility, it is expected that you will use safe work practices to ensure your well‑being and the safety of others. WestJet recognizes that the use of Alcohol and Drugs can adversely impact a safe work environment and the well‑being of others including guests, suppliers and the public, as well as place WestJet's operations at risk. All roles that are identified as safety sensitive are required to pass a Pre‑Employment Alcohol and Drug Test as per WestJet's Alcohol and Drug Policy.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We embrace what makes us each unique, and what makes us uniquely WestJet. WestJet is committed to inclusiveness, equity, and accessibility and if you require accommodation during the selection process, please let our Talent Acquisition team know at [e-mail]. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. WestJet welcomes unique skills, experiences, and backgrounds - if you’re passionate and excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification in the posting. We are committed to inclusivity, equity, and accessibility in the selection process. If you require an accommodation during the recruiting process, please let our Talent Acquisition team know.

We thank all applicants for their interest in WestJet; however, only those candidates who are selected will be contacted.

For more information about everything WestJet, please visit WestJet.com