Brand Alliance - Sr Manager, Partnership Development

Orlando City SC; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Orlando City SC is seeking a Sr. Manager of Partnership Development to drive sponsorship revenue across Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride, and Inter&Co Stadium.

You will build relationships with local, regional, and national brands, craft integrated sponsorship programs, and manage negotiations through to contract execution. The role requires a strategic storyteller with a proven B2B sales track record, strong relationship skills, and the ability to work non-traditional hours including game days

Qualifications

• 3+ years of demonstrated success in sports sponsorship, partnership, or new business development.
• Proven track record of high-level B2B selling and deal construction with local, regional, and national brands.
• Strategic storyteller that can craft sophisticated deals beyond basic turnkey assets.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and communicate with C-Level executives.
• Data-driven sales mindset to leverage BI insights when prospecting and selling new partners.
• Must be passionate about sales, energetic, and self-motivated.
• Knowledge of Salesforce and sales tools to follow SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Prospect and close new corporate sponsorships/partnerships for Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride and Inter&Co Stadium.
• Establish strong working relationships with local, regional, and national companies to understand marketing goals.
• Accountable for achieving KPI’s and revenue goals on a yearly basis.
• Identify key categories and new industries as prospective leads.
• Generate qualified leads via research, outbound calls, meetings, events, and social selling.
• Develop unique proposals and sales presentations for new prospects.
• Negotiate and work through contract execution with leadership and Legal.

Skills

Partnership sales

Relationship building

Strategic storytelling

Sponsorship packages

Negotiation

CRM & pipeline management

Tools

Salesforce

LinkedIn Sales Navigator

SponsorUnited

Digideck

Job description

Title

Sr. Manager, Partnership Development

Department

Brand Alliances

Reports To

Director, Partnership Development

FLSA

Full-Time; Exempt

What Sets You Apart

You are an experienced partnership sales professional who builds relationships and is a strategic storyteller who can build fully integrated partnership programs that include assets across the portfolio such as IP rights, in-game signage and entitlements, social & digital content, hospitality, and other unique platforms.

You are driven by results and generating new business revenue with local, regional, and national companies through the sale of comprehensive sponsorship packages of the Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL), and Inter&Co Stadium assets.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Prospect and close new corporate sponsorships/partnerships for Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride and Inter&Co Stadium.
• Establish strong working relationships with local, regional, and national companies to understand individual marketing and business goals and initiatives.
• Accountable for achieving KPI’s and revenue goals on a yearly basis.
• Identify key open categories and new industries as prospective new business leads.
• Generate qualified leads by self-prospecting via research, outbound calls, face-to-face meetings, in-game entertaining, business and community networking events, and social selling.
• Develop unique and customized proposals and sales presentations for new business prospects.
• Negotiate and work with the Director of Business Development, VP of Brand Alliances, and Legal Department through execution of partnership contract.
• Continually manage and update individual sales pipeline through CRM platform to provide accurate, reliable information for sales and renewal forecasting for executive leadership.
• Work alongside Brand Alliance Marketing team to ensure proper fulfillment of partnership contract.
• Collaborate with internal departments such as Marketing, Digital, Creative, Merchandise, Public Relations, and Ticket Sales to effectively and efficiently create new partnership assets that drive revenue and are mutually beneficial to the partner and our club.
• Work game days, weekends, and special events to assist with any activations (as assigned) and entertain existing partners and new business prospects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

It’s never just a job at Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride. It’s a way of life. We live and breathe soccer and entertainment. We believe each role is as unique as the person who does it. To join our team, you will also possess these qualifications:

• 3+ years of demonstrated success in sports sponsorship, partnership, or new business development required.
• Proven track record of high-level B2B selling and deal construction with local, regional, and national brands.
• Strategic storyteller that can craft sophisticated deals beyond basic turnkey assets.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and communicate with all internal and external clients, especially C-Level executives.
• Demonstrated professional sales presentation creation and delivery skills.
• Data-driven sales mindset to efficiently leverage insights from the Business Intelligence team when prospecting and selling new partners
• Must be passionate about sales, exhibit high energy, and be self-motivated.
• Knowledge or ability to learn various sales tools such as Salesforce, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, SponsorUnited, and Digideck to follow all department and company standard operating procedures.
• Ability to work well on a team and independently.
• Professional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, weekends, holidays, and game days.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to offsite client meetings/presentations and networking events.
• Experience in the Florida marketplace preferred but not required.
• The ability to pass a background screening.
• The ability to attain and maintain Safesport certification.
• Spanish or Portuguese is a plus but not required.

About Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride

In November 2013, Orlando City Soccer Club was awarded a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, becoming the league’s 21st franchise. The team began play in March 2015, with 62,510 fans packing the then-Orlando Citrus Bowl for the Club’s MLS debut.

The Lions have reached the postseason in five-consecutive seasons (2020-24), qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup (formerly Concacaf Champions League) in both 2023 and 2024, and reached their first final in 2020 during the MLS is Back Tournament. In 2022, Orlando City won its first championship of its MLS era, lifting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy, which also marked the first championship by any professional team in the City Beautiful. Prior to its time in MLS, Orlando City boasted a decorated history in the United Soccer League, winning the league’s championship in both the 2011 and 2013 seasons.

In October 2015, the Orlando Pride was announced as the 10th team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), bringing professional women’s soccer to the state of Florida for the first time. The team began play in April 2016, setting a then-league single-game attendance record in its first‑ever home game, with 23,403 fans witnessing the Club’s first win.

The Pride feature a star‑studded roster of domestic and international talent and, in 2024, brought the first professional major league title to the city of Orlando, with the Club winning the NWSL Championship. The season saw the Pride complete the double, winning both the Championship and the NWSL Shield as the best team in the regular season, capping off a historic campaign that set numerous league records. Former Orlando City defender Seb Hines serves as the team’s head coach, not only the first Black head coach in the league, but also the first to win both the Championship and the NWSL Shield, and the 2024 NWSL Coach of the Year.

In 2017, both teams moved into its privately‑owned, soccer‑specific venue – Inter&Co Stadium – located in the heart of downtown Orlando.

In July 2021, the Club – which includes Orlando City SC, the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B (MLS NEXT Pro) and Inter&Co Stadium – was purchased by the Wilf Family, who also own the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

For more information on Orlando City SC and Orlando, visit OrlandoCitySC.com or Orlando-Pride.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Orlando City and Orlando Pride will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application or interview process and perform critical job functions. Please contact the People and Culture department at [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.