Business Development Manager - University of Rhode Island

LEARFIELD; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

HSA

Life Insurance

Flexible PTO

Parental Leave

Paid Holidays

401(k) + Match

Short/Long Term Disability

Job summary

Learfield is seeking a motivated sponsorship sales professional to drive revenue growth through renewals and new business with university partners.

You’ll manage existing relationships, prospect a new pipeline, and execute partner deliverables across digital, social, broadcast, and experiential platforms, collaborating with internal teams to ensure campaign success.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of sales experience with a focus on building and maintaining client relationships.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with a customer-first approach.
• Comfort navigating CRM systems and working within a performance-driven sales environment.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for game days and events.

Responsibilities

• Meet and/or exceed assigned revenue goals by developing and selling integrated sponsorship packages.
• Manage a defined book of business, including full sales cycle ownership for renewals and new business deals.
• Build, present, and negotiate proposals across digital, social, broadcast, in-venue, and experiential platforms.
• Develop relationships with local, regional, and national partners to highlight the value of collegiate sponsorships.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, corporate sponsors and internal stakeholders—serving as a trusted and respected representative of both Learfield and the university.
• Collaborate with internal teams to execute partner deliverables in alignment with contract terms and brand standards.
• Maintain accurate records of sales activity and pipeline progress in CRM systems.
• Support the development of year-end recaps and participate in renewal planning discussions.
• Attend and contribute to game day operations and client hospitality events, including occasional nights and weekends.
• Stay informed on industry trends and best practices, brand activations, digital marketing tools, and emerging sponsorship platforms.

Skills

Sales experience

Customer focus

CRM proficiency

Time management

Presentation skills

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

We’re seeking a motivated and relationship-driven sales professional to join our growing sponsorship team. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are excited to contribute to revenue growth through both renewals and new business, this could be the next step in your career.

In this role, you’ll manage existing client relationships and drive growth by actively building a new business pipeline. You’ll be responsible for the execution of partner agreements, from prospecting through renewal, and will collaborate with both internal teams and university stakeholders to deliver impactful campaigns that align with partner goals.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Meet and/or exceed assigned revenue goals by developing and selling integrated sponsorship packages

• Manage a defined book of business, including full sales cycle ownership for renewals and new business deals

• Build, present, and negotiate proposals across digital, social, broadcast, in-venue, and experiential platforms

• Develop relationships with local, regional, and national partners to highlight the value of collegiate sponsorships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, corporate sponsors and internal stakeholders—serving as a trusted and respected representative of both Learfield and the university.

• Collaborate with internal teams to execute partner deliverables in alignment with contract terms and brand standards

• Maintain accurate records of sales activity and pipeline progress in CRM systems

• Support the development of year-end recaps and participate in renewal planning discussions

• Attend and contribute to game day operations and client hospitality events, including occasional nights and weekends

• Stay informed on industry trends and best practices, brand activations, digital marketing tools, and emerging sponsorship platforms

• Perform other related duties as required

Minimum Qualifications:

• 4+ years of sales experience with a focus on building and maintaining client relationships

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet/exceed sales goals

• Strong communication and presentation skills with a customer-first approach

• Comfort navigating CRM systems and working within a performance-driven sales environment

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for game days and events

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in sports sponsorship or media sales (radio, signage, social, digital, etc.)

• Familiarity with marketing solutions that include digital and experiential assets

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university

Learfield offers a full spectrum of benefits for eligible employees including Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance and Other Insurance Plans, Flexible Paid Time Off (minimum 10+ days annually), including Parental Leave, 20 Paid Holidays, 401(k) + Match, and Short/Long Term Disability. Leave benefits are consistent with state and local laws, including the Colorado Health Families and Workplaces Act.

Learfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.