Director, Business Development

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Incentives

Job summary

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, seeks an accomplished Director of Sales to drive new business across UFC and WWE partnerships. The role demands closing multi-year, seven-figure contracts with Fortune 500 brands, leveraging deep sports sponsorship knowledge and executive-level relationship skills.

You will lead deal cycles, forge agency connections, and advance brand partnerships at scale. The position is based in a dynamic sports and entertainment environment, with the flexibility to operate

Qualifications

• 10+ years of revenue development experience in sales.
• Proven track record closing six- and seven-figure deals with Fortune 500 brands and/or senior agency decision makers.
• Deep understanding of the sports sponsorship and media landscape.
• Hunter mentality paired with a relationship-builder's instincts.
• Strong consultative selling skills with the ability to build custom solutions.
• Robust analytical capability and value-based selling.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a robust pipeline of qualified brand and agency prospects large enough to meet — and beat — your financial goals.
• Drive new business revenue through the sale of UFC and WWE media, sponsorship, and integrated partnership assets.
• Translate client marketing objectives into tailored UFC and WWE partnership solutions with clear value propositions.
• Guide clients from initial pitch through contract close, onboarding, and long-term strategic account growth.
• Host clients and prospects at UFC and WWE live events, creating immersive brand experiences that deepen relationships.
• Explore co-sell structures with TKO's media distribution partners.
• Accurately forecast revenue, proactively identify risks, and bring solutions — not just problems.
• Contribute ideas that elevate the broader team's performance and reinforce TKO Global Partnerships.

Skills

Revenue development

Sponsorship sales

Consultative selling

Relationship building

Deal closing

Negotiation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Who We Are:

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

The Role and What You’ll Do:

TKO Global Partnerships is looking for a driven, relationship-first sales executive to join one of the most dynamic commercial teams in sports and entertainment. As a Director of Sales, you will own new business development across UFC and/or WWE — two of the most recognized and emotionally powerful properties on the planet — delivering partnership and sponsorship solutions that create genuine value for brands, their agencies, and their customers. This is a role for a closer who thrives in a consultative environment, builds trust quickly at the executive level, and knows how to turn a first conversation into a multi-year, seven-figure partnership. You will be on the front lines of revenue generation for TKO, prospecting aggressively, presenting compellingly, and delivering results that consistently exceed targets.

• Build and manage a robust pipeline of qualified brand and agency prospects large enough to meet — and beat — your financial goals
• Drive new business revenue through the sale of UFC and WWE media, sponsorship, and integrated partnership assets
• Leverage deep knowledge of and relationships across the brand and agency landscape to identify and accelerate revenue opportunities
• Understand client marketing objectives inside and out, and translate those needs into tailored UFC and WWE partnership solutions with clear, compelling value propositions
• Guide clients from initial pitch through contract close, onboarding, and long-term strategic account growth
• Host clients and prospects at UFC and WWE live events, creating immersive brand experiences that deepen relationships and accelerate deal cycles
• Explore creative packaging and upsell opportunities, including co-sell structures with TKO's media distribution partners
• Accurately forecast revenue, proactively identify risks, and bring solutions — not just problems
• Contribute ideas that elevate the broader team's performance and reinforce TKO Global Partnerships as the premier destination for brand investment in sports and entertainment

You Have These:

• 10+ years of revenue development experience with a focus on partnership and sponsorship sales, ideally in sports, media, or entertainment
• Proven track record closing six- and seven-figure deals with Fortune 500 brands and/or senior agency decision makers
• Deep understanding of the sports sponsorship and media landscape — the players, the trends, the terminology, and the deals that matter
• A hunter's mentality paired with a relationship-builder's instincts — you're equally comfortable cold-opening a C-suite conversation and deepening a decade-long partnership
• Strong consultative selling skills with the ability to build custom solutions, not just pitch off a rate card
• Robust analytical capability, including market strategy development and value-based selling
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — you present with authority and follow up with precision
• Highly organized with sharp attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously
• Advanced negotiation skills and the confidence to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder deals
• Motivated by a rewarding, performance-based compensation structure
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by the live event calendar
• Ability to be based in or work across New York City and Stamford, CT
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to support client and prospect engagement
• Bachelor's degree required

Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the hourly rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.

Hiring Rate Minimum: $123,750 annually(minimum will not fall below the applicable State/local minimum salary thresholds) Hiring Rate Maximum: $165,000 annually

WWE is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment. WWE makes employment decisions based on merit and qualifications, without considering an employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under federal, state or local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. WWE also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state or local laws. For information about Privacy and Information Security for WWE employment candidates, please review our Candidate Privacy Policy. For information regarding Terms and Conditions for this and other WWE websites, please review our Terms and Conditions.

WWE® is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to all premium live events, a variety of original programming and a massive video-on-demand library. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.