Director, Partnership Development - New York Liberty

JDS Sports; New York (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401k match at 4%

PTO and holidays

Parental leave after 6 months

Job summary

The New York Liberty are seeking a Director, Partnership Development to lead the full-cycle sponsorship program, from prospecting to closing, in NY. You will develop 360° platforms that align brand objectives with our mission and manage relationships with marketers and agencies.

This role requires 5+ years in partnership/sponsorship or sports sales, a Bachelor’s degree, and strong storytelling via proposals and presentations. Occasional travel and game attendance are expected.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in partnership, sponsorship, media, or sports sales with a proven revenue track record.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Experience developing, pitching, negotiating, and closing integrated sponsorship programs.

Responsibilities

• Own the full partnership sales cycle from prospecting to deal closure.
• Identify and cultivate sponsorship opportunities across local and national markets.
• Develop 360° marketing platforms aligning brand objectives with the Liberty’s mission.

Skills

Partnership sales

Sponsorship sales

CRM / Salesforce

Proposal writing

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Salesforce

Job description

Director, Partnership Development - New York Liberty

The GIST

Sales & Business Development · Full-time

SUMMARYThe New York Liberty are continuing to build an organization that is passionate about redefining women’s sports while furthering the growth of the WNBA and our franchise. The Director, Partnership Development will be responsible for prospecting, pursuing, and developing new marketing partnerships for the NY Liberty. This role will contribute to all aspects of corporate partnership development to include prospecting, proposal and presentation writing, negotiation, and special project deliverables. Our ideal candidate will bring unmatched energy, a strong full-cycle partnership sales background, excellent communication skills and a passion for women’s sports.This position reports directly to the VP, Partnership Development of the NY Liberty.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Own the full partnership sales cycle from prospecting and outreach through proposal development, negotiation, contracting, and deal closure.
• Research, identify, and cultivate sponsorship opportunities across local and national markets to build a robust pipeline of qualified prospects.
• Develop innovative partnership concepts and customized 360° marketing platforms that align brand objectives with the New York Liberty's mission and influence.
• Create compelling thought-starters, proposals, and presentations that showcase the power of the Liberty, women's sports, and the New York market.
• Identify, package, and monetize new sponsorship assets, inventory, and entitlement opportunities that support revenue growth and strategic business goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brand marketers, agencies, and key decision-makers to drive both immediate and long-term partnership opportunities.
• Consistently achieve and exceed individual revenue targets while contributing to team and organizational sales objectives.
• Collaborate across Partnership Development, Insights, Marketing, Content, and Operations teams to develop and deliver best-in‑class partnership solutions.
• Maintain accurate pipeline management, forecasting, and sales reporting through Salesforce, providing regular updates on prospect activity and revenue performance.
• Serve as a passionate ambassador for the New York Liberty, helping advance the growth of women's sports through transformational partnerships that create impact for brands, fans, and communities.

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of their position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• 5+ years of partnership, sponsorship, media, or sports sales experience with a proven track record of consistently meeting and exceeding revenue goals.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Sports and Entertainment industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience developing, pitching, negotiating, and closing integrated sponsorship programs across assets including venue signage, digital, social, content, media, and experiential platforms.
• Strong strategic selling and storytelling skills, with experience creating compelling proposals, presentations, sales plans, and partnership concepts that drive business results.
• Passion for women's sports, combined with an entrepreneurial mindset, strong work ethic, and a willingness to go above and beyond to deliver for partners and the organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce (or similar CRM), including pipeline management, forecasting, and sponsorship measurement best practices.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including attendance at New York Liberty games, events, and select evenings/weekends as business needs require.

WHO YOU ARE

Embodies a team-first mentality, collaborating across the organization to elevate teammates, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to a culture of excellence.

Builds trust through authentic communication, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop meaningful relationships both internally and externally.

Approaches challenges with curiosity, accountability, and sound judgment, finding creative solutions while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.

Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to success, balancing multiple priorities with urgency and resilience while consistently going above and beyond for partners, teammates, and the New York Liberty.

COMPENSATION

$115,000 - $130,000 base salary, plus commission eligibility

Full-time employees are eligible for a robust slate of total rewards, including:

• Bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage; HSA and FSA eligibility
• 401k Employer Match at 4%
• Competitive PTO policy & Company Holidays
• Parental leave policy eligible after 6 months of service
• Access to events at Barclays Center, subject to ticket availability
• Free lunch onsite Monday - Thursday; onsite barista bar
• And more!

Works primarily in an office environment but is expected to attend all NY Liberty home games as well as other team events on evenings, weekends and holidays

Travel Requirements: May be required to travel on rare occasions (<5% travel); trips may require air travel and/or overnight stay for one or more nights.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of the Company not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion/creed, gender, gender identity, transgender status, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage, immigration, or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, height and weight, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, credit history, unemployment status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local laws.