Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships – Detroit

Association of Pickleball Players; Detroit (MI); Remote; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Job summary

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) seeks an Executive Director to lead the Detroit presence within Strategic Partnerships – Local Market Revenue. This role drives sponsorship, hospitality and media sales, building and leveraging national and regional client networks.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of six- and seven-figure deals, senior-level relationships, and a consultative selling approach.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales experience.
• Proven ability to close six- and seven-figure sponsorships.
• Strong client-direct/agency network in Detroit sponsorship market.
• Ability to develop relationships with buyers and agencies.
• Exemplary verbal and written communication with high-level presentations.
• Experience mentoring and leading junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Embody APP's performance-based culture and lead by example.
• Prospect, pitch, and close six- and seven-figure sponsorships locally, regionally and nationally.
• Mentor and grow a diverse team; recruit, hire, and train staff; set goals and provide feedback.

Skills

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Tools

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Job description

Location: work-from-home/must be located in the Detroit market

Division: Strategic Partnerships

Reports to: SVP & GM – Local Market Revenue

Overview

The Association of Pickleball Players | The APP Tour (APP) is dedicated to providing the best pickleball tournament experience for all. The APP, owned by Intersport, was founded in 2019 and serves professionals, senior professionals, and amateurs in the fastest growing sport in the country. The first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the 2026 APP Tour slate boasts 12 tournament stops, in addition to Signature, International, and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its Next Gen Series and other youth initiatives. You can view the 2026 Tour schedule here: https://www.theapp.global/tour

The Position

The APP is seeking to add a smart and driven Executive Director (ED) to its Strategic Partnerships – Local Market Revenue team. The Executive Director will be responsible for generating revenue for the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and will be the leader of the APP’s presence in Detroit. The right candidate will have proven success in a combination of sponsorship sales, hospitality sales, naming rights sales, ticket sales, and/or Pro-Am sales. Additionally, the ED must have relationships with key clients nationally, regionally and locally and have the ability to create new relationships among buyers, and a strong client-direct/agency network in the Detroit marketplace. A candidate must possess a consultative selling approach and be able to detail success in having sold six, and seven-figure sponsorship agreements.

Responsibilities

General

• Embody and reflect the APP’s performance-based culture and commits him/herself and team to the highest standards for all work
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver executional excellence

Business Development

• Prospect, pitch, and close six- and seven-figure sponsorship and media agreements with clients and agencies locally, regionally and nationally

Team Management

• Apply a genuine eagerness to mentor, grow, and learn from a diverse and talented team
• Play a lead role to recruit, attract, hire, and ultimately train select team members with responsibility for goal setting, feedback, and constructive guidance
• Potential team will consist of:
• Director, Strategic Partnerships (sponsorship and hospitality sales)
• Manager, Strategic Partnerships (sponsorship and hospitality sales)

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years’ full-time experience in sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales
• Strong understanding of the sales process with a passion for pitching and closing new business
• Ability to detail a history of having sold numerous six- and seven-figure sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales agreements
• Ability to develop new relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers
• Must have a strong client-direct/agency network of sponsorship marketing decision-makers in the Detroit marketplace
• Experience managing, training, and mentoring junior-level staff
• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills with high-level presentation ability
• Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Salary and Benefits

The targeted salary range for this position is $125,000 to $200,000 and includes sales target bonuses.

This position includes medical, dental, vision, parental leave benefits and 401(k) with company match for qualified employees.

The Association of Pickleball Players, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.