Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships – Los Angeles

Association of Pickleball Players; Los Angeles (CA); Remote; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports association is seeking an Executive Director to join their Strategic Partnerships team. This full-time position requires extensive experience in sponsorship and media sales, with a focus on generating significant revenue. The ideal candidate will possess a strong client network in Los Angeles and a proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure deals. This role includes a competitive salary and various benefits.

Benefits

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Parental leave benefits

Sales target bonuses

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.
• Experience managing, training, and mentoring junior-level staff.

Responsibilities

• Generate revenue for the APP through sponsorship and media agreements.
• Mentor and grow a diverse and talented team.
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Sponsorship sales

Hospitality sales

Media sales

Client relationship management

Consultative selling

Team management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Job description

Background

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

Type: Full-time, permanent position

Division: Strategic Partnerships

Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer

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 2025 APP Tour slate boasts 19 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 2025 Tour schedule here: https://www.theapp.global/tour

The Position

The APP is seeking to add a smart and driven Executive Director to its Strategic Partnerships 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 San Diego in 2026, and Los Angeles in 2027 and beyond. The right candidate will have proven success in a combination of sponsorship sales, hospitality sales, naming rights sales, ticket sales, and 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 Los Angeles 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 reflects Intersport’s performance-based culture and commits him/herself and team to the highest standards for all agency 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 nationally

Team Management

• Apply a genuine eagerness to mentor, grow, and learn from a diverse and talented team
• Play a lead role to hire, and ultimately train select team members with responsibility for goal setting, feedback, and constructive guidance
• Projected team will consist of:
• Manager, Strategic Partnerships (sponsorship and hospitality sales)
• Coordinator, Partnership Marketing (sponsor management/servicing)

Salary and Benefits

The targeted salary range for this position is $125,000 to $175,000 and includes sales target bonuses.

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

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 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
• Current key relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers at clients and agencies nationally, regionally and locally.
• Ability to develop new relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers
• Must be located in the Los Angeles marketplace
• Must have an strong client-direct/agency network of sponsorship marketing decision-makers in the Los Angeles 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

The APP is an Equal Opportunity Employer