Manager of Corporate Partnerships

Country Music Foundation Inc; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

401K

Employee Assistance Program

Free Museum Admission

Downtown Parking & Transit Benefits

Volunteering Opportunities

Dog Friendly Work Environment

Job summary

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville seeks a Manager of Corporate Partnerships to lead sponsorships for exhibits, programs and events. You will cultivate relationships with corporations, craft proposals, close contracts, and activate benefits across departments.

With at least five years in sponsorship or development and a Bachelor’s degree, you will manage a 250-strong partner portfolio, collaborate with marketing and events, and drive revenue growth in a fast-paced cultural

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least five years of sponsorship/development experience.
• Experience with marketing and philanthropy-based corporate partnerships.
• Proven ability to secure high-value corporate partnership agreements.
• Proven ability to create and implement innovative partnership activations.
• Ability to manage a portfolio and pipeline of 250 corporate partners/prospects.

Responsibilities

• Steward and close corporate sponsorship contracts for exhibits and programs.
• Develop revenue pipelines and sponsor activations.
• Collaborate with marketing, events, and other departments to deliver sponsor elements.
• Maintain Tessitura records of partner communications.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Database skills

Team collaboration

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Tessitura

Job description

Description

Manager of Corporate Partnerships

FLSA Classification: Full-Time; Exempt

Company Overview

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important artifacts. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that documents and interprets the history of country music. The Museum collects objects and archival materials that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions.

First opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched its current downtown location in 2001. In 2014, the Museum unveiled a $100 million expansion that doubled its footprint. The Museum now encompasses 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space. The Museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and many others recorded. In addition, the Museum offers the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families, and dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and Ford Theater, both of which regularly host nationally recognized live music and cultural events.

In 2024, the Museum was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden. The medal is the highest award given to artists and arts institutions by the United States government. The White House Citation, which accompanied the medal, recognized the Museum’s work, which “preserves history, honors giants of the genre, and inspires future generations to write their own songs about the American story.”

What We Offer for Full-Time Staff

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
• Competitive Pay
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Paid Holidays (14) and Floating Holidays (2)
• 401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness
• FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
• Continuing Professional Offerings
• Complimentary Museum Admission (For Yourself, Family, and Friends)
• Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
• Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
• Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
• Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
• FSA and Dependent Care Options
• Dog Friendly Work Environment
• Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

Divisional Overview

The Development Division oversees all philanthropy on behalf of the Museum, which includes Museum membership; annual, major, and planned giving; special events, which range from exhibition opening receptions to All for the Hall fundraisers hosted by Keith Urban, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris; as well as foundation, corporate and government giving programs. We also steward relationships with Country Music Hall of Fame members; the broader music community; elected officials; local, state, and national arts organizations; and Museum donors. We are constant advocates for the arts on local and national levels, and we publish strategic communications on the Museum’s behalf, such as the annual report. Our goal is to provide excellent stewardship to all who make gifts of time, talent, and treasure to the mission in support of our mission-focused work.

Position Overview

The Manager of Corporate Partnerships oversees corporate sponsorship investments in the Museum, both cash and in‑kind, to support exhibits, public programs, special events, and general operations, including the Museum’s Troubadour program for young professionals. This staff member works closely with the Director of Institutional Giving to identify and cultivate corporate relationships; create and present mutually beneficial sponsorship proposals; close sponsorship contracts; activate sponsor benefits in a timely manner; report sponsor outcomes to the partner and Museum leadership; and broadly steward corporate relationships with the museum. They also facilitate the contributions of the Troubadour Advisory Council, providing structure and organization to this volunteer leadership group. They are also responsible for the budgeting and internal administration of this scope of work. This is a fully on‑site position.

Specific Job Duties

• Steward existing corporate partnerships and contracts.
• Steward and retain the Museum’s Troubadour membership base and recruit new members.
• Prospect, research, and close new cash and in‑kind sponsorship contracts in support of:
• Museum exhibits
• Public programs, such as Songwriter Sessions and Musician Spotlight
• Youth and family programs in the Museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center and out in the community
• Membership, such as the Troubadour program for young professionals and Big Gig member appreciation concert
• Special events, such as All for the Hall fundraisers and exhibit opening receptions.
• Establish and manage annual revenue and expense budgets to meet goals for Troubadour membership.
• Solicit and recruit Troubadour Corporate Partners and Sponsors in support of Nightfall at the Hall and the overall Troubadour program alongside the Troubadour Advisory Council’s fundraising efforts.
• Build, develop, and track robust new revenue pipelines and present to the Director of Institutional Giving.
• Develop and articulate high‑value partnership and sales opportunities through the creation of sales presentation decks, client experience demonstrations, and the structuring of deal terms.
• Collaborate with Museum marketing, sales, creative, public relations, events, and other departments as necessary, to ensure clients’ sponsorship elements are implemented in a timely manner and value is delivered.
• Meet with corporations to present partnership opportunities and follow up with activation concepts that align with their partnership objectives.
• Act as an advocate in the public community and within the Museum to promote the mission of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Record Keeping

• Work closely with Development colleagues to ensure all corporate partner communications and gifts are tracked in the Tessitura database.

General Development Department Functions

• Attend weekly Development Department meetings.
• Attend weekly meetings with the Director of Institutional Giving.
• Attend bi‑weekly Corporate Partnership team meetings.
• Attend and provide support for some after‑hours events.

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least five years of progressively responsible sponsorship/development experience, successfully planning, cultivating, and securing sponsorships from corporations
• Experience with marketing and philanthropy‑based corporate partnerships
• Proven ability to secure high‑value corporate partnership agreements
• Proven ability to create and implement innovative partnership activations
• Ability to manage a portfolio and pipeline of 250 corporate partners/prospects

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of country music
• Experience with Tessitura or Ticketure arts and cultural technology
• Ability to work in PowerPoint or like programs to create sponsorship decks

Key Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent aptitude at working with and managing others effectively, including staff, volunteers, committees, and senior staff, involving them, as appropriate, in the cultivation and solicitation process
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and able to handle sensitive information with confidentiality
• Database skill
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with and interact with a broad spectrum of personalities and diverse populations
• Ability to resolve conflicts and respond to inquiries in an appropriate and efficient manner on behalf of the museum
• Ability to work as team member in fast‑paced environment, high‑volume department

Notes to Applicant

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We respect the varied attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person unique. The museum promotes an environment of respect, communication, and understanding, while actively providing opportunities for all employees of all backgrounds the skills, experience, and information necessary to succeed. The museum does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or characteristics, age, membership in an employee organization, military or veteran status, or other non‑merit factor. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We are a drug‑free workplace and an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all qualified candidates to apply for open positions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its staff and visitors. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and employment verification, including federally mandated E‑Verify processes, as required for position.