Partnerships Manager

Forsyth Barnes; North Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Forsyth Barnes is partnering with a leading professional sports organization to appoint a Partnership Manager. You will own a portfolio of partners, acting as the day-to-day lead to deliver high-value service and commercial outcomes.

This role requires proactive management of contracts, assets and KPIs, with travel to events and close collaboration across activation, sales and operations. You will identify opportunities to maximize partner value, maintain strong stakeholder relationships and

Qualifications

• Experience managing client, partner, sponsor or strategic accounts in a relationship-led environment.
• Experience in sports, sponsorship, media, entertainment or similar sectors.
• Strong understanding of contracts, rights, deliverables and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day relationship with a portfolio of key partners.
• Serve as a trusted contact, building strong relationships with partner stakeholders.
• Manage partner communications, meetings, agendas, follow-ups, reporting and ongoing account requirements.
• Maintain understanding of contractual obligations, KPIs, assets and partner deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to improve partner experience and ensure assets are utilized.
• Collaborate with activation and operations teams to deliver against commitments.
• Coordinate across teams to address partner requests quickly and effectively.
• Attend partner events, game days and hospitality opportunities.
• Travel to meet partners and represent the organization at external events.
• Escalate challenges and own problem resolution.

Skills

Account management

Partnerships

Stakeholder management

Contract awareness

Job description

Brief Overview:

We are partnering with a leading professional sports organisation to appoint a Partnership Manager. This is an opportunity for someone who genuinely enjoys working with partners, building relationships and being at the heart of the sports industry. The successful candidate will take ownership of a portfolio of partners, acting as the day-to-day lead and ensuring each relationship receives a high level of service, communication and commercial attention.

This is not simply an administrative account-management position. You will be expected to understand your partners' objectives, stay close to their contractual commitments and proactively identify ways to ensure they are receiving maximum value from their relationship with the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Own the day-to-day relationship with a portfolio of key partners.


• Serve as a trusted point of contact, building strong and lasting relationships with partner stakeholders.


• Manage partner communications, meetings, agendas, follow-ups, reporting and ongoing account requirements.


• Maintain a strong understanding of contractual obligations, KPIs, assets and partner deliverables.


• Proactively identify opportunities to improve the partner experience and ensure contractual assets are being fully utilized.


• Work closely with internal activation and operational teams to deliver against partner commitments.


• Coordinate across teams to ensure partner requests and opportunities are addressed quickly and effectively.


• Attend partner events, game days, hospitality opportunities and other key moments where your presence can strengthen the relationship.


• Travel to meet partners and represent the organization at external events when required.


• Escalate challenges appropriately while taking ownership of solving problems rather than simply passing them along.


• Work closely with senior leadership on larger relationship, strategic or commercial matters.


• Help create a more integrated approach between partnership management, sales and activation across the organization.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Experience managing client, partner, sponsor or strategic accounts, ideally within sports, sponsorship, media, entertainment, experiential or a similar relationship-led environment.


• Experience working within professional sports, collegiate athletics or sports agencies.


• Strong understanding of how commercial partnerships work, including contracts, rights, deliverables, KPIs, assets and partner obligations.


• Ability to identify underutilized assets or opportunities and work internally to activate them.


• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, priorities, and client relationships simultaneously.