Sponsorship Marketing Lead – Connecticut

M&T Bank; Wethersfield (CT); On-site; USD 99,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank in Hartford, CT is seeking a Sponsorship Marketing Lead to manage and activate the Connecticut sponsorship portfolio, focusing on U Conn, Hartford Athletic, and Quinnipiac University. You will be the day-to-day relationship manager, ensuring assets are executed in line with brand and business objectives while coordinating across teams and partners.

This role emphasizes partnership management, activation planning, and operational delivery within the Brand Marketing team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5-7 years of experience in sponsorships, sports marketing, partnership marketing, events, brand marketing, experiential marketing, or related discipline.
• Strong project management and execution skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Experience working across matrixed organizations and influencing stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as day-to-day relationship lead for Connecticut sponsorship partners including University of Connecticut, Hartford Athletic, and Quinnipiac University.
• Develop and execute annual activation plans for Connecticut sponsorships.
• Oversee partner communications, planning sessions, contract obligations, asset tracking, and annual reviews.
• Ensure sponsorship benefits are delivered accurately and fully utilized.
• Track sponsorship performance against KPIs and maintain scorecards and budget tracking.
• Coordinate sponsorship activation across signage, communications, launches, experiences, and asset utilization.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Job description

Position Overview

The Sponsorship Marketing Lead is responsible for managing and activating M&T Bank's Connecticut sponsorship portfolio, with primary responsibility for the University of Connecticut partnership, Hartford Athletic, Quinnipiac University, and future Connecticut-based sponsorship investments. The role serves as the day-to-day relationship manager for key partners while ensuring sponsorship assets are executed effectively and aligned with brand, business, community, employee, and client engagement objectives.

The Sponsorship Marketing Lead is responsible for managing and activating M&T Bank's Connecticut sponsorship portfolio, with primary responsibility for the University of Connecticut partnership, Hartford Athletic, Quinnipiac University, and future Connecticut-based sponsorship investments. The role serves as the day-to-day relationship manager for key partners while ensuring sponsorship assets are executed effectively and aligned with brand, business, community, employee, and client engagement objectives.

This role is focused on partnership management, activation planning, execution, stakeholder coordination, and operational delivery. Individual contributor within the Brand Marketing team, this person has subject matter expertise pertaining to partnership and sponsorship marketing. While the position contributes to sponsorship recommendations and market insights, overall sponsorship strategy, portfolio decisions, budget governance, and enterprise planning remain the responsibility of Sponsorship Marketing leadership.

Primary Responsibilities

Partnership & Relationship Management

• Serve as day-to-day relationship lead for Connecticut sponsorship partners, including University of Connecticut, Hartford Athletic, Quinnipiac University, and other regional properties.
• Manage partner communications, planning sessions, contract obligations, asset tracking, and annual review processes.
• Ensure sponsorship benefits are delivered accurately and fully utilized.

Sponsorship Activation & Execution

• Develop and execute annual activation plans for Connecticut sponsorships.
• Manage event logistics and on-site execution for sponsorship programs.
• Ensure all partnership assets are activated according to contractual agreements.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with brand and growth marketing, community markets, regional leadership, and communications to maximize sponsorship value.
• Facilitate internal planning meetings and stakeholder engagement related to Connecticut partnerships.
• Coordinate agency, vendor, and partner resources supporting sponsorship activation.

UConn Sponsorship Leadership

• Lead day-to-day management of the UConn relationship.
• Coordinate sponsorship implementation activities across signage, communications, launch planning, experiences, and asset utilization.
• Act as primary liaison with UConn Athletics and university stakeholders.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Track sponsorship performance against established KPIs.
• Maintain sponsorship scorecards, asset utilization reports, activation recaps, and budget tracking.
• Provide recommendations to improve activation effectiveness and partner value.
• Support renewal evaluations and annual business reviews.

Market Development

• Monitor the Connecticut sponsorship landscape and identify emerging opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with community, sports, education, and business organizations throughout Connecticut.
• Provide market insights and recommendations to Sponsorship Marketing leadership regarding future sponsorship opportunities.

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5-7 years of experience in sponsorships, sports marketing, partnership marketing, events, brand marketing, experiential marketing, or related discipline.
• Experience managing external partners, agencies, and stakeholder relationships.
• Strong project management and execution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Experience working across matrixed organizations and influencing stakeholders.

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $98,500.00 - $164,100.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America