Vice President, Rights Sales

Wasserman; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional Development

Generous Time Off

Parental Leave

Retirement Plan

Healthcare

Ancillary

Commuter Benefits

Job summary

Wasserman in Chicago is seeking a Vice President, Rights Sales to establish and grow the Central region. This role will build the market from the ground up, recruit and lead a high-performing sales team, and directly drive partnerships for sports, entertainment and lifestyle clients.

You will develop strategic plans, manage client portfolios, and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver revenue growth. A proven leadership track and expansive rights network are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years sponsorship sales experience.
• Proven track record selling sports/entertainment sponsorships.
• Experience building a business, market or function with hiring and developing sales teams.
• Strong leadership, coaching and accountability culture.
• Strategic thinker with ability to identify opportunities and craft plans.
• Excellent problem solving, communication and presentation skills.
• Professional demeanor when engaging with internal/external stakeholders.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Salesforce is a plus.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings.

Responsibilities

• Generate sponsorship revenue for clients (sports, entertainment, media & lifestyle).
• Establish and grow Central region Rights Sales presence, building the business, client portfolio and team over time.
• Lead all facets of the sales process including strategy, prospecting, presentations, negotiating, and closing.
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and develop sales talent as the region grows.
• Oversee and maintain relationships with Rights clients.
• Create sales plans to effectively bring to market.
• Partner with broader Rights and account teams to implement client goals.
• Act as a strategic thought partner for negotiations and deal structuring as needed.

Skills

10+ years sponsorship sales experience

Successful sponsorships sales track

Business building & team development

Leadership & coaching

Opportunity identification & strategy

Problem solving & communication

Professionalism with stakeholders

MS Office & PowerPoint proficiency

Salesforce a plus

Travel for client meetings

Job description

THE·TEAM is proud to provide representation and marketing services to talent, brands and properties across 28 countries and more than 70 cities worldwide. As a trusted partner to the world’s most iconic teams, leagues, venues and governing bodies, our rights sales group leverages our unrivaled network and expertise in the industry to build compelling commercial propositions. We broker effective deals between rights-holders and brands, delivering mutual value for both parties.

Shaped by our belief in the unifying power of sports, music and entertainment, THE·TEAM leads with intelligence, ideas and influence. For more information, please visit the.team.

JOB OVERVIEW

We are expanding our Rights business with a Vice President, Rights Sales role responsible for establishing and growing THE·TEAM’s presence in the Central region. As the first dedicated Rights Sales leader in the region, this individual will build the market from the ground up: developing new business, growing a portfolio of Rights Holder clients, and building a high- performing sales team over time as the client base and revenue grow. This role will be a key part of the Rights leadership team, with an emphasis on selling partnerships on behalf of our Rights clients and creating the foundation for long‑term growth in the Central region.

This individual should possess strong sales credentials, a network of brand and rights holder contacts, and knowledge on both the client and agency side. Candidates should have a proven track record of client-facing experience, new business development, and the ability to build and lead teams as a business scales. This is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader with deep knowledge of the sports and entertainment landscape, strong business acumen, and a passion for building a market, developing people, and driving financial results for our Rights clients.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Responsible for generating sponsorship revenue for clients (sports, entertainment, media & lifestyle properties)
• Establish and grow the Central region Rights Sales presence, with responsibility for building the business, client portfolio, and team over time
• Lead all facets of the sales process including strategy development, identifying new and emerging categories, prospect outreach, presentations, negotiating, and closing partnerships
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and develop sales talent as the Central region business grows, creating clear expectations and a strong performance culture
• Oversee and maintain relationships with Rights client(s)
• Create sales plans to effectively bring to market
• Partner with broader Rights and account teams to implement the goals and objectives of each client/property
• Act as a strategic thought partner for internal and external teams and support prospecting, positioning, presentations, negotiations, and deal structuring activities as needed

THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE YOU NEED

• 10+ years sponsorship sales experience
• Successful track history of selling sports and/or entertainment sponsorships
• Demonstrated experience building a business, market, team, or new function, including hiring, managing, and developing sales professionals
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to create accountability and develop talent as a team grows
• Expertise in identifying opportunities and developing strategies
• Exemplary problem solving, communication, and presentation skills
• High degree of poise and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Salesforce capabilities a plus
• Ability to travel for applicable client and prospective sponsor meetings

WHAT WE OFFER

• Professional Development : Take advantage of our learning and development programs, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement support.
• Generous Time Off : Enjoy generous paid time off and holiday allowances to recharge and spend time with loved ones.
• Parental Leave : We provide paid parental leave to support your family during important life events.
• Retirement Plan : 401k plan including contribution matching.
• Healthcare : Medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life and disability coverage options.
• Ancillary : Critical illness, identity protection, pet insurance, 529 plans and more
• Commuter Benefits : Access support for travel and commuting needs, where available

Base salary range: $200,000- $240,000 plus commission.

Actual base salary is dependent on several factors including but not limited to; market dynamics, location and region, experience, specialized skills/training (education), level of responsibility, budgetary considerations, tenure at the company (for current employees), etc. The salary range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Compensation decisions are dependent on circumstances of each role.

THE·TEAM does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.