Commercial Partnerships Development Manager - Portland Trail Blazers

Become a part of the team behind the team.

As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court. 

We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City!

As our Commercial Partnerships Development Manager, you’ll be a vital seller within our Partnerships team, responsible for driving revenue growth through face-to-face sales appointments with local, regional and national businesses. You will collaborate closely with Commercial Partnership teammates in Activation and Strategy as well as in departments across the organization like marketing, ticket sales, operations, finance, business solutions, and others to add new partnerships and grow existing corporate partnerships.

We’re looking for someone with experience in partnership sales and a passion for building and maintaining client relationships. Our ideal candidate is adept at negotiation and communication and possesses strong active listening skills. If you’re an effective cross-departmental collaborator who is excited to drive success and strengthen relationships with our partners, we want to hear from you! 

DAY-TO-DAY: 

• Responsible for building and maintaining a robust list of corporate relationships.
• Prospect, pitch, and close new sponsorship deals.
• Research and identify potential corporate partners who align with our brand and values.
• Develop and lead compelling sales presentations with partners and internal stakeholders.
• Create advertising packages across the TBI portfolio to drive revenue and achieve client objectives
• Collaborate with the Activation team to ensure exceptional service and satisfaction that will support ways to grow and upsell the clients.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including ticketing, marketing, operations, community, DEI, marketing, innovation and events, to deliver on partnership commitments
• Attend games and other events to entertain clients and build corporate relationships.
• Ensure activity is consistently updated in KORE CRM to provide regular updates on pipeline generation, account updates, and relevant partner interactions.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Sales, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in sales, business development, partnership sales, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain client relationships
• Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong work ethic in an organization that values productivity.
• A growth mindset, along with a positive demeanor and strong work ethic
• Ability to work well in a team environment and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues across the company.
• Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office suite.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and travel as required.

WE’D BE THRILLED IF YOU ALSO HAVE:

• Demonstrated success in partnership sales in the sports or entertainment industry
• Strong understanding of television and radio media sales
• Experience in evolving activation and fan engagement assets into partnership packages.
• Thorough understanding of digital and social marketing.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Rip City, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful results of an individual background check. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and review results on an individual basis.

The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter embraces diversity and inclusion. We celebrate individual expression and uniqueness on our campus. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We are committed to hiring individuals that reflect the community we serve without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

PERKS: 

We invest in our employees inside and outside of work. Our benefits package for full-time teammates includes:

• Target Salary: $90,000 annually + commission
• Competitive Healthcare Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Maternal & Parental Leave
• Flexible Time Off (3 weeks + 11 holidays)
• Wellness Perks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free Parking + Discounted Mass Transit Passes
• Discounted & Complimentary Tickets
• Ongoing Learning & Development
• Daily Free Lunch