Senior Account Executive, Sponsorship Sales

Remote

THE RUNDOWN

Playfly Sports is seeking a highly motivated Account Executive, NCAA Championship Sponsorship Sales to join our team and drive local sponsorship revenue across NCAA Championship Events.

In partnership with the General Manager and NCAA stakeholders, the Account Executive will be responsible for identifying, prospecting, pitching, negotiating, and closing local and regional businesses that align with NCAA Championship Events taking place within designated markets across the country.

This role will focus on selling local sponsorship rights and integrated marketing opportunities surrounding NCAA Championship Events, including on-site activations, hospitality, fan engagement, championship branding, digital and social integrations, promotional opportunities, and other approved local marketing assets.

The ideal candidate is a high-energy, consultative seller who can uncover business objectives, develop creative partnership solutions, build relationships with local decision-makers, and consistently convert prospects into new and renewing sponsorship revenue.

The Account Executive will also play an important role in ensuring sponsors receive a best-in-class experience before, during, and after the championship.

WHAT YOU’LL ACCOMPLISH

• Drive New Sponsorship Revenue:

o Assist in developing a proactive sales strategy to achieve and exceed individual and team revenue targets

o Build and manage a robust pipeline of prospective local and regional sponsors within assigned NCAA Championship Event markets.

o Research and identify businesses, organizations, and brands with a strong connection to championship markets, attendees, fans, student-athletes, institutions, and local communities.

o Conduct high-volume prospecting through phone, email, networking, referrals, in-person meetings, LinkedIn, local business organizations, and other business-development channels.

o Develop relationships with business owners, marketing leaders, CMOs, agency contacts, and other key decision-makers.

o Lead the full sales process from prospect identification and discovery through proposal, negotiation, contracting, and close.

o Consistently achieve or exceed assigned revenue, activity, pipeline, and renewal goals.

• Sell NCAA Championship Partnerships:

o Develop a deep understanding of the NCAA Championship Events, audiences, venues, markets, and available local sponsorship rights.

o Translate NCAA Championship assets into compelling business solutions based on each prospect's marketing and business objectives.

o Create customized sponsorship proposals, sales presentations, activation concepts, and partnership packages.

o Sell integrated opportunities across available assets, including:

• Championship and event branding
• On-site signage and visibility
• Fan and attendee engagement
• Hospitality and ticket opportunities
• Digital and social media
• Sampling and product integration
• Experiential activations
• Promotional opportunities
• Content and storytelling

o Identify opportunities to increase the value of partnerships through customized activations and incremental revenue opportunities.

• Manage Client Relationships & Renewals

o Build long-term relationships with sponsors and serve as a trusted strategic partner throughout the sponsorship lifecycle.

o Develop and execute renewal strategies designed to retain existing partners and increase account value.

o Maintain regular communication with clients to understand objectives, measure performance, and identify opportunities for expansion.

o Coordinate with internal teams to ensure contractual assets and sponsor commitments are delivered accurately and on time.

o Support sponsor activation and fulfillment before, during, and after NCAA Championship Events.

o Attend select championship events to support sponsors, activations, hospitality, and client relationships.

• Market Development

o Become a local-market expert within assigned championship DMAs and understand the competitive sponsorship landscape.

o Identify key industries, companies, decision-makers, and business trends that could create partnership opportunities.

o Build relationships with chambers of commerce, tourism organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, local businesses, community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

o Leverage local market intelligence and NCAA audience insights to develop compelling sponsorship opportunities.

o Stay current on trends across sports marketing, experiential marketing, collegiate athletics, media, and sponsorship.

• Collaboration & Execution

o Partner closely with the General Manager, NCAA stakeholders, activation/operations teams, creative teams, and other Playfly personnel to develop and execute partnerships.

o Maintain accurate and up-to-date prospecting, pipeline, forecasting, activity, and account information within the company's CRM.

o Provide regular sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and market intelligence to leadership.

o Collaborate on sales strategy, prospect prioritization, pricing, proposals, and negotiations.

o Represent Playfly Sports and the NCAA in a professional, ethical, and brand-appropriate manner.

o Ensure all sponsorship proposals, activations, and client deliverables comply with NCAA and Playfly guidelines.

o Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3-6 years of sales experience required; preferably in sponsorship, advertising, media, sports, experiential marketing, hospitality, or related industries.
• Demonstrated success achieving or exceeding sales quotas or revenue goals.
• Proven ability to prospect, develop relationships, negotiate, and close new business.
• Strong presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop relationships with business owners and senior-level marketing decision-makers.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple prospects, proposals, clients, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and other sales technology.
• Willingness to travel and work select evenings, weekends, and championship events as required.
• Passionate about sports, sponsorship and marketing within the college sports and athletics industry

TRAVEL, LIFTING, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk-up stairs
• Be available to travel for client presentations
• Must be able to work nights and weekends around sporting events

COMPENSATION

Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor.

The base pay range for this role is:

$80,000 - $85,000 USD

WHAT WE DO

Playfly Sports is the full-service, leading sports marketing and media company that enables brands to engage with sports fans on a local, regional, and national level through scaled linear, digital, and experiential assets.

Playfly Sports drives outcome-based solutions into 90-million households via more than 7,800 live U.S. broadcasts of MLB, NBA, and NHL games; and influences sports fans of all ages through the management of college and high school multimedia rights, uniform branding, and high-profile sports sponsorship platforms.

Playfly Sports has the unique ability to partner, innovate, and advance the aspirations of athletes, brands, academic institutions, and sports fans across the U.S. Playfly Sports is Powered by Partnership. Visit Playfly Sports online at playfly.com

WHAT WE STAND FOR

At Playfly, we know that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company is a more innovative and successful one, but more importantly, we believe it’s just the right thing to do. Through conversations, company initiatives, community events and partnerships, policy changes, data analysis, workshops, and support groups, we are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

We are here for the long haul and to do the meaningful work that creates true institutional change within our workplace, with our partners, and in the communities we serve.

EEOC & DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Playfly Sports affirms that inequality is detrimental to our associates, our clients, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to impact lasting change through our actions. Together, we unite for equality and equity.

Playfly Sports is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic, including race, color, genetic information, creed, national origin, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lawful alien status, ancestry, age, marital status, or protected veteran status and will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of a disability.

We support an inclusive workplace where associates excel based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Playfly Sports is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals, and as part of this commitment, Playfly Sports will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact recruiting@playfly.com.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this role at this time

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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