Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships - Mesa/Phoenix

Job Description

Job Description

Background
Location: work-from-home/must be located in the Mesa/Phoenix market
Type: Full-time, permanent position
Division: Strategic Partnerships
Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer

Overview
The Association of Pickleball Players | The APP Tour (APP) is dedicated to providing the best pickleball tournament experience for all. The APP, owned by Intersport, was founded in 2019 and serves professionals, senior professionals, and amateurs in the fastest growing sport in the country. The first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the 2025 APP Tour slate boasts 19 tournament stops, in addition to Signature, International, and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its Next Gen Series and other youth initiatives. You can view the 2025 Tour schedule here:

The Position
The APP is seeking to add a smart and driven Executive Director to its Strategic Partnerships team. The Executive Director will be responsible for generating revenue for the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and will be the leader of the APP’s presence in Mesa/Phoenix. The right candidate will have proven success in a combination of sponsorship sales, hospitality sales, naming rights sales, ticket sales, and Pro-Am sales. Additionally, the ED must have relationships with key clients nationally, regionally and locally and have the ability to create new relationships among buyers, and a strong client-direct/agency network in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace. A candidate must possess a consultative selling approach and be able to detail success in having sold six, and seven-figure sponsorship agreements.

Responsibilities
General

• Embody and reflects Intersport’s performance-based culture and commits him/herself and team to the highest standards for all agency work
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver executional excellence

Business Development

• Prospect, pitch, and close six- and seven-figure sponsorship and media agreements with clients and agencies nationally

Team Management

• Apply a genuine eagerness to mentor, grow, and learn from a diverse and talented team
• Play a lead role to hire, and ultimately train select team members with responsibility for goal setting, feedback, and constructive guidance
• Projected team will consist of:
  • Manager, Strategic Partnerships (sponsorship and hospitality sales)
  • Coordinator, Partnership Marketing (sponsor management/servicing)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ full-time experience in sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales
• Strong understanding of the sales process with a passion for pitching and closing new business
• Ability to detail a history of having sold numerous six- and seven-figure sponsorship, hospitality, and/or media sales agreements
• Current key relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers at clients and agencies nationally, regionally and locally.
• Ability to develop new relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers
• Must be located in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace
• Must have an strong client-direct/agency network of sponsorship marketing decision-makers in the Mesa/Phoenix marketplace
• Experience managing, training, and mentoring junior-level staff

• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills with high-level presentation ability
• Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Salary and Benefits
The targeted salary range for this position is $125,000 to $175,000 and includes sales target bonuses.

This position includes medical, dental, vision, parental leave benefits and 401(k) with company match for qualified employees.

The APP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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