Senior Account Executive, Sponsorship Sales (NCAA) [REMOTE]

About this role

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…