Manager, Partnership Management

About the Charlotte Knights:  

The Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, are headed into the 2025 sales season. Since opening Truist Field in the city’s booming Uptown in what has been recognized as the “Best Minor League Ballpark” in the country, the Knights have led Minor League Baseball in attendance four times and are among the leaders in overall revenue generation. The Knights organization is looking for a driven self-starter to join our partnership sales team and help us take our success to another level. Situated in the 15th largest city and one of the fastest growing markets in the United States, and with new untapped business primed for potential partnerships, the opportunity for organizational and personal growth is substantial.

Position Overview:

The Charlotte Knights are looking for a Manager, Partnership Management.  This position will be responsible for renewing, servicing and interacting directly with corporate partners on behalf of the team.  The Partnership Activation Manager will report to the VP/AGM of Sales.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages contractual activation for all assigned, high-level partnerships including static and digital signage, promotions, social media, ticketing, hospitality, and events for both the Knights Baseball Season, Light the Knights Festival and other sponsored events throughout the year
• Serves as the main point of contact for assigned partners for all partnership needs
• Establishes and maintains strong, long-term relationships with corporate partners to ensure partner satisfaction and retention
• Serves as day-to-day liaison for partners with internal marketing, media, community relations, promotions, production, special events and ticketing departments
• Responsible for partnership onboarding and creating activation deadlines, proposals, and recaps for assigned partners
• Manages the tracking of metrics throughout the season and presents end of season recaps to partners to ensure renewals and partner satisfaction  
• Aids the sales team in creating upsell opportunities, new inventory and creative sales ideas
• Actively participates in new sales, prospecting and renewal meetings alongside the sales team
• Supervises partnership and premium services coordinators and seasonal associates
• Hires seasonal staff and manages their workflows and timecards
• Provides the service staff with goals, policies, mentorship and leadership to deliver top notch customer service to the team’s partners
• Works game days, weekends, select holidays and special events to ensure activation and to entertain existing partners and new prospects

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• A minimum of three years of partnership sales/service experience with an emphasis on building and maintaining relationships is a must.  
• Experience with a professional sports team and/or property is preferred, but not mandatory. 
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to effectively multi-task. 
• Loyalty to the brand, fellow co-workers and the overall organization.
• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills; Ability to interact with people of all different levels and backgrounds.
• Willing to work non-traditional hours (nights, weekends, holidays). 
• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with the ability to utilize MS Office and Adobe Design Suite, basic photoshop skills are preferred.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment with fellow employees.
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Expects highest quality performance from self and others.
• High level of poise and professionalism.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, including the ability to stand for long periods of time, lift boxes, set up promotional displays, assist with in-stadium game promotions, and pull tarp as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.