Manager, Partnership Development

Company Description

At Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership (MLSE), we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that is representative of our community and where all employees feel they belong and can reach their full potential. We are Canada’s preeminent leader in delivering top quality sport and entertainment experiences and one of North America’s leading providers of exceptional fan experiences. We are the parent company of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and development teams with the Toronto Marlies (American Hockey League), Raptors 905 (NBA G League), Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro League) and Raptors Uprising Gaming Club, the Toronto Raptors Esports franchise in the NBA 2K League.

MLSE owns and/or operates all the venues our teams play and train in, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground, and OVO Athletic Centre. We also provide fans in Toronto with incredible live music and entertainment events, as well as exceptional culinary experiences through our restaurants (e11even and RS) and clubs (Hot Stove Club, ScotiaClub and Platinum Club). Through MLSE Foundation, we have invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities since 2009 and with MLSE LaunchPad, we provide a place where youth facing barriers use sport to recognize and reach their potential.

We achieve all of this through our Common Purpose - to unite and empower our employees to create extraordinary moments for our fans and each other. Come be a part of the team.

**Job Description**:
MLSE is looking for a strategic marketer with a revenue-driving mindset to join the Global Partnerships team. Reporting to the Director, Global Partnerships, this is a sales role that will focus on the development of partnerships for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, and Argonauts.

You must be skilled at identifying and engaging contacts at brands and in categories MLSE does not currently work with, generating strong prospect volume, and creating new relationships that ultimately drive MLSE’s revenue targets.

**Responsibilities**:

- Continually reimagine the status quo and build breakthrough marketing partnerships for new and existing MLSE partners.
- Initiate discussions with potential new partners (client direct & agencies) to understand objectives and budget; able to build strong and trusted relationships with senior clients up to and including C-level.
- Manage client expectations honestly and with integrity.
- Provide thought leadership to partners during ideation phase; develop customized, integrated and creative partnership proposals that demonstrate insight and knowledge of client business, and MLSE’s unique value proposition.
- Lead presentations to new prospects and negotiate partnerships with potential MLSE partners.
- Mobilizing internal cross-functional experts, leading an internal working team through the development and sales process, both within the MLSE Global Partnerships team and more broadly across the company, creating advocates for new partnerships and unlocking new opportunities.
- Utilize data, research tools to prospect and identify prospects in new categories, to demonstrate how MLSE’s values and properties align with a prospect’s target markets and corporate values.
- Develop a deep and thorough understanding of the partner or prospect’s business and competitive environment, building partnerships that deliver against business objectives for the partner and drive affinity for MLSE’s teams in the marketplace.
- Proactively identify and manage critical issues; demonstrate resilience and adapt to evolving plans and strategies; where conflicting issues on partnerships arise, able to find solutions along with the internal team.
- Stay current with all facets of the dynamic marketing mix, including digital, social media, experiential, print and broadcast; equipped with creativity and innovative ideas
- Achieve revenue targets, and provides regular status reports.

**Qualifications**:
- Post-secondary degree or diploma, preferably in a business-related discipline an asset
- Proven related and meaningful experience in marketing, strategy, business development and/or partnership marketing. Partnership sales experience is considered a strong asset.
- Self-motivated to set and chase ambitious goals, works well with mínimal supervision, motivated by results
- Solid comprehension of general marketing and partnership principles and a mindset for client service
- A positive approach, incorporating integrity, confidentiality and discretion
- Deep understanding of new media and a desire to stay current on emerging digital platforms
- Ability to build and maintain professional relationships both internally and externally
- Thrives in a dynamic team environment, with ability t