Manager, Strategic Partnerships (South Florida)

Background Location: Work-from-home; must live in South Florida market
Type: Full-time, permanent position
Division: Strategic Partnerships
Reports to: Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships (South Florida)

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 APP Tour boasts tournament stops, as well as Showcase Series, International, and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its APP Next Series and other youth initiatives. 2026 Tour schedule here:

The Position
The APP is seeking to add a successful sponsorship sales professional to its Strategic Partnerships team. Manager, Strategic Partnerships, is responsible for expanding our company customer base using prospecting strategies including cold calling to identify prospects, initiate the first connection and close partnerships generating revenue for the APP Ft. Lauderdale events. The right candidate will have proven success in sponsorship sales, relationships with key clients in the South Florida DMA, and must be a self-motivated hustler, hungry for customer acquisition, passionate about contributing to top-line revenue growth and competitive individual who enjoys learning about companies’ initiatives and providing strong solutions

Responsibilities include:

General
• Embody and reflect the APP’s performance-based culture and commit him/herself and team to the highest standards for all work

Business Development and Sales Support
• Consistently achieve Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
• Establish rapport, build trust, and generate qualified leads
• Use prospecting strategies to lead initial outreach to prospects
• Identify the needs and challenges of prospective customers in targeted verticals via thorough needs assessment and a collaborative sales process
• Help develop and execute a sales plan to exceed annual revenue targets
• Proactively research and contact prospects via cold calls, emails, and social platforms such as LinkedIn and SponsorUnited
• Identify potential sponsors for APP FTL through networking with pickleball stakeholders and business partners, researching local, regional, and national companies, and selling them marketing platforms that incorporate sponsorship inventory including entitlements, signage, digital/social, community involvement and VIP hospitality
• Solicit referrals from your network and customer base
• Think strategically to create and deliver value solutions to potential clients understanding trends / best practices
• Create sales inventory, revenue projections and support overall sponsorship strategy for APP FTL assets
• Develop compelling sales presentations on Canva for new marketing partners by incorporating research, category dynamics and a clear understanding of partner’s marketing goals
• Manage the sales process from start to finish (create proposals and draft/negotiate contracts)
• Prepare end-of-year recaps for sponsors with Property Assistants and Executive Director
• Research sports sponsorship industry and stay current with relevant market trends and conditions
• Understand and leverage APP FTL / Intersport resources to develop new business leads, and categories
• Track progress and results in our CRM system (SponsorCX)
• Collaborate with and learn from industry leaders who are dedicated to your success
• Solicit referrals from your network and customer base

Partner Management
• Demonstrate leadership and presence in all corporate partner client/prospect interaction – meetings, calls/video conferences, correspondence
• Represent the tournament with the highest degree of professionalism and enthusiasm among various constituents and events

Event Execution
• Assist in the execution of tournament-related events and corporate partner activations, including coordination and communication between internal departments and external partners/prospects

Team Management
• Apply a genuine eagerness to mentor, grow, and learn from a diverse and talented team
• Work collaboratively with all members of integrated team

Salary and Benefits
The targeted salary range for this position is $55,000 to $75,000, depending on full-time, non-internship professional relevant experience. This position also includes bonus/commissions, based on sponsorship sales, details of which will be shared separately. This position includes medical, dental, vision, parental leave benefits and 401(k) with company match for qualified employees. This position does not include bonuses, or other incentives.

Skills and Abilities
• Excellent communication skills - phone, writing and listening
• Passion for meeting new people and helping businesses grow
• Unrelenting drive to understand and meet prospective customer needs
• Self-Starter who has a desire to learn, grow and excel
• Results driven, innovative, resilient with a desire to win
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage the customer
• Ability to multi-task, organize and prioritize work
• High level of attention to detail

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of four (4) years’ full-time experience in corporate partnership sales/service
• 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-figure sponsorship and/or media sales agreements
• Current key relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers at clients and agencies locally
• Ability to develop new relationships with sponsorship and/or media buyers
• Must have a strong client-direct/agency network of sponsorship marketing decision-makers in the South Florida marketplace
• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills with high-level presentation ability
• Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proficiency in Canva, Word, Excel, LinkedIn, and CRM and virtual meeting platforms

The Association of Pickleball Players, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.