Manager, Partnership Development

Atlanta Hawks•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Who are we: A professional basketball team and state-of-the-art arena/entertainment venue that specializes in creating memorable experiences for each guest we interact with. Some of our favorite things are live sports, concerts, comedy shows, family shows, and most any other world-class event you can think of, and we’re looking for someone who shares the same interests. We live for the fast-paced world of sports & live entertainment, and as such, we work hard, run fast, execute flawlessly, and party it up when it all comes together. Lastly, we strive to deliver wonderful experiences that create lasting memories, and we prefer to surround ourselves with those who are the best at what they do. Who are you: An enthusiastic lover of sports, live entertainment, and people. You have true passion for engaging in meaningful interactions and creating memorable experiences for all guests. You strive to be helpful, engaging, and knowledgeable of all things Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. You enjoy being a part of an exciting and dynamic group, and you’re committed to continuously enhancing the productivity and effectiveness of your team. Lastly, you enjoy working hard and celebrating hard, and you’d be shocked if guests weren’t positively impacted by their interactions with you. Job Summary: The Manager, Partnership Development will serve as the primary Partnership Development lead for the Enterprise Sales team, driving operational excellence and strategic support across all enterprise initiatives. This role is responsible for managing inventory, ensuring CRM integrity, and overseeing proposal development and deal-stage tracking for enterprise-level partnerships, including Centennial Yards, Live Nation, and future JSA/JV relationships. In addition, this position will collaborate with Global Partnerships leadership and the Partnership Development & Insights (PDI) team to create new platforms and assets, develop go-to-market strategies, and craft compelling narratives that elevate our enterprise offerings. While focused on enterprise sales, this role will also provide cross-property support for the Atlanta Hawks, College Park Skyhawks, and State Farm Arena partnerships, ensuring alignment and consistency across all partnership development efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, sports management, or related field
3–5 years of experience in partnership development, sponsorship sales, or brand strategy within sports, entertainment, or agency settings
Proven ability to create compelling presentations and storytelling materials for executive-level audiences
Revenue-minded individual who demonstrates strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions
A genuinely curious mindset with a hunger to learn and stay updated on industry trends
Motivated by challenging the status quo and thinking “outside of the box”
Comfortable speaking and presenting to senior leadership and C-suite executives
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce, KORE) and Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with design tools (Canva, Photoshop) and project management tools (Smartsheet) preferred
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to synthesize complex ideas into clear narratives
Detail-oriented, proactive, and collaborative with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and attend events and/or travel as needed

Responsibilities

Act as the primary PD lead for Enterprise Sales, supporting Sr. Director and VP-level leadership on all enterprise initiatives
Lead all ideation and creative development of partnership assets, platforms, and strategic initiatives for Enterprise sales
Oversee inventory management and ensure operational excellence in proposal packaging and deal-stage tracking
Support the ongoing maintenance of CRM systems (Salesforce, KORE) with accurate pipeline updates, forecasting, and reporting
Spearhead all internal deal vetting to ensure compliance, accuracy, and alignment with internal and external partners
Collaborate with PDI, GP leadership, Enterprise Sales team, and third-party clients (e.g., Centennial Yards, Live Nation, etc.) to develop new platforms, assets, and partnership opportunities for enterprise clients.
Support the creation of go-to-market plans for enterprise offerings, including pricing, packaging, and positioning strategies
Assist in building compelling proposals and storytelling materials that resonate with C-suite executives and decision-makers
Work closely with consultancy and agency partners where applicable
Provide partnership development support for Hawks, Skyhawks, and State Farm Arena initiatives as needed
Ensure consistency in proposal quality, inventory descriptions, and rate card management across all properties
Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for proposal development, deal tracking, and CRM usage where needed
Enhance quality control standards for all internal processes, outgoing proposals and client-facing documents
Work alongside Partnership Operations team to develop dashboards and reporting tools to monitor revenue, inventory, and pipeline health in collaboration with GP Leadership and Enterprise Sales team
Build training materials on Enterprise initiatives to educate internal teams where applicable
Assist with workflow best practices and efficiencies across the PDI team
Conduct ongoing research on industry trends, market developments, and best practices in sponsorship and enterprise partnerships
Share insights with leadership to inform strategy and identify new revenue opportunities
Work cross-functionally with all internal departments and external partners to ensure seamless execution of enterprise deals
Build and maintain strong relationships internally and externally to support partnership growth
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned