Director Partnership Marketing

Position Overview

Arizona Sports Enterprises (ASE), the sponsorship and NIL arm of Arizona Athletics, is seeking a Director Partnership Marketing to lead the strategy, execution, and fulfillment of all corporate partnerships. In this Full-Time, Exempt role based in Tucson, AZ, you will ensure best-in-class partner activation, retention, and service delivery across Arizona Athletics. You will also manage and develop the Partnership Marketing team, oversee the sponsorship lifecycle, and serve as a strategic partner to sales, campus stakeholders, and senior leadership. The ideal candidate demonstrates leadership, operational rigor, and creative problem-solving with the ability to scale processes while preserving a high-touch partner experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, coach, and develop the Partnership Marketing team to ensure consistent, high-quality partner service.
  • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance feedback, and professional development planning.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Serve as a resource to troubleshoot and resolve activation challenges in real time.
• Partnership Marketing & Activation:
  • Own the activation and fulfillment strategy for all corporate partnerships across Arizona Athletics.
  • Manage the full sponsorship lifecycle, including onboarding, execution, measurement, and renewal support.
  • Ensure all contractual elements are delivered accurately, on time, and in alignment with brand standards.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with corporate partners to support renewals and long-term growth.
  • Develop scalable activation frameworks, timelines, and recap materials for internal and external use.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with internal Athletics and campus stakeholders (Ticketing, Marketing, Communications, Game Operations, Community Impact, NIL, Legal, Procurement, Licensing, Digital, Media Relations, and Compliance) to streamline approvals and ensure execution accuracy.
• Operational Excellence:
  • Develop and manage a comprehensive activation calendar across all partners and sports.
  • Oversee onboarding and training of new Partnership Marketing staff.
  • Continuously evaluate and improve internal processes to enhance efficiency and partner satisfaction.
  • Support the development of partner recaps, case studies, and performance reporting.
  • Partner with analytics resources to evaluate brand exposure, engagement, and return on objectives.
• Sales & Revenue Integration:
  • Collaborate with the sales team to review partnership structures for feasibility and accuracy.
  • Provide activation input during the sales process as needed.
  • Support renewal strategy and identification of growth opportunities within existing accounts.
  • Maintain working knowledge of partner categories, exclusivities, inventory, and asset availability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in partnership marketing, sponsorship activation, or account management.
• Minimum of 2 years of people management experience.
• Experience working in sports, entertainment, higher education, or a related partnership-driven environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pro sports, collegiate athletics, or multi-property sponsorship environments.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience working with CRM systems and sponsorship analytics tools.