Partnership Activation Manager

Become a part of the team behind the team.

As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court. 

We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City!

As our Partnership Activation Manager, you will be responsible for the planning, execution, and day-to-day management of 8-12 commercial partnership accounts, including our Rose City Partners. You will act as the liaison between multiple partners and/or their agencies and our internal departments, serving as a strategic thought partner for our clients and their teams. You will contribute to the overall revenue goals of the business by leading partner renewals and upsells, while providing outstanding client service.

Our ideal candidate has a strong background in managing sports partnerships and has a passion for driving business results. We’re looking for someone who excels in building and maintaining client relationships, has strong communication skills, and enjoys collaborating across various teams. If this sounds like you, apply by October 2nd, 2024.

DAY-TO-DAY:

• Manage the execution of partner contractual obligations, ensuring a clear understanding of clients' business goals and strategic priorities.
• Lead partnership renewals and upsell opportunities within your client portfolio, working closely with the Partnership Sales and Strategy teams.
• Collaborate with the Strategy team to proactively develop activation ideas that align with brand objectives and support partners' marketing goals to drive business outcomes.
• Track all partnership assets, provide detailed midseason and end-of-season recaps and reports to all commercial partners, and develop strategies to pivot any elements that are not meeting partners’ objectives.
• Work cross-functionally with internal teams and collaborators to gain partner approvals and ensure alignment on programs and initiatives.
• Foster a network of like-minded commercial partners, regularly sharing best practices and using insights from the Partnership Strategy team's research.
• Take on special projects and additional responsibilities as assigned by the Commercial Partnership Leadership Team.
  
   

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, sports management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Have at least three years of experience in advertising, marketing, client relationship management, and/or client services
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills in presentations, written and oral communication.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships, collaborate effectively with diverse teams, and lead client interactions.
• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate partner challenges while balancing the priorities of both the Trail Blazers and partners.
• Possess advanced knowledge of the sports industry or other brand collaboration partnerships.
• Proven success in developing and driving strategic commercial partnership plans.
• Ability to direct and align internal teams toward commercial partnership goals.
• Core personal values align with the organization’s values, especially surrounding DEI.

Encouraging All to Apply: At Rip City, we embrace diversity within our team and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that drive our success. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds and abilities to apply for our open positions. We understand that individuals from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply if they don't meet every qualification listed above; however, we want to emphasize that if you believe you have the skills and experience to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply. We would love to hear from you and explore how your unique talents and perspectives could contribute to our team.

Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful results of an individual background check. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and review results on an individual basis.

The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter embraces diversity and inclusion. We celebrate individual expression and uniqueness on our campus. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We are committed to hiring individuals that reflect the community we serve without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

PERKS: 

We invest in our employees inside and outside of work. Our benefits package for full-time teammates includes:

• Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000 annually + bonus
• Competitive Healthcare Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Maternal & Parental Leave
• Flexible Time Off (3 weeks + 11 holidays)
• Wellness Perks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free Parking + Discounted Mass Transit Passes
• Discounted & Complimentary Tickets
• Ongoing Learning & Development
• Daily Free Lunch