World Surf League - Senior Manager, Global Business Development
Requirements
• 3-5+ years of experience in sports, entertainment, media, or brand partnership sales, with a proven record of securing six figure deals. • Network of decision maker relationships across brands, agencies, and categories relevant to WSL’s ecosystem. • Experience in consultative, solution-based sales, with the ability to translate brand objectives into creative, data-driven partnership concepts. • Deep understanding of the evolving sports and entertainment landscape, including integrated commercial models across media, content, experiential, digital, sustainability-driven marketing, and purpose-led storytelling. • Experience working within or alongside sports properties (e.g., Collegiate Athletics, NBA, NHL, PGA, MLS) strongly preferred. • Passion for surfing, action sports, or ocean sustainability preferred. • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus. • Personal Attributes: • Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and initiative who thrives in ambiguity. • Strategic and creative thinker who thrives in dynamic, high-growth environments. • Collaborative communicator who inspires confidence, fosters innovation, and drives results through building influence, alignment, and trust. • Strong storyteller with the ability to articulate WSL’s brand purpose and partnership value proposition with authenticity, clarity, and enthusiasm. • High integrity, professionalism, and self-awareness; demonstrates passion for WSL’s mission and the broader surfing community. • Globally minded with cultural fluency and an appreciation for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.
Responsibilities
• Partnership Development • Develop a comprehensive understanding of WSL’s brand, products, audiences, and global positioning within the sports and entertainment ecosystem to articulate a unique and compelling commercial narrative. • Identify, qualify, and secure new partners across our portfolio of events. • Create customized, year-round partnership programs that leverage WSL’s media, digital, event, and community assets in authentic, value-driven ways aligned with partner objectives to generate measurable ROI. • Incorporate data and analytics to evaluate opportunities, forecast revenue potential, and optimize performance. • Build and manage a robust pipeline of prospective partners, maintaining disciplined tracking, forecasting, and reporting through CRM tools (Salesforce or similar). • Collaboration and Integration • Work cross-functionally with internal teams, including Marketing, Content, Broadcast, Digital, Athlete Relations, and Event Operations, to design innovative partnership platforms and deliver commercially sound, scalable solutions. • Partner with internal WSL teams to ensure sales strategy aligns with WSL’s brand purpose, creative vision, and organizational priorities. • Guarantee seamless transitions of new partners to the Marketing Partnerships team for activation and sustained success, ensuring continuity and excellent client service. • Performance and Growth • Consistently deliver annual sales growth objectives and contribute to long-term revenue planning. • Maintain a disciplined, transparent pipeline management process using CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce or similar) to track progress, forecast revenue, and report performance. • Contribute to special projects and cross-department initiatives that advance WSL’s broader commercial strategy.
Benefits
• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience. • Commission and performance-based incentives tied to sales goals and revenue growth. • Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off.
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