Now Hiring - Tampa Bay Times - Sponsorship & Business Development Leader in Saint Petersburg, FL

Full description of the position

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Job Summary

: The Sponsorship & Business Development Leader is a senior-level role responsible for driving revenue and cultivating strategic partnerships across the Tampa Bay Times' events, philanthropic, marketing and product initiatives. This role combines high-level relationship building, strategic marketing and sponsorship development to grow organizational impact and financial sustainability. We seek a locally based leader with a powerful, well- established network, particularly among marketing, communications and external affairs stakeholders, to accelerate partnership growth. The Sponsorship & Business Development Officer will develop and execute a multichannel sponsorship strategy, cultivate C-suite partnerships, set revenue goals and provide strategic oversight of event and marketing initiatives. This position supervises the Event Production & Marketing Manager and works collaboratively with cross-departmental teams.

Key Responsibilities

:

• Sponsorship Strategy & Revenue Generation
• Develop and lead a comprehensive sponsorship strategy across events, custom content, philanthropy programs and organizational products.
• Identify, cultivate and secure revenue-generating partnerships with corporations, foundations and high-value stakeholders.
• Set annual sponsorship and event revenue goals, ensuring all teams are aligned to achieve them.
• Create compelling sponsorship packages and value propositions tailored to diverse audiences and platforms.
• Work closely with creative services to develop high-impact sponsorship proposals, pitch decks and presentation materials that effectively communicate value and align with brand standards.
• Negotiate and close sponsorship agreements, often with C-suite and executive-level leaders. Business Development
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective sponsors and strategic partners.
• Lead high-level prospecting, relationship management and long-term partnership development.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify cross-departmental opportunities for sponsorship integration.
• Represent the organization externally at industry events, meetings and speaking opportunities. Cross-Departmental Collaboration
• Work closely with events, philanthropy, editorial/news and marketing teams to align sponsorship deliverables and organizational priorities.
• Ensure sponsorship activations are fully integrated across content, events and philanthropic initiatives.
• Provide strategic input on new revenue opportunities across media, programs and digital platforms.
• Event & Marketing Oversight
• Approve major event concepts, marketing plans and sponsorship fulfillment strategies.
• Provide guidance to ensure sponsor expectations and brand standards are delivered seamlessly.
• Supervise the Event Production & Marketing Manager, overseeing planning, workflow, performance and cross-team alignment.
• Strategic Leadership & Analysis
• Monitor market trends, competitor offerings and emerging opportunities within media, philanthropy and events industries.
• Prepare regular revenue reports, forecasting and strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
• Ensure all sponsorship initiatives reflect the organization's mission, values and strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, communications or related field (master's preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in sponsorship sales, strategic partnerships, business development or related fields.
• Proven success by closing high-value partnerships with C-suite executives.
• Strong strategic marketing background with expertise in brand positioning and audience engagement.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Experience working across events, media/news platforms and/or philanthropy is highly desirable.
• Leadership experience managing staff and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• This hybrid position requires regular on-site presence for events.

Benefits

for Full-Time Eligible Employees

• Health coverage for you and your family through medical, dental and vision plans.
• 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability.
• 100% employer-paid basic life insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance.
• Tax advantages through flexible spending accounts that allow you to pay for specific health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tax-deferred savings plan for retirement.
• A generous PTO program and much more. INDTBT