The Strategy & Operations team sits on the WSL Commercial team and reports to the Chief Revenue Officer. With responsibilities across sponsorship, advertising, merchandise, licensing, ticketing, concessions, media rights and more, Strategy & Operations works hand in hand with the global sales organization as well as the Senior Leadership Team and General Managers to drive growth and operational efficiency across all WSL revenue streams. 

Position Summary

The Director, Revenue Strategy & Operations is primarily responsible for the development of integrated sponsorship platforms and proposals for WSL clients, prospects and agency partners. This individual will independently lead idea generation and brand storytelling, while working with the respective salesperson(s) to bring a deal from introductory call to close. 

The ideal candidate will be able to quickly and fully understand a brand’s objectives, identify areas of authentic alignment, develop a narrative, integrate impactful insights and research, customize a comprehensive partnership platform strategically leveraging WSL assets, and oversee the creative development of all client facing materials from pitch decks to term sheets. A comfort with copywriting is essential as is a hands-on approach, exceptional attention to detail, and a high comfort with juggling multiple projects at once and working with senior stakeholders. 

The ideal candidate will have experience with inventory management and rate carding best practices, and will dig in to help the WSL team upgrade its inventory management systems and processes. The hope is that the Director will be able to proactively identify, package and unlock new value and inventory across WSL events and platforms.  

The Director will also manage an external design agency, ensuring WSL’s external materials meet the highest visual standards and visually convey the League’s brand identity and values in a compelling way. 

Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

• Works collaboratively with clients, leadership, sales executives, creative services, analytics, and other key departments to manage and develop the sales materials required for every project;
• Leads the creative ideation process for properties and brand partners, in conjunction with the sales and creative teams, developing customized sponsorship platforms and packages based on the property characteristics and the priorities of the prospect;
• Builds narratives/storylines for corporate sales opportunities and structures impactful presentations;
• Writes, reviews, and proofreads proposals, presentations, and other documents with extraordinary attention to detail, consistency, and grammar; collaborates with other WSL teams where necessary to strengthen materials 
• Participates in client-facing meetings, business development pitches, and brand presentations with confidence, comfort, and ease, as needed;
• Organizes team workflows and timelines, while managing up to team leaders on priorities;
• Identifies new tools and efficiencies to benefit the partnerships team and optimize the quality and speed of materials developed for the properties sales team; including but not limited to:
• An annual official comprehensive and global ratecard
• Inventory management and sponsorship servicing tools
• AI tools for proposal development and creative services 
• Differentiated sales research and analytics tools 
• Collaborates with team members at all levels, serving as an essential resource across the division;
• Leads other strategic storytelling and business development initiatives for the Commercial team as assigned; 
• Invests in both personal growth and development, while serving as a champion to grow peers and junior team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required;
• At least 5+ years of direct, relevant work experience, ideally at a major team or League
• Proven ability to be a project lead for multiple projects/clients simultaneously;
• Experience deploying inventory management and ratecard technology software and tools in other roles is a plus. 
• Experience with Salesforce, KORE and other CRM tools is a plus. 
• Experience managing individuals with the ability to inspire their growth and development;
• Client-facing experience or a project management background is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly-collaborative environment;
• Clear and effective copywriting and proofreading abilities, with high attention to detail;
• Excellent presentation and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to manage multiple projects while being responsive to the needs of the division and peers, be able to prioritize effectively and exercise flexibility as needed;
• Self-confidence in both brainstorm organization and individual idea generation;
• Excellent project management, organization and administrative skills;
• Knowledge and understanding of sports and entertainment industries;
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to tell a story through data;
• Ability to identify and solve problems creatively;
• Self-motivated and self-directed;
• Positive outlook and culture builder; team player
• Highly responsive and accessible, with the flexibility to work nights and weekends if needed.
• Passion for sports marketing, media, promotions, and sponsorship sales.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V

Salary Range: $105,000- $110,000 based on relevant experience