Sponsorship / Partnership Manager

Overview

The Sponsorship / Partnership Manager will play a critical role in driving revenue for various Company events including conferences, summits, exhibitions, awards, roundtables, and executive networking. This position requires cultivating, negotiating, and securing sponsorship deals with corporate clients and guiding them through from prospecting to contract completion while maintaining long-term relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate sponsorship income by targeting conferences, exhibitions, summits, awards, and networking events.
• Identify potential sponsors via cold outreach methods such as calls, emails, LinkedIn, and referrals.
• Effectively present sponsorship packages and detail the benefits of partnering with the Company.
• Conduct sales meetings virtually or face-to-face with decision-makers at senior levels.
• Negotiate terms including pricing and package customization.
• Prepare and deliver tailored sponsorship proposals and presentations.
• Finalize agreements and consistently meet revenue goals.
• Research target sectors to identify organizations suitable for event sponsorship.
• Manage a pipeline of qualified prospects and sustain relationships with key marketing and executive stakeholders (e.g., CMOs, CIOs, Heads of Marketing).
• Spot opportunities for multi-event sponsorship deals and recurring partnerships.
• Stay informed on competitor events and market trends.
• Serve as the dedicated contact for sponsors through the sales process and beyond.
• Maintain frequent sponsor communication and ensure fulfillment of all contracted benefits by coordinating internally.
• Promote sponsor retention through excellent service and engagement.
• Handle proposal documentation, contracts, invoicing, and payment follow-ups in alignment with finance.
• Collaborate with operations and marketing to deliver sponsor commitments, including exhibition logistics and branding.
• Provide onsite support at Company events to nurture sponsor relationships and explore new business prospects.
• Maintain accurate sales-related records in the CRM system, including proposals, contracts, and activities, with regular pipeline and activity reporting.
• Daily execution includes making 40–60 calls, sending 30–50 personalized outreach messages, and conducting 3–5 client meetings or presentations.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Expertise in consultative selling, negotiation, and closing deals.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior executives and decision-makers.
• Highly organized with excellent time management.
• Commercially aware with strong business acumen.
• Experience using Microsoft Office, CRM platforms like HubSpot, Zoho, or Salesforce, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and virtual meeting tools (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet).
• Knowledge of AI productivity tools for research and communication is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, Communications, or relevant fields.
• 2 to 5 years in sponsorship sales, B2B sales, business development, advertising, media, or event sales, ideally with experience working with enterprise clients and C-level executives.

Performance Metrics (KPIs)

• Meet monthly, quarterly, and yearly sponsorship revenue targets.
• Maintain a sponsorship pipeline valued at 3–5 times the monthly sales goal.
• Conduct 40–60 outbound prospecting calls daily.
• Hold 15–20 qualified client meetings per month.
• Submit 15–25 sponsorship proposals each month.
• Maintain a proposal-to-sale conversion rate aligned with company targets.
• Ensure 100% accuracy in CRM records.
• Achieve sponsor renewal rates as per company objectives and deliver all sponsor benefits timely.

Personal Traits

• Highly motivated, goal-oriented, and self-driven.
• Professional demeanor with strong persuasion and interpersonal abilities.
• Resilient, able to manage rejection effectively.
• Strategic thinker who exercises excellent business judgment.
• Disciplined and able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Committed to providing excellent service and fostering lasting client relationships.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based at the Bengaluru office. The role may require domestic and international travel to attend client meetings, industry events, and Company-hosted conferences. Performance evaluations focus on revenue growth, pipeline development, client acquisition, sponsor retention, CRM compliance, and overall contribution to business expansion.