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Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals
full-timeChicago$97k - $130k

Summary

Location

Chicago

Salary

$97k - $130k

Type

full-time

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About this role

Who We Are:

On Location is a global leader in premium experiential hospitality, offering ticketing, curated guest experiences, live event production and travel management across sports, entertainment, fashion and culture. On Location provides unrivaled access for corporate clients and fans looking for official, immersive experiences at marquee events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and more. An official partner and/or service provider to over 150 iconic rights holders, such as the IOC (the Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games), FIFA, NFL, NCAA, UFC, WWE, and PGA of America, the company also owns and operates a number of its own unique experiences. On Location is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

The Role and What You’ll Do

The Director, Sponsorship Sales is responsible for the creation and selling of branded, high-impact sponsorship opportunities, and acts as a trusted representative for our newest Event; Windy City Smokeout. This position develops unique and valuable sponsorship programs for top brands and partners.

The primary responsibility of this role will be sourcing and closing new sponsorship with brands for new OL joint venture partnership events.

  • Leverage strong sales acumen and a deep understanding of the sales process to meet and exceed personal sales targets.

  • Identify, develop, and manage a robust pipeline of sponsorship opportunities.

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers at client companies and their advertising agencies.

  • Understand client and agency marketing objectives to tailor impactful sponsorship solutions.

  • Collaborate closely with joint venture partners and internal teams to develop compelling, customized proposals.

  • Lead and support the creation and delivery of sales presentations and pitch materials.

  • Work cross-functionally to ensure client objectives and partnership deliverables are met.

  • Engage the broader company network and contribute to a collaborative sales culture.

You Have These:

  • 8+ years of sales, account management, and relationship development experience with Fortune 500 brands across media, marketing, sponsorship, or entertainment sectors.

  • Proven success in sourcing and closing sponsorship deals, with a strong track record of delivering commercial revenue.

  • Deep understanding of national and global sponsorships, brand activation, and leveraging IP and property assets.

  • Skilled in building and managing strategic client relationships, with experience engaging senior and C-level executives.

  • Strong ability to independently drive sales, build pipelines, and develop tailored partnership proposals.

  • Experienced in forecasting, business planning, and regularly revisiting strategy to ensure goals are met.

  • Effective communicator and presenter across varied audiences, with comfort navigating complex negotiations and contracts.

  •  Well-versed in the full sales cycle, from prospecting to deal closure, with a nuanced understanding of customer motivations and brand goals

We’d Love If You Also Have These: 

  • Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.

  • Ability to understand and work within a variety of different business models/revenue models is highly desirable.

This role will be hybrid in a Chicago based office 3 days per week

Compensation package includes a competitive base salary plus incentive compensation

Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the hourly rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.

Hiring Rate Minimum:

$97,500 annually(minimum will not fall below the applicable State/local minimum salary thresholds)

Hiring Rate Maximum:

$130,000 annually

TKO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment. TKO makes employment decisions based on merit and qualifications, without considering an employee’s or applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under federal, state or local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. TKO also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state or local laws. For information about Privacy and Information Security for TKO employment candidates, please review our Privacy Policy. For information regarding Terms of Use for this and other TKO websites, please review our Terms of Use.

Other facts

Tech stack
Sales,Account Management,Relationship Development,Sponsorship Deals,Brand Activation,Client Relationships,Negotiation,Communication,Presentation Skills,Business Planning,Forecasting,Pipeline Development,Proposal Development,Collaboration,Marketing Objectives,Customer Motivations

About TKO

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

Team size: 1,001-5,000 employees
LinkedIn: Visit
Industry: Entertainment Providers

What you'll do

  • The Director of Sponsorships is responsible for creating and selling high-impact sponsorship opportunities for the Windy City Smokeout event. This includes sourcing and closing new sponsorships, managing client relationships, and collaborating with internal teams to develop proposals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does TKO pay for a Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals?

TKO offers a competitive compensation package for the Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals role. The salary range is USD 98k - 130k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.

What does a Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals do at TKO?

As a Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals at TKO, you will: the Director of Sponsorships is responsible for creating and selling high-impact sponsorship opportunities for the Windy City Smokeout event. This includes sourcing and closing new sponsorships, managing client relationships, and collaborating with internal teams to develop proposals..

Why join TKO as a Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals?

TKO is a leading Entertainment Providers company. The Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals role offers competitive compensation.

Is the Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals position at TKO remote?

The Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals position at TKO is based in Chicago, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals position at TKO?

You can apply for the Director of Sponsorships - Smokeout Festivals position at TKO directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process. You can also learn more about TKO on their website.