Director of Partnership Development

This is a Full Time Job

Overview

As a member of the growing OVG Canada team, the Director, Partnership Development will lead the growth of sports and entertainment sponsorship programs and partnerships for industry-leading brands across Oak View Group Canada's evolving portfolio.

You bring a proven track record of closing complex, high-value sponsorship deals and building lasting industry relationships.

You set the strategy for new category development, mentor junior team members, and represent OVG as a senior voice with Canada's biggest brands.

You can work collaboratively with your company and industry peers in premium, hospitality, and venue development to create lasting partnerships that benefit all platforms.

You're a driven, entrepreneurial leader passionate about shaping the live sports and entertainment ecosystem in Canada.

This position will remain open until November 27, 2026.

Responsibilities
• Own and drive new sponsorship revenue strategy-building and managing a robust, multi-category pipeline across OVG's lines of business (Owned & Operated Venues, OVG Managed Venues, Third Party Clients and Arena Alliance) with accountability for hitting aggressive personal and team revenue targets
• Set the marketplace analysis agenda: identify emerging and open categories, direct research efforts, and translate findings into high-impact outreach strategy
• Serve as senior partnership lead with internal stakeholders and clients, guiding strategy vetting and feasibility at the executive level
• Architect full-scale, go-to-market partnership strategies and lead the storytelling behind OVG's value proposition to senior brand decision-makers
• Oversee development of client-facing pitch decks, proposals, financial models, and research reports, setting the quality bar for the team's output
• Lead complex negotiations and structure partnership agreements, partnering closely with Sponsorship Activation and Client teams on execution
• Take primary accountability for achieving and exceeding annual revenue targets and be a team-player and collaborator
• Guide senior-level partnership account management, ensuring retention and growth of secured deals
• Lead, coach, and develop the Partnership Development team, including oversight of the intern program (selection, training, and management)
• Act as a mentor to Managers and junior staff, helping build bench strength across the team
• Drive new partnership relationships working event and game nights and weekends-as required

Qualifications
• 5-7 years of proven success in partnership sales or business development, preferably in sports, entertainment, or a related industry
• Bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred
• Deep, established network of relationships with senior business decision-makers across Canada
• Strong, demonstrable track record of closing large-scale, integrated partnership deals and consistently exceeding revenue targets
• Advanced expertise in contract negotiations, complex deal structuring, and sport/entertainment marketing activation
• Proven ability to set and execute innovative partnership strategy at an organizational level, aligned with corporate objectives
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills, with demonstrated ability to influence C-suite and senior decision-makers