Senior Partnerships Manager, New Business

This is a Full Time Job

We are currently hiring for the position of:

SENIOR MANAGER, PARTNERSHIPS, NEW BUSINESS

As a member of the largest revenue-generating team of the organization, the purpose of the Senior Manager, Partnership, New Business is to recruit new partners to financially support the activities of TIFF through mutually beneficial partnerships, working towards a departmental annual revenue target of $14,000,000. Reporting to the Director, Partnerships, New Business, the successful candidate shall drive outreach amongst leading Canadian and international brands in support of TIFF’s partnership growth and business development strategy. They will prospect, develop, and cultivate an ongoing pipeline of more than $3,000,000 of new opportunities with a focus on medium- to large-scale investments with the goal of exceeding New Business and overall Partnerships revenue targets.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Shall include, but not be limited to:
• Drive outbound sales targeting leading Canadian and international brands to support TIFF’s partnership growth goals, aiming to exceed the assigned annual sales target.
• Prospect, develop, and manage an ongoing pipeline of >$3.3M of net new business opportunities.
• Strategize and develop innovative sponsorship solutions for new partners, delivering on their global marketing, brand, and business goals.
• Execute effective prospect management, including setting objectives, negotiating terms for contracts with new sponsors, and supporting the Accounts & Client Success team with large-scale renewals.
• Lead partnership negotiations and close new business, maintaining a strong close rate and deal velocity.
• Act as a strong external ambassador for TIFF within the sponsorship landscape, developing compelling, data-driven proposals, and delivering measurable sales results.
• Screen incoming interest in partnership with TIFF, accurately qualifying inbound leads’ brand alignment and revenue potential, and creating innovative partnership opportunities that will exceed partner expectations and create strong case studies.
• Draft a high volume of best-in-class partnership proposal decks and case studies, demonstrating expertise in sponsorship storytelling and value articulation, in support of new business development and deal execution.
• Work in concert with the Director, New Business, and the sales team on the ideation and development of new business assets with a strong and compatible value proposition.
• Review new partnership agreements under $100K before being submitted to the Director for review and approval.
• Leverage market intelligence to support the team with identifying the market’s demand, partnership & sponsorship trends, and benchmark the property’s KPIs and pricing to deliver strong ROI.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with qualified prospects through ongoing, value-added stewardship that showcases TIFF’s year-round and Festival properties.
• Support the New Business team with sales-focused administrative tasks such as preparing partner briefs, drafting proposals, updating sales materials, reporting, liaising with internal departments, gathering data, and addressing inbound inquiries.
• Work closely with the Accounts & Client Success team to ensure a smooth transition in the handover of new partners to ensure consistency of service for partners.
• Act as a Partnerships Team representative at internal production meetings to drive collaboration and facilitate critical cross-departmental communication and execution specific to the Partnerships’ priorities and initiatives.
• Other responsibilities include but are not limited to partner ticket servicing, partner engagement at the TIFF venue during the Festival and year-round, activation execution, client hosting, and planning year-round and Festival stewardship and programming strategy.

JOB GRADE & SALARY:
• Job Grade 4

START DATE:
• November 23, 2026

WORK LOCATION:
• Office Location: 350 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
• Weekly in-office requirements:
• Minimum 2 days (November to May)
• Minimum 3 days (June to October)
• Festival Office Requirements: Full-time during Festival

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• Minimum 7 years of sponsorship/partnerships, business development, agency, account management, or relevant sales experience (equivalent experience in a related field will be considered).
• Minimum University-level post-secondary education in English, Marketing, Business Administration, or other related majors; Graduate Degree would be considered an asset.
• Proven experience driving and managing $3M pipelines with a proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure partnership deals.
• Experience in brand marketing, revenue generation, and sponsorship-led partnerships preferred.
• Exceptional Communication
• Communicate clearly, confidently, and persuasively across written, verbal, and presentation formats.
• Write effectively and succinctly, producing polished, persuasive content tailored to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead negotiations with confidence and professionalism, engaging internal and external stakeholders in support of Partnerships objectives.
• Demonstrate exceptional presentation skills, with proficiency in crafting, delivering, and refining a high volume of presentations on an ongoing basis.
• Act as a credible and vocal Partnerships representative in internal meetings, contributing to the development of new programs, concepts, and asset ideation.
• Customer focus
• Demonstrate strong business acumen with a solutions-oriented approach, anticipating partner needs and delivering effective outcomes.
• Serve as a trusted advocate for partners, representing their voice within the organization.
• Calmly and effectively troubleshoot concerns from internal teams, partners, members, or the public, maintaining professionalism in all interactions.
• Collaborate with partners and prospects to define realistic, sustainable objectives during partnership negotiations.
• Actively listen to prospect feedback throughout the negotiation process and leverage insights to successfully close sales and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Problem-solving
• Effectively prioritize competing internal and external demands while meeting tight deadlines.
• Develop creative, collaborative solutions to complex prospect requests and partnership goals.
• Think strategically and respond quickly throughout the sales cycle to meet prospect needs, pipeline targets, and deal.