Sponsorship Manager

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Sponsorship Manager to drive the development, acquisition, and management of sponsorship partnerships across our flagship events, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This role requires a dynamic individual who can confidently identify brand alignment opportunities, build relationships, and craft compelling sponsorship proposals that deliver clear value for both the event and our partners.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute sponsorship strategies that align with the event’s objectives and broader organisational goals.
• Proactively research potential sponsor brands and identify partnership opportunities that complement the festival’s identity, values, and audience.
• Lead the full sponsorship process—from prospecting and outreach to proposal development, pitch presentations, negotiations, and contract finalisation.
• Create tailored sponsorship pitch decks and presentations that clearly articulate the benefits and return on investment for prospective partners.
• Maintain strong, ongoing relationships with sponsors, ensuring consistent communication, fulfilment of deliverables, and long-term engagement.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, production, communications, and logistics teams to ensure all sponsorship activations are integrated seamlessly across digital, print, and on-site platforms.
• Oversee the delivery and reporting of sponsor benefits, including post-event reports with performance metrics, brand exposure, and audience engagement data.
• Stay informed on industry trends and competitive event landscapes to refine our sponsorship offerings and identify new revenue opportunities.
• Ensure all partnership activity complies with legal, financial, and brand safety standards.
• Maintain up-to-date tracking of sponsor outreach, communications, and agreements using internal systems or CRM tools.

Requirements

• Minimum five years of experience in sponsorship sales, brand partnerships, or business development—preferably in the events, media, or entertainment industries.
• Proven track record in researching and securing high-value sponsorships.
• Strong experience in developing impactful pitch decks and written proposals using PowerPoint, Canva, or similar tools.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and communication skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple timelines and relationships across departments.
• A solid understanding of how brands leverage events for audience engagement and ROI.
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with CRM or sponsorship tracking tools is an advantage.

Preferred attributes

• A genuine interest in arts, culture, music, and live experiences.
• A strategic thinker with the ability to execute hands-on tasks under pressure.
• Professional, diplomatic, and relationship-oriented, with strong attention to detail.

Posted on 15 Aug 09:09, Closing date 14 Oct