Director, Partnership Activation

Become a part of the team behind the team.

As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court.

We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City!

As our Director, Partnership Activation, you will serve as a key leader among the Commercial Partnerships team, responsible for driving business success for our commercial partners. In this role, you will own the department’s client retention and upsell strategies, working to continuously increase the level of service and support offered to our partners. Reporting to the SVP, Commercial Partnerships, you will lead and develop a team of account management professionals.

Our ideal candidate for this role will possess a dynamic blend of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and exceptional communication skills. We’re looking for someone with a strong customer service focus and proven experience in partnership management. If you’re an effective cross-departmental collaborator who is excited to drive success and strengthen relationships with our partners, we want to hear from you!

DAY-TO-DAY:

• Shape and implement client service strategies, delivering leading solutions for our partners across marketing, fan experience, community engagement, etc.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Activation Team, serving as a trusted advisor and resource.
• Provide support client meetings and communications, and serve as a point of escalation for any client issues as needed.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships for a complex portfolio of commercial partners.
• Facilitate cross-departmental communication to achieve business goals and represent partner interests.
• Lead all aspects of activation-related events and touchpoint planning, from ideation to execution.
• Ownership of annual renewal and upsell processes, timelines and key results
• Serve as a liaison between partners and internal teams, advocating for mutual interests.
• Oversee project budget management and reconciliation.
• Initiate training and development opportunities for the activation team.
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends and their impact on our business and partners.
• Balance strategic thinking with a focus on our commercial partners’ day-to-day needs.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE:

• Demonstrated experience in commercial partnerships, advertising, marketing, client relationship management, client services or related field.
• Strong leadership skills to lead and mentor an internal team and influence clients.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills to implement effective solutions when client challenges surface.
• Strong knowledge of partnership models, business objectives, and financial and digital metrics.
• Experience planning, organizing, and driving complex multi-faceted commercial partnerships.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues across the company.
• A growth mindset, along with a positive demeanor and strong work ethic
• Interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with all internal and commercial partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering exceptional customer service
• Core personal values align with the organization’s values, especially those surrounding DEI.

Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful results of an individual background check. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and review results on an individual basis. 

The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter embraces diversity and inclusion. We celebrate individual expression and uniqueness on our campus. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We are committed to hiring individuals that reflect the community we serve without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

PERKS:

We invest in our employees inside and outside of work. Our benefits package for full-time teammates includes:

• Competitive Healthcare Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Maternal & Parental Leave
• Flexible Time Off (3 weeks 11 holidays)
• Wellness Perks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free Parking Discounted Mass Transit Passes
• Discounted & Complimentary Tickets
• Ongoing Learning & Development
• Daily Free Lunch