Events and Sponsorship Manager

Job Summary

Reporting to CFO, the Events and Sponsorship Manager oversees in-venue event sales, sponsorship sales, and deliverables for both areas. The Events and Sponsorship Manager is responsible for engaging existing clients and pursuing new event and sponsorship opportunities. The Events and Sponsorship Manager will manage a Special Events Coordinator who handles the on-site, day-of-event needs as well as some pre-production work.

This position is offered as a contract role for a period of one year, with the potential for renewal or transition to a permanent role based on performance evaluations and the mutual interest of both the organization and the incumbent in continuing the relationship.

Organization Summary

Based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn–this visionary arts and music organization seeks to enhance the human experience by building new audiences and supporting artists to develop, produce and perform innovative and collaborative work at the NS venue in Brooklyn, and in collaboration with progressive artists and venues domestically and internationally. www.nationalsawdust.org.

As a composer, I believe the role of an artist in the 21st century is that of creator, educator, activist, and entrepreneur. I believe that 21st-century artists need to be thinking about how they can affect their communities, on a local and global scale. At National Sawdust, supporting emerging artists is our core mission, nurturing a wide array of voices who are collectively reshaping the landscape of new music for this new century. 

–Paola Prestini, Composer, Co-Founder and Artistic Director

Responsibilities

The Events and Sponsorship Manager is tasked with driving the growth of events and sponsorship sales, which are crucial in supporting the general operating expenses and furthering the artistic mission of the organization. Their responsibilities encompass a variety of pivotal tasks, including the development and delivery of compelling presentations to potential sponsors. These presentations must clearly articulate the organization's mission and vision, emphasizing the mutual benefits of sponsorship, to foster meaningful partnerships and align with our strategic goals. Because the space is multifunctional, coordination with the programming team is essential for success. 

Special Events/Rentals

• Prospect and contact potential rental clients.
• Manage and track finances for events.
• Manage contract execution and archive of event agreements.
• Work with the CFO to address special insurance or event considerations.
• Help clients focus on priorities and vision of their events.
• Manage Special Event Coordinator’s workload and schedule to ensure event coverage.
• Interface with operations, technical, and F&B staff for event success.

Sponsorships

• Create and continuously update a competitive analysis of similar programs to identify and prioritize key individuals at potential-sponsor organizations.
• Develop and refine sponsorship packages and opportunities to ensure alignment with the organization's artistic mission and sponsors' goals.
• Proactively contact and engage with potential sponsors, utilizing compelling presentations and discussions to share the organization’s vision, articulate the mutual benefits of sponsorship, and build lasting relationships.
• Track and manage sponsorship contracts and deliverables to ensure fulfillment of agreed-upon benefits and recognition.

Special Projects

• Identify larger potential partnerships or sponsors for special events and projects: annual gala, Public Art Residency (mural installation), etc.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in sponsorship sales.
• Social and outgoing personality.
• Knowledge of the meeting & event creative and production process, and with standard event documents such as production schedules, run of shows, budgets, venue capacities and layouts, entertainment, COIs, and logistics.
• Familiar with food and beverage services.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of a calendar/CRM system.
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.

Compensation

We understand the importance of clear and potential earnings visibility for candidates considering this opportunity. Therefore, we have outlined a comprehensive compensation package below, which includes a base contract fee along with commission-based earnings that reward successful event and sponsorship facilitation. These commission rates are designed to incentivize long-term relationships and sustainable growth, aligning with our organization’s goals and values.

• $35,000 base contract fee
• Event Rentals Commission - 20% on net profit (based on 530K annual gross commission estimation would be 73K)
• Sponsorship Engagement Commission - 20% on net profit in year 1, 10% on net profit of first renewals, 7.5% on net profit of second renewals.
• Special Projects Commission - 15% on net profit