Director, Business Development - University of Arkansas

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Lead a team of sellers responsible for achieving individual and team revenue goals. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, clients, and internal stakeholders—serving as a trusted and respected representative of both Learfield and the university.  
• Drive new business and strategic renewals by developing creative, integrated sponsorship opportunities across digital, social, in-venue, broadcast, and experiential platforms  
• Set annual revenue targets, track progress, and manage performance across a diverse team  
• Develop and deliver high-quality proposals and presentations to local, regional, and national brands  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, and internal stakeholders—serving as a trusted and respected representative of both Learfield and the university  
• Partner with property leadership to create and manage inventory strategy and pricing  
• Recruit, coach, and develop sales talent to elevate performance and support long-term team growth  
• Identify emerging trends in sports marketing and bring forward new ideas to maximize impact  
• Represent the property in high-visibility meetings, hospitality events, and game day activations (including nights and weekends as needed)  
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation across the team  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 10+ years of successful sales experience, with at least 3+ years in a leadership capacity  
• Demonstrated success driving revenue growth and managing high-performing sales teams  
• Ability to craft integrated marketing strategies that align with client and university objectives  
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with experience influencing executive-level decision makers  
• Proven track record of setting and achieving sales targets in a competitive, performance-driven environment  
• Excellent communication, organization, and presentation skills  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms   
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed to support athletic events or client activations.  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.  
• Experience selling comprehensive sports marketing partnerships including major media (signage, radio, social, digital, etc.)  
• Familiarity with collegiate athletics and working with university stakeholders  
• Knowledge of digital marketing trends and performance analytics