# Business Development Manager - Sports Marketing

**Company**: Keywords Studios
**Location**: Los Angeles
**Work arrangement**: hybrid
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $100,000+
**Category**: Marketing
**Industry**: Technology
**Wikidata**: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64141679

**Apply**: https://apply.workable.com/j/3539C46B29
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_e1a3787e-a2e

## Description

At Keywords Studios, we are seeking a results-driven Business Development Manager to accelerate the growth of our Engage service line across North America. The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying, prospecting, and closing high-value creative and marketing partnerships with major Sports clients, including professional leagues, franchises, sports broadcasters, and global athletic brands.

Key Responsibilities:

- Revenue Generation: Drive new business growth by identifying and securing multi-service creative and marketing contracts within the Sports sector.

- Strategic Prospecting: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of Tier-1 clients, focusing on marketing and digital / social directors within major sports leagues (e.g., NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS), international federations, athletes and sports-centric streaming platforms.

- Solution Selling: Articulate the full suite of "Engage" services,including Creative Production (hype reels, broadcast graphics, digital content), Social & Influencer Marketing, PR & Outreach, and Strategy & Insight.

- Pitch Leadership: Lead the end-to-end sales process, from initial outreach and chemistry meetings to complex RFP responses and final contract negotiations.

- Integrated Collaboration: Work closely with our internal network of specialized service providers to craft bespoke, integrated solutions for global sports brands and organizations.

- Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends in digital sports marketing, fan monetization, and athlete-led content to position Keywords as an innovative, essential partner.

- CRM Management: Maintain meticulous records of sales activity and forecasting within Salesforce to ensure transparency across the global BD team.

Requirements:

- Experience: 5+ years of proven success in business development or senior account management within the Sports, Esports, or Sports-focused Creative Agency sectors.

- Industry Network: A strong existing portfolio of contacts within North American sports leagues, teams, athletes and sports-media marketing departments.

- Service Expertise: Deep understanding of the sports creative production lifecycle, fan-base social ecosystems, and the athlete-influencer landscape.

- Social Media: Strong understanding of social media and influencer marketing, ROI and metrics is required.

- Communication: Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills; ability to "sell the dream" while remaining grounded in technical feasibility.

- Commercial Acumen: Strong negotiation skills with a track record of meeting or exceeding multi-million dollar annual sales targets.

- Autonomy: A self-starter capable of operating effectively in a remote/hybrid environment across North American time zones.

- Availability: Willingness to travel frequently for client meetings, major sporting events, and internal site visits.

## Skills

### Required
- business development
- sports marketing
- creative production
- social media
- influencer marketing
- PR & Outreach
- Strategy & Insight
- CRM management
- salesforce