Senior Manager, Partnership Service | Cincinnati Open

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Partnerships will play a critical leadership role in the strategic management and growth of the Cincinnati Open partnership portfolio. This position is responsible for leading a portfolio of key corporate partners, delivering exceptional partnership experiences year-round, and driving renewal and incremental revenue opportunities.

Working closely with the Director, Partnerships & Premium Service, the Senior Manager will serve as a strategic advisor to partners while also contributing to department-wide operational excellence. This role will oversee the execution of partner objectives, mentor seasonal partnership staff, and develop scalable processes that enhance efficiency, consistency, and service delivery.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven professional with strong business acumen, sponsorship experience, and a passion for delivering world-class partner experiences.

What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities & Outcomes)

Strategic Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary relationship lead for a portfolio of key corporate partners.
• Develop and execute annual account strategies aligned with partner business objectives and tournament goals.
• Build strong relationships across partner organizations, including senior-level stakeholders and decision makers.
• Lead partnership planning, activation development, and year-round engagement efforts.
• Provide proactive recommendations that maximize partnership value and enhance partner satisfaction.

Partnership Activation & Service Excellence

• Ensure contractual benefits and partnership deliverables are executed at the highest standard.
• Oversee activation planning and integration across tournament and year-round events.
• Coordinate with internal departments including Marketing, Operations, Premium, Facilities, Ticketing, and Finance to deliver seamless partner experiences.
• Lead partner recap development and post-event business reviews.
• Establish best practices that strengthen partner communication, engagement, and retention.

Revenue Growth & Service Excellence

• Drive partnership renewal strategies and negotiations in collaboration with Cincinnati Open leadership.
• Identify and execute upsell, cross-sell, and new revenue opportunities within existing accounts.
• Monitor partnership performance and recommend enhancements that support long-term growth.
• Assist in developing multi-year partnership strategies and expansion opportunities.

Leadership

• Serve as a resource for account strategy, partner servicing, and activation execution.
• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve departmental workflows, communication, and efficiency.
• Assist in developing and maintaining partnership operating procedures, planning tools, and internal documentation.
• Support inventory management, asset tracking, reporting systems, and partnership technologies.

What You Bring (Qualifications & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Partnership Marketing, Sports Management, Marketing, or related field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in corporate partnerships, sponsorship activation, account management, sports marketing, or related industries.
• Demonstrated success in managing and growing strategic client relationships.
• Experience leading renewal negotiations and identifying revenue growth opportunities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across departments and stakeholder groups.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering exceptional client service.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM/account management platforms.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required during tournament operations.

Work Environment & Travel

At Legends Global, our people power every success. You’ll work alongside exceptional talent, learn from world-leading experts, and contribute to projects that set the standard across sports, entertainment, hospitality, and live experiences. If you’re driven to operate at the highest level, build with purpose, and help partners win on the biggest stages, you’ll thrive here.

Compensation

This position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, skills, and qualifications. Legends Global offers a competitive total rewards package, including medical, vision, dental, life and disability insurance, paid vacation, and 401k plan.