IBM · 2 hours ago
Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Manager
Austin, TX
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
7+ years expIBM is redefining what’s possible at the intersection of technology, sports, and entertainment—helping fans experience the moments they love in smarter, more connected ways. The Partnerships Manager will lead IBM’s UFC and Fantasy Football partnerships, developing activation strategies that drive brand awareness, client engagement, and business impact.
Business DevelopmentBusiness Information SystemsCRMData ManagementSoftware
Responsibilities
Lead partnership activations for UFC and Fantasy Football across paid, owned, and earned channels, as well as B2B hospitality programs, to enhance IBM’s brand visibility and engagement in line with strategic priorities
Collaborate cross-functionally with hospitality, marketing, communications, and technical program teams to ensure consistent storytelling and successful execution
Manage agency and internal partners to deliver best-in-class activations — including advertising, social, case study videos, on-site experiences, and event collateral
Track, analyze, and report on partnership performance, using insights to inform and optimize future activations
Oversee large-scale sports and entertainment budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation, compliance with internal processes, and on-target spending
Represent IBM externally within the sports and entertainment partnership industry to strengthen relationships, stay ahead of trends, and advance IBM’s leadership in client experience
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Sports Management, or a related field (MBA or relevant certifications preferred)
7+ years of experience in brand, experiential, or sports marketing with a proven record of delivering high-impact campaigns
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams and leadership levels
Strong project management skills, able to balance multiple priorities, partners, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Analytical and data-driven mindset, using insights to inform creative strategies and measure performance
Experience with sports sponsorships, activations, and event execution, ideally across global or enterprise-scale programs
Creative problem-solver with a passion for storytelling and innovative marketing solutions
Preferred
Master's Degree
Company
IBM
IBM is an IT technology and consulting firm providing computer hardware, software, infrastructure, and hosting services.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
IBM has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (2577)
2024 (3320)
2023 (2166)
2022 (1814)
2021 (1157)
2020 (2669)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknown2011-01-14IPO
Leadership Team
Alain Bénichou
Chief Executive Officer, IBM Greater China Group
Alex Yang
CTO and Chief Architect
Recent News
The Register
2025-12-30
2025-12-30
Company data provided by crunchbase