Creative 21 · 3 days ago
Director of Sponsorships & Partnerships
Charlotte, NC
Contract
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
5+ years expCreative 21 is dedicated to exploring creative thinking as a vital skill in the 21st century. They are seeking a Director of Sponsorships & Partnerships to lead the development of sponsorship and partner strategies for their upcoming large-scale public creative event in 2026.
Events Services
Hiring Manager
Devin Collins
Responsibilities
Develop and execute a sponsorship and partnerships strategy tailored to the 2026 event cycle
Shape partnership proposals, asset packaging, and partner activation concepts in coordination with leadership
Identify and pursue qualified prospects across corporate, small business, and community sectors
Build and manage a healthy pipeline (targets, stages, next steps, timelines)
Lead outreach, pitch meetings, proposal development, negotiation, and closing
Drive opportunities to signed agreements and ensure a clean handoff for fulfillment
Manage partner relationships through activation and post-event follow-up
Maintain accurate tracking for agreements, deliverables, and payment status
Coordinate with the Executive Director and Operations team to ensure commitments are feasible and deliverable
Qualification
Required
5+ years in sponsorship sales, partnerships, business development, or related roles
Demonstrated ability to independently close mid- to high-value deals
Comfortable with a commission-only, performance-based contract structure
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills
Highly organized, self-directed, and accountable
Preferred
Experience with events, arts/culture, media, sports, hospitality, or community-facing initiatives is a plus
Familiarity with the Charlotte market is helpful but not required
Benefits
20–25% commission on sponsorship and partnership revenue secured
Commission is paid on funds collected, not verbal commitments or unsigned pledges
No cap on earnings
Company
Creative 21
Creative 21 exists to explore creative thinking as a core skill for the 21st century.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase