Account Executive - Events and Special Project Sales - American City Business Journals
San Francisco, CA 94111
About the Job
Job Overview
Total compensation includes Base + Uncapped commission. We offer guaranteed commission at a minimum the first 3 months w/ competitive benefits.
This position will be Hybrid in the office/market 3 days per week.
As a Business Journal Account Executive, you will work with market leaders and trailblazers who know and trust us to deliver news and information that impacts their business. You will have a seat at the table with the business community's most influential and affluent professionals.
We are looking for select individuals who are driven to succeed and value high expectations. Qualified candidates thrive in a dynamic, challenging and hard-charging environment. They are confident self-starters with a results-focused orientation and a proven track record of exceeding expectations. With a strong desire to represent the best of the communities that we serve, ACBJ enthusiastically invites diversity of race, thought and experience.
Job Responsibilities
As an Account Executive, you will create and maximize revenue generation. You will foster and grow relationships with high-target prospects and valued clients while working in collaboration with your local and corporate-based teams.
- Contact and communicate with honorees to inform them about event details, including date, venue, and purpose.
- Present sponsorship packages to honorees, outlining the benefits and opportunities associated with each package.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with honorees, understanding their needs and preferences to tailor sponsorship packages accordingly.
- Negotiate terms and pricing with honorees to secure sponsorship agreements.
- Collaborate with the events team to ensure seamless execution of sponsored elements during the event.
- Provide excellent customer service to honorees throughout the sponsorship process, addressing any concerns or inquiries promptly and professionally.
- Responsible for prospecting via the weekly Top 25 lists to find potential clients and sell display advertising space and logos into the annual Book of Lists.
- Meet and exceed sales targets and goals set by management, including achieving desired sell-through rates per event.
- Stay updated on industry trends and competitor activities to identify new sales opportunities and maintain a competitive edge.
- Prepare sales reports and updates for management, detailing progress, challenges, and strategies.
- Record all sales activities in Salesforce, which involves entering closed deals into our Salesforce pipeline booking manager.
Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in sales, preferably in event sponsorship or related field.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and persuade potential sponsors.
- Excellent negotiation and closing skills, with a track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a proactive and results-driven approach.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to manage multiple honoree accounts and sales opportunities simultaneously.
- Knowledge of the event industry and sponsorship best practices is a plus.
- Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office suite.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field is preferred.
- Proficiency with all Microsoft Office products (Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams)
Additional Job Information
The well-being of our employees is paramount. For that reason, ACBJ offers a variety of rich and competitive benefits including bundled health, dental and vision plans designed to meet our employees' needs. We also provide programs to support mental health and wellness and a generous time-off policy in support of taking the time needed to recharge.Here are just a few of our programs:
* Paid Parental Leave
* 401K Plan with Employer Match
* Flexible Spending Accounts
* Employee Assistance Program
* Multiple Employee Dependent Scholarship Programs
* Commuter Flexible Spending
* Lifestyle Programs (Including incentives for healthy habits)
* Medical Infertility Services
* Corporate discount programs
* Employee Recognition/Service Awards
* And so much more!
(Benefits coverage indicated above may be based on employee participation in benefit programs and eligibility)