Manager, Sponsorship - Cascale

Manager, Sponsorship

Flexible/remote location 

NL or US preferred
Full-time position

About Cascale

Cascale is a global, non-profit alliance of 300 leading apparel, footwear, and textile brands, retailers, manufacturers, sourcing agents, service providers, trade associations, NGOs and academic institutions.

Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, we are stepping into a new era of impact with a new name, new look, and same enduring vision. The SAC was incorporated as a 501(c) 6 nonprofit organization and launched the groundbreaking Higg Index suite of tools in 2011. In May 2019, the SAC spun-off the Higg Index technology platform to Higg, now Worldly, which delivers tools and services that help consumer goods businesses accelerate transformation for a more sustainable future. As of 26 February 2024, we are now officially known as Cascale. For more information, visit www.cascale.org.

Together, we are working toward a shared vision of an industry that gives back more than it takes — to the planet and its people. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, our mission is to transform business for exponential impact through groundbreaking tools, collaborative partnerships,and trusted leadership for industry sustainability.

To reach this shared vision, we have developed the Higg Index in collaboration with our members, to create a global approach for effectively measuring and evaluating the social and environmental impacts of value chains and products. Our groundbreaking tools enable organizations to identify hotspots, improve sustainability performance, save time and money, and engage with value chain partners to scale systemic change across the industry.

Position Description 

Cascale is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Sponsorship Manager to lead, grow, and develop our sponsorship efforts across a diverse portfolio of events, including our flagship Annual Meeting, Manufacturer Forum, Brand & Retail Forum, and smaller, high-impact events such as those held during New York Climate Week. The ideal candidate will focus on generating substantial sponsorship revenue annually while leading the growth and development of our sponsorship strategy, consistently seeking opportunities to increase income revenue over time.

Key Responsibilities:

Revenue Generation and Growth:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive sponsorship strategy aimed at achieving and surpassing an annual revenue target with a focus on driving long-term growth.
• Identify, target, and secure new sponsors while nurturing and expanding relationships with existing sponsors to increase their investment over time.
• Design and create innovative sponsorship packages and proposals that meet the evolving needs of sponsors and align with Cascale’s mission and event objectives.
• Negotiate contracts, ensure compliance with company policies, industry standards, and legal requirements.

Strategic Development:

• Take ownership of the growth and development of Cascale’s sponsorship work, identifying new revenue streams and areas for expansion.
• Continuously assess the sponsorship landscape, perform market research and competitor analysis, staying ahead of industry trends and leveraging insights to enhance and diversify sponsorship offerings.
• Work closely with the Event Director to set and achieve strategic goals for sponsorship growth, aligning with the broader objectives of Cascale.

Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with sponsors, understanding their business objectives and aligning them with relevant sponsorship opportunities.
• Create, maintain, and regularly update a comprehensive database of potential and current sponsors. Track and manage sponsor interactions, update contact information, and document sponsor needs and preferences. 
• Act as the primary point of contact for all sponsorship-related inquiries, ensuring sponsor satisfaction and loyalty.
• Regularly engage with sponsors to gather feedback, assess the value of their participation, and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

Event Coordination and Execution:

• Collaborate with the Event Director and event management team to seamlessly integrate sponsor deliverables into event planning and execution.
• Oversee the on-site execution of sponsorship activations at events, ensuring all sponsor obligations are met and exceed expectations.
• Work closely with marketing and communications teams to ensure sponsors receive maximum visibility and promotion through event materials, social media, and other channels.

Reporting and Analysis:

• Develop and maintain a sponsorship sales pipeline, regularly reporting on progress and providing updates to senior management.
• Analyze sponsorship performance, providing post-event reports and data-driven recommendations for improvement and growth.
• Use insights and feedback to refine sponsorship offerings and identify new opportunities for expansion.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with internal teams, including marketing, communications, finance, and event management, to ensure the seamless execution of sponsorship deals.
• Collaborate with the content and programming teams to develop meaningful and impactful sponsorship content that resonates with event attendees.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sponsorship sales, business development, or a similar role, preferably within the events or nonprofit sector.
• Proven track record of not only securing high-value sponsorships and achieving revenue targets but also driving sponsorship growth and innovation.
• Skills and Competencies:
• Strong sales and negotiation skills, with the ability to close deals, grow relationships, and build lasting partnerships.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate the value of sponsorship opportunities to potential partners.
• Strategic thinker with a growth mindset, capable of developing and expanding sponsorship offerings to meet evolving industry needs.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events and sponsorships simultaneously.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to delivering exceptional service to sponsors.
• Proficiency in CRM software such as Salesforce, and experience with event management software is a plus.

Cascale seeks a candidate who is: 

• Mission-driven: Is motivated by sustainability and the mission of the organization.  
• Team player: Has team-oriented experience and approach.
• Tech-savvy: Has the ability to understand and manage a variety of technology and software platforms to support the organization.
• Organized and detail-oriented: Is able to effectively manage many different moving parts (information, projects, software) to help keep the organization running smoothly.
• Excellent communicator: Is able to interact with people of all levels in a confident, professional manner.
• Results-oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Passionate about sustainability and Cascale’s mission to drive positive change in the consumer goods industry.

Reporting Structure

This is a full-time role, reporting directly to the Director, Events.

Compensation and Location

Must be based in Amsterdam or Washington DC with the ability to travel as needed for events and meetings.

Cascale offers a compensation package and salary bands are based on country location and aims to be competitive in each market. Actual compensation will also vary depending on factors including (but not limited to) relevant experience and performance. Salary is just one component of Cascale’s Total Rewards package for employees.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Cascale is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and organization’s achievement as well. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Apply

Maybe you don’t tick all the boxes above— but still think you’d be great for the job? Go ahead, apply anyway. Please. We know that experience comes in all shapes and sizes—and PASSION can’t be learned. To be considered for this position, please apply here.

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