Manager, Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship

The opportunity

PLAY Hockey is looking for a motivated salesperson to build a portfolio of local and regional sponsorship partners. You will connect businesses with hockey families and communities, helping sponsors reach their audiences through meaningful partnerships with our events.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys opening doors and turning conversations into business. You will own the sales process, from identifying prospects and making the first call to meeting business owners, developing proposals and closing partnerships. We’re looking for someone who takes initiative, builds relationships and follows through, not someone waiting for leads to land in their inbox.

Reporting to the VP of National Partnerships, you will have support from Marketing and Partnership Execution to help deliver what you sell. With a competitive base salary, uncapped commission and performance incentives, your results will directly influence your earning potential. You’ll build a portfolio you can develop over time, with renewals becoming part of the role in year two.

What you will do

• Build prospect lists and identify decision-makers in each assigned market and business category.
• Generate new opportunities through cold calling, email outreach, local networking and in-person meetings.
• Own the sales process from first contact through discovery, proposals, negotiation and closing.
• Understand each business’s goals and present relevant sponsorship opportunities for PLAY Hockey events.
• Meet agreed sponsorship revenue targets and maintain consistent prospecting and follow-up activity.
• Keep CRM records current, track opportunities and provide clear pipeline updates and revenue forecasts.
• Work with Marketing and Partnership Execution to coordinate delivery of agreed sponsorship commitments.
• Maintain sponsor relationships and take ownership of renewals in the second year.

What you bring

• At least 2 years of outbound sales experience, with a track record of generating opportunities and closing business.
• Confidence approaching new prospects, asking for the sale and handling objections.
• A self-starter who creates opportunities without waiting for direction, handles rejection professionally and stays motivated through consistent outreach and follow-up.
• Strong organization and disciplined follow-through across multiple markets.
• Clear communication, presentation and relationship-building skills, plus comfort using a CRM.
• Willingness to work from our Winnipeg office and travel approximately 8–10 times per year.

Sponsorship, advertising or sports sales experience is an asset, not a requirement. We welcome strong salespeople who are ready to learn the sponsorship business.

What we offer

• Base salary of $55,000–$60,000 CAD per year.
• Uncapped commission, with performance incentives and accelerators as revenue grows.
• On-target earnings of approximately $90,000 CAD, including base salary, commission and incentives.
• A comprehensive benefits package.

How to apply

To apply, email careers@playhockey.com.

Work Location: Winnipeg, MB R3G 2V4