Manager, Brand Partnerships

Title: Manager, Brand Partnerships

Salary: $68,400 – $71,000

About The James Beard Foundation: 

The James Beard Foundation(“JBF”) is a vital cultural institution with deep roots honoring and advancing the culinary arts industry. JBF’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As a 501(c) (3) national non-profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country. 

The Brand Partnerships team is responsible for the continuity and expansion of the overall partnership portfolio for the Foundation. JBF’s strategic brand partners support the Foundation’s mission with financial support that drives growth of our programming and impact, as well as awareness of the JBF brand to drive audience growth. The team works closely with all JBF’s internal departments including Marketing & Communications, Finance, Events, and Programs; as well as external agencies and cross-functional teams.

The Manager, Brand Partnerships, will report to the Director of Brand Partnerships and will be responsible for extending incredible hospitality and account management services to sponsors who support the Foundation’s events and programs. The Manager, Brand Partnerships is charged with supporting the Director of Brand Partnerships and the broader brand partnerships team in delivering positive engagements with all sponsors, working closely with each partner to ensure all deliverables are met within the Term of their agreement. 

In addition, the Manager will liaise with partners regarding their benefits, proactively conceive new ideas for activation and storytelling in line with partners’ goals, and work cross-functionally to ensure partner objectives are achieved.

Responsibilities:

Sponsorship Management 

• Liaise regularly with the Foundation’s portfolio of sponsors and partners regarding their overall benefits, scheduling, and activations across JBF programs and events
• Share how sponsors fit into the overall scheme of the Foundation’s programs and gain understanding into the sponsor’s KPIs
• Coordinate, track, and report on sponsor activations and deliverables across events, digital, and social platforms, to ensure all deliverables are completed by contract end
• Attend sponsor programs and activations to represent JBF and ensure flawless execution
• Ensure implementation of agreed upon sponsorship team goals and procedures
• Work with cross-functional teams to manage internal priorities while working toward sponsor goals
• Coordinate with media team to create social calendar timelines for sponsors
• Maintain sponsor marks and other inclusions on the JBF website
• Work with media team to pull metrics for all sponsor social deliverables
• Engage other JBF departments with sponsors as required to ensure excellent sponsor-facing communications 
• Ensure sponsors are represented correctly in JBF materials and in accordance with the provisions laid out in the contract, including review/approval timelines
• Create comprehensive partnership wrap reports that demonstrate sponsor ROI, fulfillment of contracted deliverables, and overall partnership impact stories
• Partner with JBF communications team and external agencies to concept effective digital and sponsored content overlays for existing and new sponsors. 
• Monitor industry trends, partnership best practices, and keep abreast of key corporate moves and changes.

Requirements

To be effective in this role, key core competencies and personal characteristics include: 

• Minimum of 4 years of experience working with corporate partners in an agency or non-profit setting
• Experience working in special events, background in food media and/or culinary a plus
• High energy and passion for the James Beard Foundation’s mission 
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent communicator with strong relationship management skills
• Flexible and adaptable style 
• Strong sense of initiative, self-starter with a drive to success
• Tech savvy, proficient in MS Office including PowerPoint, CRM systems (preferably Salesforce), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and project management software (preferably Monday.com)
• Excellent attention to detail and conscientious work ethic
• Excellent ability to multi-task, prioritize projects, and work efficiently and independently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to deal effectively with the diversity of individuals at all organizational levels
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize projects
• Versatility, flexibility and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm 

Benefits:

JBF offers its employees a dynamic work environment with benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents; life insurance; flexible spending account; commuter benefits; retirement savings; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement/ professional development; and generous paid time off. We also offer fertility planning support and up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave.

 Additional perks include staff events, tickets to events at Platform by JBF (Pier 57), and much more.   

The Foundation currently works on a hybrid schedule that requires employees to be in our NYC office 2 days per week. This position is not eligible for relocation.