Manager Prospect Researcher Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. 

Under the direction of the Vice President of Global Partnerships, the Manager of Partnerships is responsible for aggressively driving new sponsorship business, activating sponsor agreements, and maintaining client relationships to achieve department revenue goals for OVG at Olmsted County Exhibition Center in Rochester, Minnesota. The Manager of Partnerships is primarily responsible for generating revenue through the sale of naming rights, integrated sponsorships, entitlement spaces, digital advertising, premium seating, and hospitality packages throughout the venue. We are looking for hard-working, intentional, strategic, creative individuals who have a passion for the entertainment and live events industry. Suitable candidates for the role are high-energy individuals with aspirations in sport and business sales. Strong candidates will have experience selling sport and entertainment sponsorships or advertising in the Midwest and possess the capability to work collaboratively with multiple business stakeholders.

This role will pay a salary of $52,500 to $62,500 and is commission eligible.

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until November 13, 2026.

Olmsted County officially broke ground on the future Graham Park Exhibition Center on July 30, 2025. The new 80,000-square-foot facility will serve as a year-round destination for agricultural events, trade shows, cultural gatherings, and more. Key features will include a main show ring, a warm-up arena, and modern accommodations designed to welcome both people and animals. This long-anticipated project has been shaped by years of planning and community input, with $8 million in state funding secured in 2023 to help bring the vision to life.

• Responsible for growing revenue via new and existing business partnerships and through accomplishing individual and departmental revenue goals.
• Support the department’s new business sales process from start to finish—identify and manage individual account prospect list, CRM input, relationship development, client objective-based ideation, proposal building, pitching, negotiating, closing, and contract execution.
• Relentlessly prospect new business weekly to set meetings with qualified prospects, fill the pipeline, and advance business relationships quickly and efficiently.
• Host and entertain existing and prospective clients during events.
• Manage ticketing distribution and hospitality for clients.
• Work with Vice President of Global Partnerships to help develop and execute a strategic plan to drive revenue for OVG and our Dubuque properties.
• Create and manage high-value, fully integrated advertising and sponsorship packages that are in line with partners’ marketing and business objectives.
• Set appointments, meetings, and presentations with C-suite executives to secure sponsorship contracts in order to meet and exceed revenue goals.
• Proactively identify and collaboratively assess partnership opportunities while establishing new client relationships utilizing various sales strategies, including but not limited to research, cold calls, site visits, and outside sales calls.
• Provide partners with proof of performance and recaps to assist with renewal and upsell opportunities.
• Create new sales collateral or modify existing collateral as required for both OVG and your facility.
• Meet and exceed sales revenue quota as well as other goals set by your manager.
• Effectively communicate client expectations and contractual obligations to appropriate internal departments to properly execute contracted sponsorship agreements.
• Establish and maintain complete and efficient records of all partner/prospect contacts that are accessible by OVG.
• Work with internal departments to develop and execute programs that support partnership programs and elements.
• Provide regular reports as required by your manager for sales pipeline, revenue achievements, prospecting, and forecasting through proper recording methods provided by your manager.
• Conduct business during non-traditional hours, taking advantage of opportunities to interact with clients and prospects during games, events, and off-site gatherings.
• Day-of event responsibilities such as sponsorship activation setup, coordination, entertaining clients, premium seating preparation, and fulfilling necessary sponsorship contract obligations.
• Sell the full suite of OVG Global Partnerships assets on a local and national scale, incorporating your property, other OVG properties, 3rd Party, Arena Alliance, Owned & Operated, and other OVG opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• 3-5 years of sales experience, preferably in the sports and entertainment or advertising and brand sales industries.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to take ownership of your role and improve those around you.
• Knowledge of the sport/event sponsorship sales and advertising industry.
• Knowledge of the animal and agriculture industries.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to quickly establish personal relationships through trust, knowledge, and empathy.
• Must be available to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• A self-starter that has the ability to multitask, reacts well under pressure, and is able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• A hard worker who values integrity and respect for others and a team player who also understands how to lead.
• Exceptional organizational skills with an ability to handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Experience with Salesforce CRM preferred, but not required.

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.