Senior Account Executive, Corporate Partnerships

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Account Executive, Corporate Partnerships is a senior individual contributor responsible for developing, securing, and stewarding corporate partnerships that generate significant contributed and earned revenue in support of Sundance Institute's Festival, artist programs, and year-round initiatives.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships, this role manages a portfolio of existing corporate partners while identifying, cultivating, negotiating, and securing new mission-aligned sponsorship opportunities. The Senior Account Executive collaborates closely with colleagues across Corporate Partnerships, Marketing, Activations, Legal, Finance, Programming, and other Institute departments to deliver exceptional partner experiences and long-term relationship growth.

This role requires an experienced relationship builder with strong business development, negotiation, strategic thinking, and account management skills who thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.

This full-time position is based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO, in order to work onsite in a hybrid capacity throughout the year. The role requires flexibility, including extended hours, evenings, and weekends during peak periods, as well as travel to Institute locations, events, and meetings as needed.

Sundance Institute is a unionized workforce and this position is in the bargaining unit.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…

• Developing and managing a robust pipeline of prospective corporate partners through proactive business development, relationship cultivation, networking, referrals, and strategic outreach.

• Identifying, soliciting, negotiating, and securing new corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships aligned with Sundance Institute's mission and organizational priorities.

• Managing a portfolio of corporate partnerships while identifying opportunities to expand partner investment and long-term engagement.

• Developing customized partnership proposals, pricing recommendations, and presentations in collaboration with the Partnerships Marketing team.

• Maintaining accurate pipeline activity, forecasting, and partner information within the department CRM.

• Leading renewal strategy and negotiations for assigned partnership accounts.

• Serving as the primary relationship manager for assigned corporate partners throughout the partnership lifecycle.

• Collaborating with the Activations and Partnership Marketing teams to ensure partnership commitments are executed successfully.

• Partnering with Legal and internal stakeholders to support contract development and execution.

• Monitoring partner satisfaction and proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships.

• Collaborating closely with the Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships on pipeline development, revenue forecasting, and sales strategy.

• Partnering with Partnership Marketing to develop compelling partnership proposals and customized sales materials.

• Working closely with the Associate Director, Partnerships & Activations to ensure partnership opportunities are operationally feasible and transition smoothly from sales through activation and stewardship.

• Collaborating across Programming, Artist Programs, Events, Marketing & Communications, Legal, Finance, Operations, and Advancement to support integrated partnership planning.

• Contributing ideas and market insights that strengthen the department's overall sales strategy and growth objectives.

• Sharing industry knowledge, sales best practices, and market insights that contribute to departmental success.

• Supporting onboarding and mentoring of new team members as requested.

• Fostering a collaborative, equitable, and inclusive team culture.

• Performing other duties and special projects as assigned in support of departmental priorities and organizational goals.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:

• 5 years of demonstrated success in corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, business development, media sales, fundraising, or related revenue-generating roles.

• Proven success developing, negotiating, and closing strategic corporate partnerships with mid-sized and large organizations.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex sales pipelines and consistently achieve or exceed revenue goals.

• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, presentation, and communication skills with executive-level stakeholders.

• Experience managing multiple partnership accounts and navigating complex negotiations simultaneously.

• Strong organizational, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams while balancing competing priorities.

• Experience within arts, entertainment, media, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and fostering a culture of belonging.

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

You will be successful in this role if you…

• Develop and grow a strong portfolio of mission-aligned corporate partnerships through strategic business development, thoughtful stewardship, and exceptional relationship management.

• Consistently contribute to departmental revenue goals by maintaining an active sales pipeline, identifying new opportunities, and expanding existing partnerships.

• Build trusted relationships with partners and internal stakeholders that support seamless collaboration and exceptional partnership experiences.

• Demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, and accountability while effectively managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

• Embody Sundance Institute's mission and values while contributing to a collaborative, equitable, and high-performing Corporate Partnerships team.

In addition to an annual salary of $70,000.00 to $90,000.00*, this position** is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, highlights include:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance

• 25 paid Institute holidays plus accrued vacation time

• Paid sick, family, and medical leave

• Employee Wellness initiatives

• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment

• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)

*Final rate of pay is determined based on the applicant's geographic location, relevant experience and skills, and internal equity among similar positions within our organization.

**Applications open 07/06/2026 and will be accepted for at least one week