Director of Sales & Sponsorships | Full-Time | Owensboro Convention Center

Oak View Group

  • Owensboro, KY
  • $82,500-95,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 9 days ago
Oak View Group:Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet. Position Summary:Directly reporting to the General Manager, the primary role of the Director of Sales and Sponsorships is to drive revenue growth through sales and sponsorships, develop and execute sales strategies, build strong client and sponsor relationships, and lead the sales team to meet and exceed goals.This role pays an annual salary of $82,500-$95,000 and is bonus eligibleBenefits 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 21, 2025.
About the Venue:Western Kentucky’s award-winning Owensboro Convention Center is a full-service facility overlooking the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro. The multi-purpose center offers just under 102,000 square feet of space, including a 44,000+ square foot exhibition hall, the 8,900+ square foot Kentucky Legend® Pier, and a variety of ballroom, meeting, and pre-function areas.The Owensboro Sportscenter, one of the city’s most historic venues, opened in 1949. This 5,000-seat arena hosts concerts, sporting events, graduations, trade shows, meetings, and receptions.A new indoor youth sporting complex, opening July 2026, will be the region’s newest indoor sports facility. Designed for basketball, volleyball, and other athletic events, the complex provides flexible court layouts, spectator seating, and space for practices, tournaments, and community activities. Responsibilities:
  • Build and execute a sales strategy that meets or exceeds revenue targets
  • Sell venue space for events, meetings, sports, and entertainment
  • Oversee and manage event sales calendar
  • Drive results by actively converting leads into booked events
  • Identify and pursue new clients in the regional and national markets
  • Track sales activity and maintain accurate forecasts
  • Lead all sponsorship outreach and renewals across all venues
  • Build relationships with local and regional sponsors
  • Create clear and effective sponsorship packages
  • Work with operations and marketing to deliver on sponsorship terms
  • Manage and coach the sales team
  • Set clear goals and hold the team accountable
  • Lead regular sales meetings and pipeline reviews
  • Work closely with the events, marketing, and operations teams to ensure smooth handoffs and execution
  • Serve as the lead contact for convention clients
  • Report regularly on sales performance and trends
  • Negotiate and approve contracts with clients and sponsors
  • Ensure terms protect the company and meet financial goals
  • Attend appropriate sales and industry related meetings and events
Qualifications:
  • Minimum of five to seven (5-7) years of increasingly responsible sales and events experience for an arena, convention center, sports franchise, hotel or other similar public assembly or hospitality facility, including supervisory responsibility.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
  • Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference: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. Equal Opportunity Employer: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.

Oak View Group