Senior Manager, Global Business Development

What you get at World Surf League: a competitive total rewards package for the Senior Manager, Global Business Development, including a base salary in the range of $95,000–$110,000 per year, commission and performance-based incentives, plus a comprehensive benefits plan (health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off). This hybrid role in Los Angeles, CA supports collaboration across events, media, content, digital platforms, and sustainability programs, with a clear path to driving North American revenue, shaping marquee partnerships, and building new business opportunities within the WSL ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of WSL’s brand, products, audiences, and global positioning to craft a distinctive commercial narrative.
• Identify, qualify, and secure new partners across our events portfolio.
• Create customized, year-round partnership programs that leverage WSL assets across media, digital, events, and community channels to deliver authentic, ROI-driven outcomes aligned with partner objectives.
• Incorporate data and analytics to evaluate opportunities, forecast revenue potential, and optimize performance.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of prospective partners, maintaining disciplined tracking, forecasting, and reporting through CRM tools (Salesforce or similar).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Content, Broadcast, Digital, Athlete Relations, and Event Operations to design innovative partnership platforms and scalable solutions.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure sales strategy aligns with brand purpose, creative vision, and organizational priorities.
• Guarantee seamless transitions of new partners to the Marketing Partnerships team for activation and ongoing success, ensuring continuity and excellent client service.
• Consistently deliver annual sales growth objectives and contribute to long-term revenue planning.
• Maintain a disciplined, transparent pipeline management process using CRM tools (Salesforce or similar) to track progress, forecast revenue, and report performance.
• Contribute to special projects and cross-department initiatives that advance WSL’s broader commercial strategy.

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of experience in sports, entertainment, media, or brand partnership sales with a proven record of securing six-figure deals.
• Network of decision-maker relationships across brands, agencies, and categories relevant to WSL’s ecosystem.
• Experience in consultative, solution-based sales, translating brand objectives into creative, data-driven partnership concepts.
• Deep understanding of the evolving sports and entertainment landscape, including integrated commercial models across media, content, experiential, digital, sustainability-driven marketing, and purpose-led storytelling.
• Experience working with or alongside sports properties (Collegiate Athletics, NBA, NHL, PGA, MLS) is strongly preferred.
• Passion for surfing, action sports, or ocean sustainability is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ownership, accountability, and initiative; thrives in ambiguity.
• Strategic and creative thinker who thrives in dynamic, high-growth environments.
• Collaborative communicator who inspires confidence, fosters innovation, and drives results through influence, alignment, and trust.
• Strong storyteller who clearly articulates WSL’s brand purpose and partnership value with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• High integrity, professionalism, and self-awareness; demonstrates passion for WSL’s mission and the surfing community.
• Globally minded with cultural fluency and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Technologies

• Salesforce

Benefits

• Competitive base salary in the range of $95,000–$110,000 per year
• Commission and performance-based incentives tied to sales goals and revenue growth
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off