Sponsorship Development Partner

Summary

The Sponsorship Development Partner leads the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's corporate sponsorship and partnership program by developing strategic relationships that generate financial and in-kind support for parks, programs, events, and facilities. The position identifies, negotiates,

administers, and stewards sponsorships throughout their lifecycle while ensuring partnerships advance the park and recreation needs of diverse communities; promote racial equity, gender inclusion, and universal access; and align with the MPRB's mission, strategic priorities, policies, and brand standards.

JOIN OUR CREW, WE NEED YOU:

Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and make a difference in your community!

We are seeking employees who love nature, people, and fun. Apply today and enjoy learning new skills, meeting new friends, and service the community, all while working in our beautiful park system. Whether you are interested in recreation, environmental education, maintenance, or customer service, we have a job for you!

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of one of the premier park systems in the United States. Our picturesque lakes, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming make the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play, and work!

What You'll Do

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Develop, implement, and oversee the MPRB's corporate sponsorship and partnership program to generate financial and in-kind support for parks, programs, events, and facilities.
• Develop sponsorship strategies, inventories, proposals, presentations, and customized partnership packages that align organizational priorities and sponsor objectives.
• Organize the full sponsorship lifecycle, including prospecting, proposal development, activation, fulfillment, stewardship, recognition, performance reporting, and renewal.
• Monitor sponsorship performance, evaluate return on investment, prepare reports, and recommend strategies to expand sponsorship revenue and community partnerships.
• Research market trends and best practices in public-sector sponsorships and recommend new partnership opportunities and revenue-generating initiatives.
• Exercise a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when working with prospective and existing sponsors, negotiating agreements, and handling sensitive organizational information.
• Assist MPRB in identifying and addressing the park and recreation needs of underserved and under-represented communities.

What To Bring

WHAT TO BRING:

Need to Have:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Recreation Administration, or a closely related field.
• Increasingly responsible experience in corporate sponsorships, business development, fundraising, partnership management, sales, marketing, or a related field: five (5) years

Nice to Have:

• Experience developing and managing corporate sponsorship programs for a public agency, park and recreation organization, nonprofit organization, or comparable institution preferred
• Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), or other relevant professional certification preferred
• An equivalent combination of education and/or work experience may be considered.

Skills Crucial to Success in This Role:

• Sponsorship development, partnership management, business development, and relationship cultivation.
• Public-sector or nonprofit organizational practices, including ethical standards and public accountability.
• Outstanding customer service principles and practices and standards for a diverse customer base.
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to interpret, understand and make decisions independently when managing the sponsorship lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with corporate executives, community organizations, elected officials, staff, and the public.

Physical requirements: (ADA requirement, will be evaluated by HR)

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, driving, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Most work is performed in a normal office environment.

Additional Information

Bargaining Unit: Non-represented

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Job Information Session: A 30 of minute Job Information Session will be held on October 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM CT via conference call. This is your opportunity to ask questions about the position and to gain a better understanding of the civil service application process. Interested parties are encouraged to call 612-474-1955; Phone Conference ID: 527 983 191#

Selection Process:

To apply for this full-time civil service position, applicants must complete an online application with supplemental questions at www.minneapolisparks.org/jobs. Late applications will be rejected.

What steps the selection process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.

• We rate your training and experience based on application materials and supplemental questions (30%).

• We conduct a structured panel interview (oral exam) (70%).

• We calculate your civil service score based on the above components and place you on the eligible list if all testing components are passed (passing score for each component and as an overall score is 70.00 or above). Eligible list will expire in three (3) months.

• We refer the top finalists to the hiring manager for an interview.

• References, including verification of employment and work performance, may be considered. OR Past performance and discipline may be considered.

• We conduct a background check. Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, the applicant will be asked to sign an informed consent allowing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to obtain their criminal history in connection with the positions sought. View the MPRB Background Check Policy

• Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, applicants will also need to successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination paid for by the MPRB.

Please note that HR reserves the right to limit the number of people invited to successive testing events.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board- a great place to play, work, and make a difference in the lives of others.

The MPRB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a tobacco-free workplace and park system.

MPR123