VP – Partnerships and Alliances - JG

About The CompanyA highly versatile production company with roots in the performing arts, social action, and the corporate world. For over 30 years, the organization has taken India to the world and brought the world to India, presenting the finest of Indian performers, writers, change-makers, and visual artists in the knowledge and arts space both nationally and internationally.Every year, it produces over 33 festivals in 72 cities and 26 countries in the fields of performing & visual arts and literature. Among its flagship projects is the world’s largest literary gathering, the annual Jaipur Literature Festival, with editions in the US, UK, and Europe.Even during the challenging times of 2020–2021, the company successfully launched digital initiatives such as JLF Brave New World and Words Are Bridges, which were viewed by over 4.8 million people. Its digital version of the Jaipur Literature Festival reached over 27 million viewers in 2021. Art Matters empowers artists across India to collaborate on new works, while Be Inspired—a festival of ideas on science, technology, innovation, and environment—continues to grow, with the first on-ground editions held in 2023, including the inaugural Sikkim Arts & Literature Festival.Position: VP – Partnerships and AlliancesReporting to: President, MarketingJob DescriptionThe VP – Partnerships and Alliances will be responsible for securing new sponsorships and strategic partnerships for existing festivals and projects. The role combines strategic sponsorship sales, partnership strategy, and activation planning across on-ground and digital platforms. The ideal candidate will establish best practices in sponsorship acquisition, create consultative sales and sponsorship valuation packages for premium clients, and contribute to expanding the company’s network and influence in the arts, culture, media, and corporate CSR sectors. Key focus areas include event sponsorship sales, corporate partnerships, brand integrations, revenue generation, partnership negotiation, and ROI-driven activation.Key ResponsibilitiesSecure new sponsorships, strategic alliances, and brand partnerships for festivals, events, and digital initiatives; meet and exceed agreed revenue targets.Develop end-to-end sponsorship proposals, bespoke activation concepts, media plans, and sponsorship decks tailored to sponsor objectives (brand awareness, lead generation, CSR, content partnerships).Manage the full sales cycle: prospecting, pipeline management, negotiations, contract closure, and post-sales client servicing.Define sponsorship packages, pricing models, and measurement frameworks (KPIs, impressions, engagement metrics, activation reach) to demonstrate sponsorship ROI.Collaborate with production, programming, design, marketing, and digital teams to ensure seamless activation delivery on-ground and online (experiential marketing, brand activation logistics, content co-creation).Use CRM tools to maintain an active sponsorship pipeline, forecast revenue, and generate accurate sales reports; ensure clean handover to operations for activation delivery.Build and maintain strong long-term relationships with brand partners, agencies, media partners, and corporate stakeholders for recurring and expanded business.Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify new categories, audience segments, and industry trends (media sponsorships, technology partners, streaming/digital sponsors).Lead and mentor a small partnerships team; set targets, coach on pitch development, and ensure consistent sales process and documentation.Oversee sponsorship budgets, sponsorship invoicing cycles, and ensure delivery against contractual obligations.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related field (Master’s preferred).Minimum 8 years of experience in sponsorship acquisition, corporate partnerships, or sales; proven track record of securing high-value sponsorships and long-term brand relationships.Experience in arts, culture, media, events, or festival sponsorships is highly desirable; agency-side or corporate partnership experience will be an advantage.Strong negotiation, presentation, and consultative sales skills; experience preparing sponsorship decks, commercial proposals, and contractual agreements.Proficiency in CRM tools (Salesforce/HubSpot), MS Excel (financial modelling, forecasting), and familiarity with digital analytics (GA, social metrics).Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder relationships, cross-functional coordination, and to deliver on-time activations under tight deadlines.Self-motivated, results-oriented, with strong commercial acumen and ability to build sponsorship valuation models and measure partner ROI.Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior client stakeholders and internal leadership.Skills: festival sponsorships,brand partnerships,sponsorship,literature,sponsorship activation,alliances,sponsorship sales,sponsorship proposals,partnership strategy,sports sponsorship,partnerships,corporate partnerships,experiential marketing,event sponsorship,festivals,sponsorship acquisition,csr