Summary
Description
About Us
Cities are built by people. The creators of industry, makers of place. Visionaries—for what’s next. At the Downtown Denver Partnership, we are building with vision.
We believe the horizon of a great city is always growing, always improving. We believe our city is only as strong as the center. And we know that a thriving, strategic evolution only happens when every voice steps up to the mic. When access allows for unbridled opportunity.
Whether we are talking about mobility and transportation or economic development, our organization focuses on fostering an impactful culture and business community that will support each and every citizen, giving us all a seat at the table.
Building our center city, making our place.
About the Position
The Development Manager at the Downtown Denver Partnership will play a critical role in driving revenue growth by leading strategic sponsorship and membership sales for the organization. Reporting to the Director of Civic Engagement & Development, this position will ensure that members, partners, and stakeholders have access to impactful opportunities within the downtown community in a coordinated and strategic manner.
The role will centralize sales efforts across the organization, facilitating a proactive transition of sponsorship sales responsibilities from program teams to the Civic Engagement & Development (CED) team, and working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive development strategy for the organization. This position will primarily focus on membership and program sponsorship sales while also cultivating philanthropic partnerships and grant opportunities to enhance the organization’s overall financial sustainability.
About the Job
- Lead the strategy and execution of new membership and program sponsorship sales, ensuring the organization meets its revenue goals through the cultivation of strong relationships and thoughtful engagement.
- Manage sponsorship and membership tracking systems, including Salesforce database management, contracts, and reporting, and develop and implement a moves management strategy.
- Serve as a key point of contact for members and sponsors, fostering long-term relationships and ensuring proactive stewardship to maximize engagement and retention.
- Collaborate with the Strategic Programs + Activations (SPA) team and all internal partner teams to bundle and package sponsorship opportunities, ensuring clear communication and alignment between sales and program delivery.
- Monitor market trends and identify new business opportunities to grow membership and sponsorship revenue streams.
- Coordinate cross-functional collaboration with internal partner teams, Finance, and Marketing Communications (MarCom) to ensure sponsor fulfillment and goal alignment.
- Track and analyze membership and sponsorship data to inform future sales and engagement strategies.
- Cultivate philanthropic partnerships and research potential grant applications as part of a broader revenue diversification strategy.
- Utilize public speaking and communication skills to present partnership opportunities and represent the organization in key external meetings and events.
- Attend business and community events to represent the organization and foster relationships.
- Support events and programs as necessary to ensure sponsorships are implemented and support sponsor cultivation/stewardship.
About You
- A minimum of five years of experience in sales, business development, fundraising, or nonprofit development.
- Proven track record of exceeding revenue targets, especially through relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, and account management.
- Strong understanding of the Denver business community, government, and nonprofit sectors.
- Passion for city building and urbanism, with a keen interest in initiatives that enhance downtown environments and foster community.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience working with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams. Public speaking or meeting facilitation experience is highly desirable.
- Background in nonprofit fundraising, grant applications, or community partnerships is a plus.
- Positive attitude, strong sense of humor, and ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
- Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, with a proven ability to leverage digital tools for project management and workflow automation.
What We Offer
- Expected salary range $69,000-$78,000 with opportunity to earn additional compensation through performance-based bonuses
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Employer paid Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Transportation Benefits
- Personal and Professional Development
Downtown Denver Partnership provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. In addition to federal law requirements, Downtown Denver Partnership complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Downtown Denver Partnership will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants for failing to disclose wage rate history in accordance with applicable law.
Downtown Denver Partnership expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Downtown Denver Partnership employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
