Hiring: Senior Director, Partnership Development & Licensing Company: Churchill Downs Racetrack Location: Louisville, KY Job Posted Time: 2026-09-13 15:05:13 Employment Type: Contract Target Skills & Keywords : Microsoft Office, Project Management, Salesforce, Spring About the job Experience: •Ten (10) or more years of progressive experience in sports, entertainment, luxury, or experiential partnership sales, including significant revenue and team leadership responsibility. •Proven record of closing complex six- and seven-figure partnership agreements and achieving ambitious revenue goals. •Demonstrated experience leading licensing, consumer products, merchandising, retail, or related brand-extension programs. •Established network of national and international senior business contacts relevant to the position. Required Skills: •The Senior Director, Partnership Development & Licensing is responsible for leading the commercial strategy for partnerships and licensing across Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Kentucky Derby, and the Kentucky Oaks. •Set and execute an integrated partnerships and licensing strategy that drives revenue growth while strengthening the premium positioning of Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Kentucky Derby, and the Kentucky Oaks. •Own annual revenue plans, budgets, forecasts, pipeline health, category strategies, and performance reporting across sponsorship, renewals, licensing, and merchandising. •Originate, cultivate, and close significant new partnership business through disciplined prospecting, established relationships, and senior-level executive engagement. •Lead complex, customized, multi-year partnership negotiations from proposal development through contract execution. •Build a disciplined renewal and growth program focused on retention, upsell, and long-term partner value. •Partnership Development & Activation •Create premium, integrated partnership platforms across intellectual property, media, hospitality, content, signage, experiential assets, and year-round events. Qualifications: •Commercially driven strategist with strong financial acumen, disciplined forecasting, and the ability to translate iconic brand assets into sustainable revenue. •In-depth knowledge of premium partnerships, licensing strategy, intellectual property stewardship, consumer products, and marketplace trends. •Exceptional executive presence, negotiation, presentation, and C-suite relationship-management skills. •Demonstrated capacity to develop partnership platforms that balance partner objectives, guest value, operational realities, and long-term brand equity. •Strong leadership and coaching skills with the ability to establish accountability and mobilize cross-functional teams. •Exceptional organizational and project management skills with sound business judgment. •Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated professionalism, diplomacy, and a premium service mindset. •Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, DigiDeck, or comparable platforms. •Demonstrated capacity to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during Derby season. •This work is performed throughout Churchill Downs Racetrack. The employee will be required to sit for extended periods of time and may also be required to stand, walk, use hands to reach, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and talk or hear. Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!