Director of Sponsorships and Corporate Relations

WaterFire Providence is a nationally recognized leader in creative placemaking, dedicated to transforming communities through art and cultural experiences. For nearly 30 years, our nonprofit has brought life to Providence's waterfront and downtown, fostering connections and community through our iconic installations and programs. The WaterFire Arts Center (WFAC), our first permanent home, enables us to expand our impact, a multi-use space hosting arts and cultural events that enrich the community.

Joining our team offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of a mission-driven organization that thrives on community and relationship-based support. You’ll be part of a passionate group dedicated to using art to make Rhode Island a place where residents are proud to live and work, and visitors love to experience.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Sponsorships and Corporate Relations is responsible for coordinating WaterFire Providence’s sponsorship program by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting sponsorships, researching and facilitating grant requests, and maximizing sponsorship revenue for the WaterFire event in downtown Providence and activities in the WaterFire Arts Center in the Valley/Olneyville neighborhood.

The Director of Sponsorships and Corporate Relations will work collaboratively with WaterFire Providence’s leadership team and the Board of Directors to identify prospects and develop a strategy for fostering strong, long-term relationships. The Director of Sponsorships and Corporate Relations reports to the Interim Executive Director.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

WaterFire®, the award-winning sculpture/event created by Barnaby Evans and installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence, has been praised by Rhode Island residents and international visitors alike as a powerful work of art and a moving symbol of Providence’s renaissance. WaterFire has captured the imagination of over ten million visitors, bringing to life downtown, and revitalizing Rhode Island’s capital city.

WaterFire first premiered 29 years ago, created as the private project of Evans, an independent artist. The community loved the work. After several years of successful stagings and in response to community demand, Evans partnered with an existing arts non-profit to continue to develop WaterFire and its role in the social and cultural landscape of Rhode Island. In June of 1999, WaterFire Providence was established as an independent 501(c)3 arts organization, with Evans as its founding Executive Director.

The WaterFire Arts Center, which opened its doors to the public in 2017, is a multi-use exhibition and event space located on Valley Street that includes the WaterFire staff offices, Wilbury Theatre, and classroom space for the Wheeler School CitySide program. Over 50,000 visitors have attended events in the space which have included galas, conferences, lectures, theater productions, exhibitions, expos, and private events.

The mission of WaterFire Providence is “to inspire Providence and its visitors by revitalizing the urban experience, fostering community engagement and creatively transforming the city by presenting WaterFire for all to enjoy.” WaterFire Providence, with its spectacular growth under Evans' leadership, ably assisted by a small and talented staff along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, has established itself as an internationally acclaimed work of art that has become the most popular arts event in the state.

WaterFire is presented from 12 to 25 times a year (ranging from small versions to complex productions) and has grown to include a wide array of arts and community partnerships. Attendance varies by season and the scale of the event, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 participants a night.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Informed by a solid understanding and appreciation of WaterFire Providence’s mission, the Director of Corporate Relations and Sponsorships will:

• Lead all sponsorship activities collaborating with and utilizing the resources of all of WaterFire Providence department leads and other members of the WaterFire team.
• Manage a portfolio of 50 current corporate sponsors (from $5,000 to $100,000) with a focus on building strong, long-term relationships with a strategic trajectory that is mutually beneficial.
• Develop well-rounded corporate relationships through stewardship and employee engagement opportunities, such as volunteering.
• Proactively build a healthy pipeline of new corporate relationships for sponsorship and other engagements such as employee volunteering and venue rentals.
• Work closely with the Interim Executive Director and other key staff in the assessment, valuation, and packaging of WaterFire Providence’s potential sponsorship assets.
• Identify categories of potential sponsors and lists of specific prospects within those categories, as well as promotional and event agencies that represent potential sponsors.
• Review corporate sponsorship trends, especially in connection with festivals, museums/art centers, and other nonprofit organizations, and identify opportunities to incorporate these trends where appropriate.
• Collaborate with corporate contacts and cross-departmentally with WaterFire Providence staff to develop meaningful sponsor activations that deliver value to the sponsor, as well as to WaterFire and its audiences. Proactively seek out opportunities for sponsors to add value to programs through unique technologies, activities, content, and subject matter expertise.
• Develop unique stewardship programs for each corporate sponsor, designed to meet the sponsor’s specific needs.
• Lead, manage, and supervise all Development support staff in collaboration with the Interim Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• College degree and three or more years of relevant experience in business/corporate sponsorship and marketing, preferably with a strong list of relevant local, regional and national contacts
• Experience in sales including strong negotiation and clear communication skills, both written and verbal
• Team player who can prioritize organizational over personal goals and objectives
• Creativity, flexible thinking, and comfort with uncertainty
• Ability to maintain the “big-picture” perspective, as well as attention todetail, accuracy, and follow-up. Skills to prioritize and organize multiple projects,meet deadlines, keep records, problem-solve and multi-task
• Ability to thrive and work effectively both individually and as part of a team in afast-paced, creative environment with multiple demands on attention
• Self-motivation and drive to succeed with the ability to take on and accomplish projects with minimal supervision
• Strong computer skills, specifically with productivity, presentation, and project management software including Google Suite products, and willingness to learn and work with new technologies and social media

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $80,000 - $90,000