Program Director - Sponsorship Alliances

The Cause Alliances team builds powerful relationships that bring our mission into everyday spaces. We collaborate with a wide range of brands in the Houston area and beyond to raise awareness and inspire community engagement. Through local events, sports and nonprofit sponsorships, health education sessions and co-branded campaigns with prominent companies, we meet people where they are to create meaningful opportunities for them to join us in our movement to end cancer.  

SUMMARY
The Program Director for Sponsorships oversees and implements MD Anderson’s local and national sports and community sponsorship programs strategy to engage the public with our mission to end cancer. In collaboration with leadership, this position manages short and long-term strategy and budget planning to manage program growth. This position builds and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to optimize strategy and increase our brand and educational reach through sponsorship. Additionally, this position oversees event and activation execution, including setup, vendor coordination, onsite presence, and staffing.
 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a deep understanding of creative experiential marketing, showcasing the ability to design and execute innovative campaigns that engage and captivate audiences. They will possess strong conference engagement strategies, ensuring active participation and meaningful interactions at events. Additionally, they will have proven people management experience.

This role involves traveling to various MD Anderson Cancer Center partnered events as required

KEY FUNCTIONS

Sponsorship Strategy and Execution

• Develops and optimizes sponsorship strategy for MD Anderson’s local and national sports and community sponsorship programs.
• Evaluates new sponsorship proposals ensuring alignment with Cause Alliances, Philanthropy, and the institutional strategy.
• Contributes to and participates in negotiations for multi-year sponsorship contracts.
• Develops and maintains relationships with leaders and key stakeholders, including rights-holders and sponsorship partners.
• Manages short and long-term strategy planning to enhance program growth.
• Develops sponsorship content strategy in collaboration with IA departments on earned media, social media, photography, and videography.
• Recommends new sponsorship opportunities that strengthen MD Anderson’s cause positioning.
• Identifies opportunities to expand existing sponsorships through merchandise programs, cause campaigns, or collaborative efforts with Philanthropy and other Cause Alliances teams.

Event and Activation Management

• Oversees event execution including setup, vendor coordination, onsite presence, staffing, and collateral to ensure contracted deliverables are met.
• Collaborates with external vendors on plans, concepts, and layouts.
• Works with internal designers to develop visuals that align with graphic and brand standards.
• Coordinates on-site videos, photography, and other activities related to sponsorships or brand ambassador content development.
• Manages and reviews all brand assets used within sponsorship media, communications, and on-site activations ensuring compliance with usage guidelines.
• Manages rights holder and vendor contracts.
• Creates reports to monitor activities and metrics.
• Develops presentations on sponsorship outcomes for leadership and other key stakeholders.

Leadership and Financial Stewardship

• Provides direction and management of the Sponsorship Alliances team, including the recruitment, direction, and evaluation of staff.
• Assists the Director, Corporate and Sponsorship Alliances with developing an annual budget.
• Manages program expenses within the assigned budget.
• Attains strong knowledge of MD Anderson programs and services to effectively promote and represent the institution to all community constituents.

Other duties as assigned. 

MD Anderson offers our employees:
 

• Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for employees who work 30 or more hours per week
• Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage
• Paid time off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) paid leave accruals
• Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service
• Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans
• Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness-related reduced salary pay program
• Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups