Sports Partnership Account Executive

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

The Sports Partnership Account Executive ** ** is responsible for achieving or exceeding sports revenue goals by partnering with a team of Account Executives to develop and close new and existing advertiser opportunities across 9NEWS and TEGNA’s multiplatform sports portfolio.

You’ll join Account Executives on sales calls, build strategic sports marketing solutions, and help advertisers connect with passionate fans through premier sports properties including the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, NBC Sports Properties, Premion OTT Sports programming, and other sports properties connected with 9NEWS.

Success in this role comes from strong sales collaboration, creative sports strategy, disciplined follow-through, and the ability to turn linear TV, content sponsorships, digital, streaming, and OTT opportunities, including PREMION, into compelling advertising solutions that drive revenue growth and measurable client outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the team of Account Executives to identify, develop, and close sports advertising revenue from new and existing clients.
• Join Account Executives on client sales calls as the sports subject matter expert, helping uncover needs, shape opportunities, and advance business.
• Support Account Executives throughout the sales process, from targeted prospecting and pre-call planning through proposal development, presentation, negotiation, and post-sale transition.
• Identify market potential, category opportunities, and competitive insights that help grow sports revenue and expand advertiser participation.
• Develop strategic, insight-driven sports marketing solutions tied to key properties including the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, NBC Olympics, NBC Sunday Night Football, NBA on NBC, MLB on NBC, NBC PGA Tournaments, Premion OTT Sports programming, and additional sports programming connected with 9NEWS.
• Create custom campaigns and sponsorship concepts that meet client needs across broadcast, digital, streaming, OTT, and content sponsorships.
• Upsell current clients across the full 9NEWS sports and media product line.
• Collaborate with sales leadership, marketing, research, production, digital, and operations teams to build integrated campaigns.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, agencies, league/team contacts, and internal stakeholders.
• Manage CRM activity, pipeline, forecasts, and sports revenue updates.
• Represent 9NEWS at client events, networking opportunities, and sports-related hospitality as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of sales experience in a fast-paced sports-centric media environment; local market sports, broadcast, digital, streaming, agency, or sponsorship experience preferred.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales goals and developing new business opportunities.
• Strong understanding of sports marketing, fan engagement, sponsorship packaging, and advertiser strategy.
• Ability to translate advertiser objectives into creative, actionable, and measurable sports marketing solutions.
• Confident presenter and consultative seller with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with Account Executives, sales leaders, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organization, follow-through, and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, proposals, and active sales opportunities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and CRM systems; experience with Wide Orbit Sales, Salesforce, Wide Orbit Analytics, Comscore, Monday.com, AdImpact, Tableau, or similar platforms preferred.
• Positive, adaptable, and solutions-oriented in a fast-moving sales environment.

Supervision/Contacts

Reports to the Director of Sales at 9NEWS and works closely with Sales Management, Account Executive Team, clients, agencies, internal marketing and production teams, and external sports partners.

Competitive compensation includes base salary plus an incentive plan tied to sports revenue growth, sales collaboration, and overall performance. On-target compensation range of $150,000-$200,000 based on experience, qualifications, and market considerations.

Pay Range

$120,000 - $200,000 USD

Benefits:

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year.

• Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.

EEO statement

TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. We value and consider applications from all qualified candidates without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. TEGNA will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you are in need of an accommodation in order to submit your application, please email askhr@tegna.com

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Recruiters or Hiring Managers will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information such as social security numbers.

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