MEETINGS MANAGER - SPONSORSHIPS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Arlington, Virginia, The Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) is seeking a Meetings Manager - Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships to grow sponsorship revenue, develop industry partnerships, and ensure sponsors receive a professional and valuable experience. This role manages the full sponsorship cycle, from prospect research and proposal development through sales, relationship management, and benefit fulfillment. The Manager also supports sponsor-related event logistics and works across SYTA's conferences, programs, publications, digital platforms, and affiliated initiatives. The ideal candidate is a relationship builder who combines sales ability with strong organization and follow-through. This person should be comfortable developing new opportunities, managing multiple sponsor commitments, and collaborating across a small, fast-paced association team. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES - Develop and manage sponsorship sales plans and prospect pipelines for SYTA's Annual Conference, Summit, webinars, publications, digital channels, and other programs. - Identify and cultivate prospective sponsors and strategic partners; prepare proposals, presentations, agreements, and renewal opportunities. - Sell sponsorship, advertising, and customized recognition packages that support organizational revenue goals and sponsor objectives. - Build strong relationships with sponsors and partners to encourage satisfaction, renewals, and multiyear commitments. - Manage the fulfillment of contracted sponsor benefits, including registration, hotel coordination, signage, program recognition, digital placements, creative assets, and onsite activations. - Maintain accurate sales pipelines, sponsor records, benefit trackers, contracts, deadlines, and revenue information in SYTA's CRM and related systems. - Prepare sponsorship revenue forecasts, pipeline updates, renewal reports, and performance summaries for the Director of Conferences and Meetings and senior leadership. - Develop strategic partnerships with tourism organizations, destination marketing organizations, educational associations, suppliers, and other aligned industry partners. - Coordinate with Conferences and Meetings, Marketing and Communications, Membership, Finance, the SYTA Youth Foundation, Research, and other program teams to deliver sponsor and partner commitments. - Provide sponsor support during SYTA events, help resolve fulfillment issues, and prepare post-event recaps. - Represent SYTA at selected conferences, trade shows, and partner meetings as needed. Bachelor's degree in hospitality, business, marketing, communications, event management, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered. - Three to five years of experience in sponsorship sales, partnership development, event management, association business development, or a related field preferred. - Demonstrated ability to develop proposals, manage sales pipelines, negotiate agreements, and achieve revenue goals. - Experience coordinating sponsor benefits, event signage, digital recognition, and onsite fulfillment. - Strong relationship-building, presentation, customer-service, organizational, and project-management skills. - Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently while collaborating effectively in a remote environment. - Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and event or project-management platforms. - Willingness to travel and provide onsite support at SYTA events. - Demonstrated ability to work remotely - Commitment to SYTA's mission of advancing student and youth travel. SYTA offers a competitive benefits package that includes remote-work flexibility, paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, a year-end office closure, health insurance, a 401(k) match, and professional development opportunities, subject to current SYTA policies.