Sponsorship Manager

The Sponsorships Manager will serve as the driving force behind all sponsorship-related initiatives, ensuring that Classera’s flagship events, roadshows, and marketing campaigns are consistently supported through strong financial backing from strategic partners. This individual will be at the forefront of cultivating and managing high-value relationships across the education ecosystem, extending from government institutions and regulatory bodies to influential corporate entities and private-sector stakeholders.

The role demands not only expertise in relationship building but also a comprehensive understanding of the evolving education and EdTech landscape, including the nuances of government priorities, private sector investment trends, and the growing demand for technology-enabled learning solutions. By positioning Classera’s initiatives as attractive and mutually beneficial opportunities, the Sponsorships Manager will unlock new revenue streams and secure the resources needed to elevate Classera’s visibility and impact.

Operating as a bridge between internal teams and external sponsors, this role requires exceptional communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking. The Sponsorships Manager will design and present sponsorship packages tailored to the needs of different partner types, ensuring value alignment and long-term collaboration. Success will be measured by the amount of annual sponsorship revenue generated, as well as by the strength and depth of Classera’s sponsorship ecosystem.

Ultimately, this role is not just about closing sponsorship deals; it is about forging enduring partnerships that advance the mission of Classera while delivering measurable impact for sponsors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sponsorship Acquisition & Management

• Conduct systematic research to identify and qualify potential sponsors across EdTech providers, multinational corporations, telecom operators, technology companies, government ministries, semi-government agencies, NGOs, and education-focused foundations.
• Initiate and lead outreach campaigns targeting organizations that align with Classera’s mission and events strategy. This includes leveraging personal networks, attending industry conferences, and utilizing CRM intelligence to build a strong sponsor pipeline.
• Build, nurture, and sustain long-term relationships with sponsors by positioning Classera as a trusted partner. Maintain regular touchpoints with key stakeholders to ensure sponsorships evolve into strategic alliances rather than one-off financial transactions.
• Negotiate sponsorship agreements that are comprehensive and transparent, outlining clear deliverables, benefits, and performance indicators. Ensure agreements provide tangible return on investment (ROI) for sponsors while also supporting Classera’s objectives.
• Act as the custodian of sponsor satisfaction, continuously monitoring engagement levels, providing timely updates, and resolving any issues that arise before, during, or after events.

2. Package Development & Customization

• Collaborate extensively with Marketing, Partnerships, and Customer Success teams to craft attractive and innovative sponsorship packages that highlight the visibility, prestige, and value of partnering with Classera.
• Go beyond standard sponsorship offerings by tailoring proposals to match the strategic priorities, branding needs, and market objectives of each potential sponsor. For example, some sponsors may prioritize brand exposure, while others may seek lead generation, government visibility, or thought-leadership opportunities.
• Introduce tiered sponsorship models (e.g., Platinum, Gold, Silver, Custom) that offer flexible pricing and benefit structures to appeal to organizations of varying sizes and capacities.
• Ensure all sponsorship packages are data-backed, with clear projections on expected reach, audience engagement, and ROI metrics to increase sponsor confidence.

3. Event Collaboration

• Work hand-in-hand with Classera’s event management and marketing teams to integrate sponsors seamlessly into the broader event ecosystem. This includes logo placements, speaking slots, exhibitor booths, VIP networking opportunities, and other visibility channels.
• Guarantee that sponsorship obligations are met before, during, and after events by developing and managing a sponsorship delivery plan. Ensure sponsors receive timely updates on progress and have clear visibility of their benefits in action.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for sponsors during all events, offering on-the-ground support, ensuring smooth communication, and delivering a professional sponsor experience.
• Capture post-event feedback from sponsors, documenting successes and areas for improvement, and use these insights to refine future sponsorship strategies.

4. Market & Ecosystem Insight

• Stay consistently informed of developments within the education and EdTech sectors, both locally and globally. This includes tracking government policy changes, technology adoption trends, and new corporate initiatives related to education.
• Monitor competitors’ sponsorship strategies and benchmark best practices across the event and education industries to ensure Classera maintains a competitive edge.
• Identify emerging sectors, industries, or markets that could serve as new sponsorship sources — for example, digital platforms, AI companies, fintech players, or health-tech organizations with education-aligned CSR goals.
• Anticipate the needs and expectations of potential sponsors by aligning sponsorship offerings with evolving market demands and sponsor business strategies.

5. Reporting & Performance Tracking

• Implement a structured reporting system to track sponsorship sales performance on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. Ensure leadership has full visibility of pipeline health, deal progress, and conversion rates.
• Maintain detailed sponsorship records in the CRM system, including contract terms, contact details, deal stages, and expected revenue.
• Generate insightful reports highlighting key achievements, sponsorship revenue trends, sponsor satisfaction scores, and retention metrics.
• Use performance data to refine outreach approaches, enhance sponsorship packages, and improve closing strategies. Share actionable recommendations with leadership for continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Event Management, or a closely related field. A postgraduate qualification or MBA is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Experience: 4–6 years of proven experience in sponsorship sales, business development, partnerships, or fundraising roles, ideally within the education, events, or technology sectors. Demonstrated success in achieving or exceeding annual sponsorship revenue targets is critical.
• Network Strength: Well-established relationships within the education ecosystem, including ministries of education, corporate CSR departments, private education providers, technology firms, and regional NGOs.
• Sales Acumen: Strong commercial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities, craft compelling value propositions, and close high-value sponsorship agreements.
• Negotiation & Communication: Exceptional skills in presenting proposals, handling objections, and negotiating win-win agreements that build long-term trust. Fluency in both English and Arabic is mandatory to engage stakeholders across MENA markets.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working collaboratively across departments such as Marketing, Partnerships, and Customer Success. Ability to balance multiple stakeholder interests and align them toward common goals.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple sponsorship deals simultaneously, often under tight deadlines. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Technical Competency: Proficiency in CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho) for tracking sponsorship progress, managing pipelines, and analyzing sponsor data. Advanced MS Office and presentation skills are expected.
• Mindset & Attitude: Entrepreneurial, results-driven, and highly motivated by measurable outcomes. Adept at turning challenges into opportunities and thinking creatively to unlock new revenue sources.