Trainee, Sales Operations

Trainee, Sales Operations

The Association of Pickleball Players | The APP Tour (APP) is dedicated to providing the best pickleball tournament experience for all. The APP, owned by Intersport, was founded in 2019 and serves professionals, senior professionals, and amateurs in the fastest growing sport in the country. The first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the 2025 APP Tour slate boasts 19 tournament stops, in addition to Signature, International, and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its Next Gen Series and other youth initiatives.

The APP is seeking to add a smart and driven Trainee, Sales Operations to its Strategic Partnerships team. The Strategic Partnerships team leads the APP's sponsorship and media sales efforts. The Trainee will be responsible for providing high-quality sales support to the APP's sponsorship sales team, including the CRO, SVP, VPs, and Executive Directors. As such, the right candidate will have demonstrated interest in partnership/sponsorship marketing. The Trainee will have a focus on providing desk research, lead generation, creating sponsorship sales decks/proposals, and the tracking and management of sponsorship assets. The right candidate must possess a consultative and collaborative approach to sponsorship sales operations and be able to work in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

The Trainee program is the means for entry-level hiring at the APP. A Trainee position is full-time and covers a period of six months. Toward the end of the six-month period, the APP will determine permanent placement options, based on Trainee performance, market factors, and the APP's ability to hire. The responsibilities of each Trainee position vary depending on the needs of the company and the interests of the Trainee. In addition to their day-to-day work, the Trainee will gain exposure across the organization to get a well-rounded view of APP and of the sports and entertainment marketing industry.

Responsibilities

• Embody and reflect the APP's performance-based culture and commit him/herself and team to the highest standards for all work
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver executional excellence
• Demonstrate comfort interacting with the APP's national and local market sales teams, in a cross functional and collaborative efforts, and other key internal/external constituencies of the strategic partnerships team
• Establish oneself within the team as a go-to resource that can thrive in a fast-paced sales environment that requires quick turnaround times for deliverables
• Develops and increases capabilities by being accepting of timely feedback on ways to improve and engages with his/her manager on best practices for improvement
• Produce PowerPoint presentations (e.g. decks, Word docs, one-pagers, collateral, etc.) with a high-level aesthetic and an exacting level of detail
• Perform desk research and project management for a variety of ad hoc assignments for the APP partnership sales team
• Provide administrative support and prep and follow-up materials for prospect/partner meetings and following events and administrative documents in a clear, concise and detailed manner
• Create and maintain administrative and partnership sales documents in a clear, concise and detailed manner for internal use as well as partner clients and prospects
• In collaboration with the partnership sales team, assist in the internal legal process and agreement/contract administration for new partner clients
• Establish himself/herself as a trusted strategic business partner and "go to" resource for the partnership sales team
• Maintain comprehensive and detailed knowledge of each partner client's rights and benefits (i.e. contractual assets) inclusive of delivery status and related project management and corresponding communications
• Likewise, maintain comprehensive and detailed knowledge of unsold/unallocated sponsorship marketing assets, e.g. availability, quantities, desirability to specific prospects/industries, etc.
• Demonstrate engagement in partner client interaction – meetings, calls/video conferences, correspondence, etc.
• Lead coordination and administration of regular conference calls
• Actively contribute in brainstorming and idea generation sessions to conceptualize and develop new and enhanced activation platforms for current and prospective partners
• Assist in the planning and execution of APP events, including coordination and communication between APP departments and external partner clients/prospects, in support of prospect hosting and partner activation

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this position is $43,900. If, after the six-month Trainee period the Trainee is converted to a permanent employee, the title is adjusted to Coordinator, Sales Operations and the salary is adjusted to $46,000. This position includes medical, dental, vision, parental leave benefits, and 401(k) with company match for qualified employees. This position does not include bonuses, commissions, or other incentives.

Qualifications

• Zero (0) to one (1) years' experience in a marketing role at an agency, brand, media company, sports or entertainment property, or related organization
• Strong interest in the sports and entertainment marketing landscape, specifically sponsorship marketing and/or sponsorship sales
• Demonstrated ability to conduct online/desk research
• Ability to manage multiple programs/projects concurrently, inclusive of a detail oriented and organized approach
• Application of superior prioritization and time-management skills
• Ability to produce high quality work at a fast pace
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proactive, team player with a strong work ethic
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word; proficiency in Excel
• Ability to travel for business on trips typically lasting between two to five days and with an interest in working in an on-site/event marketing environment
• Demonstrable graphic design capabilities (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) a plus

The Association of Pickleball Players, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.