Corporate Sponsorship Acquisition Specialist

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Fundraising, Sales or a related field.
  

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in corporate sponsorships, sponsorship sales, partnership development, business development, fundraising or event commercialization.
  
• Local market experience working closely with corporates and specific on events sponsorships.
  

Competencies:

Technical Competencies

• Demonstrable track record of personally securing and closing corporate sponsorships or partnership deals, particularly for high-value or high-profile events.
  
• An established network among Kenyan corporate decision-makers and organisations with marketing, CSR/ESG, corporate affairs, employee engagement or sponsorship budgets.
  
• Proven ability to access senior stakeholders and convert relationships into sponsorship commitments within short, deadline-driven sales cycles.
  
• Strong commercial, negotiation, influencing and closing skills.
  
• Excellent presentation, proposal-writing and relationship-management skills.
  
• Ability to operate independently as a subject matter expert and provide specialist advice to MSF colleagues.
  
• Strong understanding of the corporate sponsorship, events and CSR/ESG landscape in Kenya; experience with premium charity, golf, gala, run or comparable events is highly desirable.
  
• Highly target-driven, resilient and comfortable managing multiple high-value negotiations under significant time pressure.
  

Tasks & Responsibilities

Corporate Sponsorship Strategy and Pipeline Ownership

• Support in developing and implementing the corporate sponsorship acquisition strategy for the Charity Gala Dinner, Charity Golf Tournament and Charity Run & Walk.
  
• Build and own a prioritised pipeline of corporate prospects, including anchor and premium prospects, based on sponsorship potential, decision-maker access, giving capacity, strategic fit and event relevance.
  
• Map sponsorship opportunities against sectors and corporate budgets, including marketing, brand, CSR/ESG, employee engagement, customer engagement and corporate affairs.
  
• Determine the most appropriate sponsorship assets, levels and prospects for each event and continuously refine the pipeline based on market response.
  
• Set clear prospecting, meeting, proposal, negotiation and closure milestones against agreed sponsorship income targets.
  

High-Value Corporate Prospecting and Senior Stakeholder Access

• Lead proactive prospecting through established networks, warm introductions, business forums, direct approaches and existing MSF relationships.
  
• Secure meetings with CEOs, Managing Directors, Marketing Directors, Corporate Affairs leaders, CSR/ESG heads, HR leaders and other corporate budget holders.
  
• Use professional networks and market knowledge to open doors to organisations that may not be accessible through conventional fundraising approaches.
  
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with senior corporate stakeholders and position MSF’s events as credible platforms for humanitarian impact, brand visibility, employee engagement and corporate purpose.
  
• Represent MSF professionally in high-level corporate and business networking environments to originate sponsorship opportunities.
  

Sponsorship Proposition Development and Commercial Packaging

• Lead the design and refinement of commercially compelling sponsorship packages for each event, including title/presenting sponsorship, premium tiers, corporate tables, golf foursomes, hole sponsorships, brand activations, prizes and in-kind partnerships.
  
• Advise on sponsorship pricing, benefits, exclusivity, branding, hospitality and activation opportunities based on market expectations and the profile of each event.
  
• Tailor sponsorship propositions to individual corporate objectives and decision-makers rather than relying solely on standard packages.
  
• Prepare high-quality sponsorship proposals, pitch decks and presentations that clearly articulate both the humanitarian value and corporate proposition.
  
• Ensure that proposed benefits are realistic, deliverable and aligned with MSF’s principles and approval requirements.
  

Sponsorship Sales, Negotiation and Closing

• Lead sponsorship pitches and commercial conversations with prospective sponsors from initial engagement through to commitment.
  
• Lead negotiations on sponsorship value, contribution levels, benefits, branding, activation, hospitality and other commercial terms within approved parameters.
  
• Use strong sales judgement to overcome objections, manage competing priorities and move prospects towards timely decisions.
  
• Create and manage a clear closing strategy for priority prospects, particularly anchor and high-value sponsors.
  
• Secure signed sponsorship agreements/MOUs and confirmed financial or in-kind commitments within agreed event timelines.
  
• Escalate matters requiring organisational, financial, legal or policy decisions while retaining ownership of the commercial relationship and acquisition process.
  

Event-Specific Sponsorship Acquisition

• Charity Gala Dinner: lead acquisition of title/presenting sponsors, premium sponsors, corporate tables, hospitality partnerships, brand partners and other high-value revenue opportunities.
  
• Charity Golf Tournament: lead acquisition of title/presenting sponsors, corporate foursomes, premium hospitality, hole sponsorships, prizes, gifts, activations and other sponsorship assets.
  
• Charity Run & Walk: lead acquisition of title/presenting, gold, silver and other sponsorship levels, corporate/team participation, activation partners and in-kind sponsors.
  
• Prioritise anchor sponsorships and high-value opportunities that can materially contribute to the financial success of each event.
  
• Work with relevant MSF colleagues to ensure sponsor commitments can be delivered, while retaining primary responsibility for sponsorship acquisition and closure.
  

Sponsor Stewardship and Relationship Conversion

• Maintain senior-level relationships with confirmed sponsors and ensure a professional transition from commitment to fulfilment.
  
• Capture and document key relationship intelligence, decision-maker information, commitments and future opportunities.
  
• Identify opportunities to convert event sponsors into repeat sponsors, annual event partners or broader corporate partnerships with MSF.
  
• Advise MSF on prospects with potential for longer-term strategic corporate relationships beyond the immediate event.
  

Reporting, Accountability and Compliance

• Provide regular, concise updates to the Head of Fundraising on pipeline value, senior meetings, proposals, negotiations, commitments and income secured.
  
• Maintain accurate records of prospects, corporate contacts, proposals, agreements and financial commitments in relevant MSF systems.
  
• Ensure all sponsorship engagements proceed through MSF due diligence, gift acceptance, ethical fundraising and brand approval processes.
  
• Provide a complete handover of active relationships, negotiations, signed agreements, outstanding actions and future opportunities at the end of the assignment.
  

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Integrate EDI & Safeguarding aspects in area of work responsibility, including policies and practices.
  
• Recognize, respond, and document any form of abuse or inappropriate behavior and alert the safeguarding unit of any suspected potential abuse.
  
• Proactively participate in the individual performance management process including objective setting, performance monitoring and performance evaluation.