Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships

The Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships leads the development, stewardship, and growth of a dynamic portfolio of corporate sponsors, advancing the Whitney’s strategic fundraising and partnership goals. This role is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, securing, and stewarding corporate support across the Museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives, and public programs, with particular emphasis on marquee opportunities including Free Friday Nights, Art Party, and major exhibitions.  

The Senior Manager identifies and develops new sponsorship prospects while deepening relationships with existing partners to maximize engagement, retention, and revenue growth. Working collaboratively across departments, the role ensures the successful execution and fulfillment of sponsorship benefits, delivering exceptional partner experiences, and aligning corporate partnerships with the Museum’s mission and priorities. 

General Duties & Purpose

• Manage and grow a portfolio of corporate and in-kind sponsors supporting Museum exhibitions, educational initiatives, public programs, Free Friday Nights, Art Party, and other key events.
• Develop and execute sponsorship strategies focused on prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewals to increase revenue and engagement.
• Identify and secure new corporate partnership opportunities through research, networking, strategic outreach, and relationship building.
• Serve as the primary liaison for sponsors, developing customized proposals, agreements, presentations, and impact reports while ensuring an exceptional partner experience.
• Oversee sponsorship benefit fulfillment, including branding, recognition, VIP experiences, event access, hospitality, tours, and contractual commitments.
• Collaborate with internal teams to create and execute sponsorship activations, fundraising events, corporate tours, exhibition previews, and other partner engagement opportunities.
• Lead corporate sponsorship fundraising and activation efforts for events, programs, and exhibitions at the Museum.
• Represent the Museum at industry, corporate, and philanthropic events throughout the city.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to Corporate Partnerships staff while managing sponsorship revenue, reporting, forecasting, databases, and overall program operations.

Requirements: B.A./B.S.; Art History, Arts Management, Business/Marketing preferred. Minimum of 6 years (Management Skills Preferred). Professional experience in corporate fundraising for-profit organizations. Sales/marketing and/or development experience also relevant, preferably in a museum, non-profit or arts-related organization. In addition:

• Advanced computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or familiarity with database programs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

COVID guidelines:

The health and safety of our Museum community is the highest priority.  As such, the Whitney Museum is requiring all newly hired staff members to be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.