JobsAmerican Family Insurance

Lead Sponsorships Strategist (Hybrid)

American Family Insurance · Madison, WI

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a high-profile sponsorship you led from strategy through execution. What was the investment size and what was your role in shaping it?

whether the candidate has actually owned large-scale sponsorship programs versus supported them

Tell me about a sponsorship or activation that didn't perform the way you expected. What did the data tell you, and what did you change?

comfort using metrics to course-correct rather than just report results

Describe a time you had to explain a complex marketing or sponsorship concept to someone several levels above you who had limited context. How did you adjust your approach?

ability to translate complexity for executives without dumbing it down or losing substance

Tell me about a partner relationship that started to sour. What caused it and how did you work to fix it?

relationship management skills with external partners who have their own competing interests

Tell me about a time you had to coordinate across legal, procurement, and an outside agency to get a sponsorship contract finalized. What slowed things down and how did you push it forward?

cross-functional coordination skills and persistence in navigating internal process

Technical

What KPIs do you typically use to judge whether a sponsorship investment is paying off, and how do you weigh brand awareness against harder business outcomes?

depth of understanding of sponsorship measurement beyond surface-level engagement numbers

How have you built or managed a sponsorship budget, and what do you do when actual costs start creeping past what was planned?

real experience with budget ownership versus just contributing numbers to someone else's spreadsheet

When you're pulling together an executive summary or activation recap, what do you prioritize including, and what do you leave out?

judgment about what senior leaders actually need to see versus what's just busywork detail

What trends are you seeing right now in sponsorship marketing, and how would you apply one of them to a brand like American Family Insurance?

whether they stay current on the industry and can connect trends to this specific brand's positioning

Situational

How do you go about building the vision and strategy for a sponsorship portfolio when leadership hasn't given you a fully defined direction?

ability to operate with ambiguity and translate loose executive intent into concrete strategy

Say a major partner activation is three weeks out and the creative agency's concept isn't aligned with what marketing leadership actually wants. How do you handle it?

how they manage conflict between agency partners and internal stakeholders under time pressure

Imagine two sponsorship opportunities compete for the same budget and both fit the brand. How would you decide which one gets the investment?

analytical rigor and strategic prioritization skills when resources are constrained

You're managing three project phases of a major sponsorship at once and one starts falling behind. Walk me through how you'd prioritize your time.

project management maturity when juggling multiple complex initiatives simultaneously

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by American Family Insurance.

Position Compensation Range: $99,000.00 - $167,000.00 Pay Rate Type: Salary Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographic work location. Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates. The Lead Sponsorships Strategist leads the strategy, planning, and execution of high-profile, consumer-facing sponsorships that drive brand awareness, fan engagement, and business growth opportunities. You will manage relationships with assigned partners, agencies, and key stakeholders to maximize the value of sponsorship investments and ensure alignment with strategic priorities. You will leverage insights to develop integrated strategies, optimize sponsorship assets and benefits, and drive performance against business objectives and key performance indicators. You will provide leadership and direction to ensure sponsorship and brand experiences are executed effectively and deliver meaningful impact for the business. You will report to the Senior Manager, Sponsorships, Partnerships & Events. In this flex office/home role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month from Madison, WI 53783 Internal candidates are encouraged to apply and should review the internal mobility guidelines in the hybrid policy reference guide for more information on potential relocation.  We will not consider candidates who require current or future sponsorship for this position Primary Accountabilities • You will partner with Marketing Sponsorships leadership to establish and develop the vision for the unit’s strategy. You will work closely with marketing leadership and creative agency partners to develop and design high-profile marketing sponsorship strategies.  • You will research and compile trends on the effectiveness of the sponsorship marketing strategy and programs to make any necessary changes to improve effectiveness.  • You will consult with marketing leadership to assess needs and determine objectives for high-profile partnership activations to ensure effective and impactful experiences.  • You will contribute to the evolution of the portfolio, shaping marketing goals and objectives for future growth.  • You will lead projects, project teams and/or specifics project phases of high-profile initiatives, with large investment profiles.  You will be accountable for ongoing activities or objectives, i.e. content production.  • You will provide overall leadership portfolio management for high-profile marketing sponsorships, including executive summaries, activation recaps, data analysis, budget development and management, with recommendations targeting customers, markets, product opportunities and strategies.   • You will lead the planning, implementation and management of high-profile marketing sponsorship activations to ensure alignment with the overall marketing strategy and divisional KPIs.  • You will research and analyze metrics from sponsorship activations, digital campaigns, and community support initiatives to measure against KPIs and optimize as needed.  • You will communicate sponsorship results with marketing leadership and key partner contacts.  • You will collaborate with marketing leadership and Creative Agency Teams to bring high-profile sponsorships and experiential activations to market. You will also work with agency partners, Sourcing and Procurement, and Legal to ensure accurate contract agreements.  • You may be required to complete other assignments or participate in projects based upon skills, achievements, or experience.  Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Education Requirements • Demonstrated experience providing customer-driven solutions, support, or service.  • Demonstrated experience effectively executing high level executive communication and presentations.  • Demonstrated experience communicating complex marketing concepts to all levels of management.   • Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects.   • Extensive knowledge and understanding with marketing concepts, strategies, sponsorships, practices & tools.  • Demonstrated experience overseeing high-level and larger scale sponsorships and events.  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and analytical thinking.  • Demonstrated experience in data informed planning and decision making.  • Travel requirements  ​​​up to 25%  Additional Qualifications • Experience supporting a Marketing Sponsorship budget process • Experience delivering executive-ready presentations • Experience analyzing KPIs and presenting actionable insights #LI-Hybrid Additional Information • To ensure a strong start, all employees participate in our New Employee Orientation during their first week.  This experience is held in person at our Madison, WI Headquarters or one of our AmFam core locations to help you connect with our mission, meet key team members and build relationships that support your growth.  At times, sessions may be delivered virtually based on scheduling and availability.  • Offer to selected candidate will be made contingent on the results of applicable background checks • Offer to selected candidate is contingent on signing a non-disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions • Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless specified in the posting We provide benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. You will have access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and wellbeing benefits that enable you to take care of your health. We also offer a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full-time employees). In addition, our student loan repayment program and paid-family leave are available to support our employees and their families. Interns and contingent workers are not eligible for American Family Insurance Group benefits. We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non-discrimination, non-harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. American Family Insurance is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please email AskHR@AmFam.com to request a reasonable accommodation. #LI-RS1

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