Corporate Partnerships Strategist - Club Performance Group

Corporate Partnerships Strategist Club Performance Group

Full Time

Tampa, FL (USL Headquarters)

Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)

The United Soccer League (USL) is shaping the future of American soccer through the largest connected soccer ecosystem in the United States. With a presence in more than 200 communities nationwide, the USL unites every level of the game from youth development to Division One professional competition across both men's and women's pathways. Rooted in community and driven by a bold vision, the USL is turning local passion into nationwide momentum by giving every fan a home, every player a pathway, and every community a place in American soccer's exciting next chapter. United for Soccer.

Position Purpose

The Corporate Partnerships Strategist acts as a strategic advisor, primarily supporting USL expansion Clubs during their onboarding phase, in the creation and execution of commercial framework and partnership strategies that will drive long-term business performance. Through collaboration with Club leadership, the Strategist will identify areas of opportunity for Clubs in the early stages of their development and provide tangible corporate partnership support in the areas of revenue modeling, asset identification, valuation development, and go-to-market strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a corporate partnership strategic advisor to USL expansion Clubs during their onboarding phase (pre-launch, typically within ~18 months of commencing play), supporting the development of foundational partnership revenue targets and strategies.
• Provide guidance on asset valuation methodology, sponsorship package creation, and pricing strategies to help Clubs maximize commercial potential.
• Advise Clubs on the development, refinement, and positioning of their partnership sales materials and pitch proposals.
• Hold regular expansion Club calls with Club ownership and department heads to communicate deliverables, review progress, provide consultation, implement strategies, and remedy issues (cadence may vary by Club and could be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly etc.).
• Participate in weekly Expansion Club Performance meetings to strategize on Corporate Partnership-related matters and practices.
• Analyze data and industry trends to identify insights that will support Club partnership sales efforts.
• Produce reporting that tracks Club progress towards their stated goals and objectives.
• Works with the VP, Partnerships Club Performance Group to execute a strategy that helps CPG's Partnerships vertical continue to evolve in accordance with USL growth, and Club needs.
• Works with Expansion Club Performance on a consistent basis to ensure collaboration across expansion Club initiatives.
• Contribute to the strategic delivery and advisement of current Club projects, as needed.
• Collaborate with other members of the Club Performance Group to ensure consistency of the department's messaging/approach and the advancement of the services offered by the department.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in marketing, business, a related field, or equivalent experience/combined education.
• 4+ years of professional experience selling sports sponsorships.
• An understanding and passion for the partnership process, from ideation, to outreach, to proposal/sale through effective servicing.
• Experience in a service or consultative role is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of how to use data as part of the sales process with comfort turning raw data into visual presentation.
• Experience with partner measurement tools (broadcast + social) and experience turning measurement data into actionable reporting.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Self-starter who can work independently and within a cross-functional team.
• Willingness to take on operations/execution as needed, in addition to strategy.
• Full understanding of the MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong verbal and communication skills, including the ability to influence and persuade others with diplomacy and tact; work with numerous partners of differing levels, flexing interaction style as required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with team members, executives, member Clubs, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently in a multi-faceted, fast, fluid, and deadline-driven environment.
• Positive attitude and strong work ethic a must.
• Ability to work as business needs require which may include long days, evenings, weekends, occasional holidays, and travel if / when necessary.
• Must have U.S. work authorization.

Work Environment

Based in Tampa, FL, USL Headquarters provides a vibrant and open working environment designed to promote collaboration, the exchange of ideas, and knowledge sharing. We believe in fostering a culture that encourages creativity, communication, and teamwork. Currently, USL HQ operates on a hybrid work model. From Monday to Thursday, team members gather in person to harness the power of face-to-face collaboration. This not only strengthens the bonds within the team but also enhances communication and innovation. On Fridays, we transition to a remote work setup, providing our team with the flexibility to manage their tasks in an environment of their choosing. Typical USL HQ hours are Monday Friday 8:30am 5:30pm ET. Evenings, weekends, occasional holidays, and travel may be necessary based on business demands.

We Have Great Perks

Comprehensive Benefits Package Medical, Dental, Vision Health HSA and FSA 401k w/ up to 6% company match Paid Parental Leave Free On-Site Parking at USL HQ Pet Insurance Corporate Discounts Paid Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days Business Casual Dress Optional Remote Work Fridays And More! We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.