Associate NIL Partnership Solutions Manager - University of South Carolina

Learfield is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Associate NIL Partnership Solutions Manager to join our Sports Properties team and lead the activation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships on campus. This role plays a key part in bringing NIL partnerships to life by managing a growing portfolio with autonomy and ensuring all contractual NIL deliverables are executed flawlessly.

In this role, you'll serve as the primary activation lead for NIL partners, coordinating integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social, in-venue, and broadcast platforms. You'll also collaborate closely with sales and university NIL teams to develop creative NIL concepts, craft compelling partner proposals, and translate brand objectives into impactful student-athlete activations. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes initiative to solve problems, and excels at communication, creativity, and strategic execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of NIL partners and lead execution of their contractual deliverables, including appearances, social media content, and experiential activations.
• Serve as the primary liaison between partners, student-athletes, and university NIL teams to ensure all NIL activations meet NCAA, conference, state, and university guidelines.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, and internal stakeholders-serving as a trusted and respected representative of both LEARFIELD and the university.
• Coordinate approval processes and maintain thorough documentation for all NIL partnerships to ensure compliance and transparency.
• Maintain accurate project timelines, activation schedules, and deliverable tracking to ensure timely fulfillment of contractual obligations and high-quality execution.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to brainstorm, develop, and pitch creative NIL campaign concepts that align with partner objectives and drive measurable engagement.
• Support sales strategic planning by contributing to partner ideation, recaps, performance reviews, and renewal discussions.
• Guide Coordinators or game day staff during NIL activation or planning cycles.
• Identify opportunities to improve NIL activation processes and operational efficiency.
• Represent the property in select meetings, planning sessions, and game day operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in sponsorship activation, sports marketing, event execution, or account management.
• Proven success managing partners or projects independently with accountability for outcomes.
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and build relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with interpreting contracts and understanding sponsorship assets across digital and traditional channels.
• Comfort working in live event settings and on tight timelines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other planning or CRM tools.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends for game day or event support.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, sports management, or a related field.
• Experience managing multiple sponsorship or brand partnership accounts simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape, multimedia rights, and the evolving NIL ecosystem.
• Experience developing or supporting content strategies for social media, with a clear sense of what drives engagement across different platforms.
• Familiarity with creative production elements such as graphic design, motion graphics, photography, and social storytelling.

Learfield offers a full spectrum of benefits for eligible employees including Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance and Other Insurance Plans, Flexible Paid Time Off (minimum 10+ days annually), including Parental Leave, 20 Paid Holidays, 401(k) + Match, and Short/Long Term Disability. Leave benefits are consistent with state and local laws, including the Colorado Health Families and Workplaces Act.

Learfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.