Associate VP Athletics Retail Ops

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The USF Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors a diverse, nationally competitive Division I athletic program and supports student-athletes’ progress toward graduation, health, fitness, and emotional development. Its programs also foster collegiality, allegiance, and pride among the university community, alumni, supporters, and the greater Tampa Bay community. The Associate VP Athletics Retail Ops leads USF Athletics’ retail enterprise, developing and executing strategies that support revenue growth, fan engagement, and long-term business objectives. The role provides oversight of retail locations, game-day and venue operations, special events, and e-commerce; manages financial performance and retail profitability; directs merchandise and product development; and advances integrated physical and digital commerce. The position also manages external partnerships and leads retail staff, promoting customer service, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Other related duties and special projects may be assigned. USF is a public research university with approximately 50,000 students and approximately 16,000 employees. Its Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. A Level 1 criminal background check is required. Employment eligibility requirements in the United States apply.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, retail management, marketing, sports management, hospitality, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 8 years of progressive leadership experience in retail, e-commerce, sports, entertainment, collegiate athletics, consumer products, or a related industry.
Experience with revenue generation, financial management, inventory, merchandising, staffing, and vendor management.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic business plans.
Experience with POS, inventory management, e-commerce, CRM, and retail analytics platforms.
Strong analytical, financial, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as required by the athletics calendar.
A Level 1 criminal background check is required.
Must meet employment eligibility requirements in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Senior-level experience in collegiate or professional sports, entertainment, or major venue retail.
Experience managing retail operations across multiple venues.
Experience with collegiate licensing and merchandise.
Experience developing exclusive merchandise and strategic retail partnerships.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the overall retail and merchandise strategy for USF Athletics, aligning revenue growth, fan engagement, and long-term business objectives.
Provide strategic oversight of retail locations, game-day operations, venue stores, special events, and e-commerce platforms.
Manage retail profitability, budgeting, forecasting, pricing strategies, and performance metrics to achieve revenue and growth targets.
Establish merchandise strategies, product assortments, licensing initiatives, and exclusive retail offerings that strengthen the USF Athletics brand.
Integrate physical retail, digital commerce, marketing, and technology to enhance customer experience, sales, and fan engagement.
Build and maintain relationships with vendors, manufacturers, licensing partners, sponsors, and external stakeholders to expand retail opportunities and brand reach.
Recruit, mentor, and manage retail staff while fostering customer service, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Perform other related duties, initiatives, and special projects as assigned to support USF Athletics retail objectives.