Director of Community Impact

Detroit Lions•Detroit, MI

5h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Detroit Lions are looking for a passionate, creative and community focused professional to lead our Community Impact department and be a key member of the community and marketing functions. This role provides the opportunity to set the strategic direction for the department annually and execute community initiatives that further the Lions brand across the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. The primary responsibility of this role is to create impactful community programs while fostering meaningful relationships with community stakeholders. This person will be adept at working across a corporate matrix, managing resources and directing community investment. This role will also be responsible for leading the Lions employee volunteer program and advocating for community partners within the organization. Reporting to the Vice President of the Detroit Lions Foundation and Community Relations, this role will be a key leadership voice within the community relations department. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, detail oriented and invested in team success. This individual is both a big-picture thinker and a doer who can roll up their sleeves to ensure meaningful, measurable impact in the community that aligns with the core pillars (cancer support, military support, social justice, food access and literacy), NFL initiatives and emergency response need.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business, or a related field preferred
Minimum of 7 years of experience in corporate and/or sports community relations, foundation development, and/or management required; experience with public relations preferred
Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising a team is preferred, along with experience managing multiple stakeholders
Prior experience working in the professional sports league, especially NFL experience preferred.
Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to contribute effectively within a professional team environment
Able to build relationships with many departments, stakeholders, and other outside community organizations
Ability to exercise flexibility, initiative, good judgment and discretion and work
Exemplary interpersonal, listening and facilitation skills
Excellent energy and enthusiasm, and passion for outreach and engagement
Self-motivated, committed to performance at a high standard
Prior experience working in Detroit market preferred
Ability to work long or unpredictable hours on weekdays, weekends and holidays as needed.
May require work out of both Ford Field in Detroit, MI and the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI.
A valid Driver’s License and a good driving record

Nice To Haves

experience with public relations preferred
experience managing multiple stakeholders
Prior experience working in the professional sports league, especially NFL experience preferred.
Prior experience working in Detroit market preferred

Responsibilities

Create and implement community activations that give back to the community and elevate the civic profile of the Detroit Lions and its players
Build and maintain relationships across corporate, nonprofit, and community partners to expand reach and effectiveness of community engagement
Collaborate with Corporate Partnerships to identify and activate sponsorship opportunities that align with community impact priorities
Lead the development and execution of in-season and year-round community programming aligned with organizational pillars and NFL initiatives
Own the delivery of community events and initiatives, ensuring excellence in execution and measurable outcomes
Oversee the day-to-day operations of CI team, including budgeting, reporting and compliance
Develop and manage systems, processes and policies to support effective program delivery
Effectively manage the Community Impact Calendar to drive optimal impact and consistent communication and execution of initiatives/engagements
Monitor program performance, manage data collection and prepare reports for internal and external audiences
Monitor performance indicators using department dashboard and track outcomes
Communicate impact through reports, presentations and storytelling
Use data insights to refine strategies and improve effectiveness
Foster collaborative and mission-driven team culture
Manage workload distribution while stepping in to support execution during high-demand period
Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching and development
Oversees the department’s seasonal intern program ensuring consistency in hiring, onboarding and performance standards
Work with the Detroit Lions Foundation to leverage resources—including funding, partnerships, and platforms—to enhance community programming and ensure cohesive storytelling and impact measurement
Work across departments to embed community impact into broader Club initiatives, ensuring consistency in messaging and execution
Partner with Corporate Communications to amplify community impact through cohesive storytelling
Drive communications across the organization and with corporate partners to ensure alignment to the club’s strategic initiatives
Stakeholder management and communication: this role will help drive impact through partnership throughout the Club in executing events and commitments
Mature judgment, a willingness to make decisions, exhibit sound and accurate judgment, and includes appropriate people in the decision-making process
Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office and appropriate software tools
Must be motivated, reliable, and able to work independently or as part of a team in a fast-paced environment – with the ability to shift priorities in an agile fashion.
Must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities while meeting deadlines
Problem solver who displays original thinking and creativity and meets challenges with resourcefulness
Leads with authenticity and honesty, while creating team spirit and comradery
Will learn, understand, and demonstrate the leadership attributes as described by the organization
Will adjust work schedule to meet departmental demands
Will accept other responsibilities and duties as assigned by the supervisor consistent with the objectives and essential functions of this position. Such responsibilities shall be incorporated into the position description if they are ongoing