Manager, Partnership Development & Strategy

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION 1•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The U.S. Soccer Federation aims to ignite a national passion for the game, believing that soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. They work closely with partners and members to inspire, support, and guide the game at every level, from grassroots to National Teams, aiming to bring soccer into every home and community across America. U.S. Soccer is experiencing significant growth and is seeking dynamic servant leaders with visionary leadership, analytical decision-making, professional flexibility, and an empathic management style to achieve globally significant results. This role is for an energetic Manager, Partnership Development & Strategy who will support strategic marketers and partnership experts in driving new business (sponsors/partners), creating industry-leading storytelling materials, and developing new platforms for fan engagement. The position is key to driving financial growth by supporting partnership development, including analysis of commercial opportunities, strategic storytelling, design support, and new asset development aligned with Federation priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
4–6 years of relevant experience in business development, partnership innovation, or commercial strategy roles (either with a property, an agency, or a brand in a similar role)
Experience working in cross-functional environments with several stakeholders
Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments
A strong attention to detail with an ability to connect to the high-level vision
Experience with Adobe Creative and proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook)
General knowledge of soccer
Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission

Nice To Haves

Passion for soccer
A strong understanding of the culture of soccer and its fans across North America
A strong track record of delivering strong revenue outcomes
Knowledge of sports, entertainment, media, and technology industries
Prior experience working in the sports industry, non-profit, or national governing body
Ability to anticipate challenges and identify opportunities to support U.S. Soccer’s initiatives
Fluency, both verbal and written, in Spanish or another language is preferred

Responsibilities

Learn and understand all phases of partnership prospects’ marketing objectives and present partner solutions recommendations consisting of ownable platforms, content ideas, and thought starters
Project manage the end-to-end sales process—from discovery call to proposal development, contract execution, and partnership announcement
Collaborate with Partnership Strategy design team to create sales materials in support of the overall sales process
Support cross-departmental priorities by identifying and securing strategic, multi-year product or service integration partnerships that further Federation initiatives
Collaborate with cross-departmental and external stakeholders to support the commercial growth and go to market strategy for U.S. Soccer’s “emerging property” portfolio
Conduct strategic analysis of open USSF commercial partnership categories in collaboration with leads on the Partnership Development team
Take a lead role in drafting and project managing partnership proposals, decks, and sales materials
Support the Director in leading consistent meetings with internal stakeholders to review progress, provide updates, and vet partner requests
Collaborate with the Partnership Strategy team in the asset development and management process, including collaboration with key internal stakeholders (i.e., Marketing, Events, Media, Sporting), to develop new platforms
Support Federation-wide initiatives from a commercial standpoint
Maintain strong understanding of Federation KPIs in order to develop key strategies & initiatives to achieve long-term and annual goals