Vice President, Enterprise Partnership

Major League Soccer•New York, NY

2d•$200,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Enterprise Partnership leads the strategy and management of the MLS enterprise’s longest standing and largest non-media partner - adidas. As the exclusive provider of on-field and sideline apparel for MLS Clubs, adidas has several partnership, marketing and brand initiatives integrated across multiple divisions, at the League office, our Clubs and all levels of the player development pathway. In your role, you’ll serve to maximize the impact of the partnership across the enterprise, partnering with multiple functions to deliver against brand and revenue goals and create a culture of high performance, collaboration, and strong relationship management. You are a strategist, general manager, brand evangelist, and problem-solver, and your efforts will result in the successful execution of both MLS’ and adidas’ top strategic priorities and joint growth initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA preferred
12+ years of experience in strategy and general management, partnership marketing, consumer products and/or project management
Creative strategist with the ability to identify and commercialize big picture opportunities
Proven experience managing and motivating cross-functional teams
Superior organization and project management skills
Experience in presenting to senior management teams
Commitment to quality work product and organizational ethics, integrity and compliance
Ability to work effectively in a fast paced, team environment
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate, both written and verbally
Demonstrated decision making and problem-solving skills
Detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Ability to travel and to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays

Nice To Haves

Experience in the sports marketing, licensing, and/or retail industries
Knowledge of the sport of soccer

Responsibilities

Build and maintain a strong relationship with adidas, while ensuring the satisfaction and success of the MLS partnership
Define structure and evolve operating best practices to support adidas and MLS strategies on an ongoing basis
Engage enterprise-level support (both League and Club Executive Leadership as well as League Dept. Heads) to deliver on partnership goals
Provide oversight for the management and execution of all components of the adidas agreement which include: Consumer product development for on-field and consumer audiences, including but not limited to liaising with Consumer Products, Brand Marketing, Club Performance Group, Communications, and other teams on jersey and product development timelines, processes, forecasting, merchandising, retailing, and ensuring on-field authentication
Delivery of League-level contractual assets, rights, and benefits, coordinating with MLS Partnership Marketing and ensuring key initiatives are executed on time and within budget
Fulfilment of all Club-level contractual assets, rights, and benefits, coordinating with Club leadership, MLS Club Performance Group, and other teams as needed; Ensure accurate measurement and timely delivery of financial allocations to Clubs
Promotion, distribution, and amplification of brand affiliation and marketing programs, through collaboration with Brand Marketing, Digital Content, Events, and other relevant departments
Execution of activations at League events, e.g., All-Star, MLS Cup, and adidas dedicated events such as Generation adidas Cup, working with Events, NEXT, Partnership Marketing, Brand Marketing and other teams
Deepening affiliation with youth programs and pro player pathway, working with MLS NEXT, MLS NEXT Pro, Player Relations, Events and other teams
Continually look for opportunities to strengthen our relationship by presenting solutions around League initiatives and programs that increase fan engagement and grow retail sales
Effectively engage key internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate actions are taken for risk mitigation and timely resolution of issues, while proactively communicating updates and highlighting challenges that need executive oversight and resolution
Serve as a trusted advisor and centralized point of contact across the full enterprise on all topics related to partnership program and relationship management
Author presentations, recaps and other materials needed to manage and communicate program planning and status updates with key executives and stakeholders
In partnership with the Business Intelligence team and other key stakeholders, establish goals and metrics to measure annual partnership success
Support EVP, Chief Revenue Officer with special projects as needed