Athletics Assistant- Partnership Activation, Intern

Job ID: Level 1 criminal background check required.

About Us

The University of South Florida (USF) is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee, and USF Health. With approximately 16,000 employees, USF is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area, dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged, and driven workforce. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference.

About the Role

The Athletics Assistant - Partner Activation Intern will play an integral role in delivering best-in-class experiences for USF Athletics corporate partners. This position provides hands-on experience in sports marketing, sponsorship activation, event operations, and relationship management by assisting with the planning, execution, and evaluation of partnership assets across all USF Athletics programs.

Responsibilities

• Partnership Activation & Account Support
  • Assist with the execution and fulfillment of corporate partnership agreements.
  • Help prepare activation plans, timelines, and event checklists for sponsors.
  • Track sponsorship deliverables and assist with fulfillment documentation.
  • Maintain partnership records, inventories, and internal tracking documents.
  • Assist with sponsor hospitality, ticket fulfillment, and credential coordination.
  • Support partnership recap reports by collecting photos, metrics, and activation highlights.
• Event Preparation
  • Prepare promotional items, signage, credentials, giveaways, and activation materials.
  • Coordinate logistics for on-site sponsor activations.
  • Assist with venue setup and organization prior to events.
  • Conduct quality control checks to ensure partnership assets are properly displayed.
• Game Day & Event Operations
  • Serve as on-site support for USF Athletics home events, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and other athletic events as assigned.
  • Assist with sponsor activations, hospitality areas, promotional displays, and experiential marketing elements.
  • Help troubleshoot activation issues and respond quickly to changing event needs.
  • Capture activation photos and document sponsor execution for post-event reporting.
  • Ensure partner assets are executed according to contractual commitments and brand standards.
• Administrative Support
  • Assist with preparing presentations, meeting materials, and partnership recaps.
  • Conduct research on sponsorship trends, activation ideas, and industry best practices.
  • Support special projects and departmental initiatives as assigned.
  • Maintain organized files, inventories, and project documentation.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Sport Management, Marketing, Business, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
• Passion for sports, marketing, sponsorship, and live events.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, dependable, and willing to take initiative.
• Comfortable working evenings, weekends, and select holidays during athletic seasons.

Skills & Attributes

• Team-oriented and collaborative.
• Customer service focused.
• Creative and solutions driven.
• Professional and dependable.
• Adaptable under pressure.
• Eager to learn and contribute.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); experience with Canva or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
• Passionate about collegiate athletics and creating memorable fan and partner experiences.

Schedule

Approximately 20 hours per week, including a combination of weekday office hours, event preparation, and evenings/weekends supporting athletic events.

Additional Notes

• Ability to lift and transport activation materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.