Manager, Partnership Development & Strategy

About U.S. Soccer

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. We work closely with our Federation partners and members to inspire, support, and guide every level of the game: from the grassroots to the National Teams. We want to bring soccer into every home and every community across America, transforming lives like no other sport.

About the Role

We are looking for an energetic Manager, Partnership Development & Strategy to join our team. This role supports a group of strategic marketers and partnership experts in driving new business through sponsors and partners, creating industry-leading storytelling materials, and developing new platforms to connect partners with fans and grow the game.

This person will play a key role in driving financial growth by supporting all key components of the Partnership Development department, including analysis of new commercial partnership opportunities, strategic storytelling and design support, and new asset development aligned with key Federation priorities.

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 the 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 (e.g., Marketing, Events, Media, Sporting), to develop new platforms.
• Support Federation-wide initiatives from a commercial standpoint.
• Maintain a strong understanding of Federation KPIs to develop key strategies and initiatives to achieve long-term and annual goals.

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 Suite and proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
• General knowledge of soccer.
• Ability to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission.

Desired Qualifications

• 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.

Benefits

U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, a casual work environment, an inclusive culture, and an atmosphere for professional development.