Vice President, Enterprise Partnership

About the role

Leads the strategy and management of Major League Soccer’s longest-standing and largest non-media partner—adidas. As the exclusive provider of on-field and sideline apparel for MLS Clubs, adidas integrates partnership, marketing, and brand initiatives across multiple divisions, the League office, Clubs, and all levels of the player development pathway. In this role, you will maximize the impact of the partnership across the enterprise, collaborating with multiple functions to deliver brand and revenue goals while fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and strong relationship management. You are a strategist, general manager, brand evangelist, and problem-solver, driving the successful execution of both MLS’ and adidas’ top strategic priorities and joint growth initiatives.

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 (League and Club Executive Leadership as well as League Department Heads) to deliver on partnership goals.
• Provide oversight for the management and execution of all components of the adidas agreement, including:
  • Consumer product development for on-field and consumer audiences, 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 to ensure key initiatives are executed on time and within budget.
  • Fulfillment of all Club-level contractual assets, rights, and benefits, coordinating with Club leadership, MLS Club Performance Group, and other teams; 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 (e.g., Generation adidas Cup), working with Events, NEXT, Partnership Marketing, Brand Marketing, and other teams.
  • Deepening affiliation with youth programs and the pro player pathway, working with MLS NEXT, MLS NEXT Pro, Player Relations, Events, and other teams.
• Continually identify opportunities to strengthen the relationship by presenting solutions around League initiatives and programs that increase fan engagement and grow retail sales.
• Engage key internal stakeholders to mitigate risks, resolve issues, and proactively communicate updates, escalating challenges requiring executive oversight.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and centralized point of contact across the enterprise for all partnership program and relationship management topics.
• Author presentations, recaps, and other materials to manage and communicate program planning and status updates with key executives and stakeholders.
• In partnership with the Business Intelligence team and other stakeholders, establish goals and metrics to measure annual partnership success.
• Support the EVP, Chief Revenue Officer with special projects as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in strategy and general management, partnership marketing, consumer products, and/or project management.

Skills

• 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 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 communicate effectively, 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 work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Experience in sports marketing, licensing, and/or retail industries (strongly desired).
• Knowledge of the sport of soccer (strongly desired).

Pay

Competitive starting base salary of $200,000 - $250,000, based on individual qualifications, market financials, and operational business needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• $500 wellness reimbursement.
• Generous holiday and PTO schedule to promote work-life balance.
• Career and professional development opportunities, including on-the-job training, feedback, and ongoing educational support.

Schedule

Four (4) days in-office with the flexibility to work remotely one (1) day each week, based on business and department needs.