Job Summary

The Director of NIL Strategy & Athlete Brand Development is a leadership role focused on proactively generating and managing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes across all varsity sports at Purdue. In this role, you will serve as the strategic and operational leader of Boiler BrandWorks, Purdue’s in-house NIL marketing agency dedicated to connecting student-athletes with businesses and brands, locally and nationally.

Acting as an in-house marketing agent, you will source and manage NIL partnerships, enhance athlete brand development, and provide education and personalized guidance to athletes and stakeholders. This position plays a central role in aligning NIL efforts with institutional values while promoting long-term brand growth for student-athletes.

What You'll Be Doing:

Leading Boiler BrandWorks by developing and executing a comprehensive, university-wide NIL strategy that proactively sources, evaluates, negotiates, and manages fair-market opportunities for Purdue student-athletes across all sports—ensuring all partnerships align with Purdue’s values and comply with NCAA and institutional policies
Serving as the primary contact for brands, sponsors, agencies, alumni, and other external partners seeking to engage with Purdue student-athletes
Managing inbound NIL requests and questions from internal and external stakeholders, including coaches, staff, and businesses
Assisting student-athletes in managing NIL activities—scheduling appearances, coordinating marketing campaigns, and handling media inquiries—while providing one-on-one guidance on personal branding, marketplace positioning, and social media strategy
Collaborating with Purdue Sports Properties to align NIL strategy with multimedia rights partnerships
Representing Purdue Athletics at NIL and brand marketing industry events and conferences
Delivering educational programming (individual and group) on contracts, tax issues, financial literacy, and professional representation
Supporting athletes’ use of digital platforms (e.g., INFLCR, Captiv8) to monitor and enhance their market value
Ensuring all NIL activities are compliant with NCAA, Big Ten, and Purdue policies
Tracking NIL trends and activities and preparing reports for internal stakeholders to inform strategic decisions

What We're Looking For:

Bachelor’s degree
4 years of experience; 3 years in athlete marketing, brand partnerships, talent representation, or NIL-focused strategy and management; 1 year in general marketing, business administration, athletics setting or closely related field
Demonstrated success securing and negotiating endorsement, licensing, or sponsorship deals for athletes, entertainers, or influencers
Strong understanding of NCAA NIL policy, marketplace platforms, and current industry trends
Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with athletes, agents, coaches, and external stakeholders
Ability to create brand development strategies tailored to individual athletes
Strategic thinker with strong project management skills and an entrepreneurial mindset
Travel

Nice to Have:

Degree in Marketing, Sports Management, Business, Communications, or related field
Experience working in an intercollegiate or professional athletics setting
Familiarity with the unique demands of high-profile athletic programs and the recruiting process
High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in managing confidential matters
Understanding of Big Ten Conference policies and competitive landscape
Prior experience with football and Olympic sport athlete development

What We'd Like You to Know:

Learn more about Purdue’s benefits summary
Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
A Background Check is required for employment in this position
FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Waiting Period
Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply

Purdue University Athletics