USA Fencing
Growth and Partnership Manager
USA Fencing - Manager
Colorado Springs · CO · Hybrid
Corporate Sponsorship Sales · Marketing · Communications & Public Relations
$60,000 - $70,000 / year
0
1
day ago
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
USA Fencing is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of fencing in the United States. Its mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions and achieve sustained international success.
Job Summary:
The Manager, Growth & Partnerships is a scrappy, execution-first generalist who serves as the tip of the spear on outreach, brand collaboration pitching, earned media and commercial partnership support for USA Fencing. Reporting to the Chief of Strategy & Marketing and working closely with the CEO, this role is an extension of USA Fencing’s commercial and media firepower at one of the most consequential moments in USA Fencing’s history — with revenue approaching $20M, the fast-growing membership, and a runway to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
USA Fencing is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of fencing in the United States. Its mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions and achieve sustained international success.
Job Summary:
The Manager, Growth & Partnerships is a scrappy, execution-first generalist who serves as the tip of the spear on outreach, brand collaboration pitching, earned media and commercial partnership support for USA Fencing. Reporting to the Chief of Strategy & Marketing and working closely with the CEO, this role is an extension of USA Fencing’s commercial and media firepower at one of the most consequential moments in USA Fencing’s history — with revenue approaching $20M, the fast-growing membership, and a runway to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This role is built for an ambitious 2–4-year operator, an absolute hustle-master or mistress who is equally excited about drafting outreach, pitching a fashion house on a brand collaboration, placing a feature about Fencing in unexpected places, and building partnerships to take a sport to another level. Responsibilities are weighed roughly evenly across three pillars: outbound outreach and lead generation, collaboration pitching and media and earned media, and commercial partnership support. The position is a generalist seat — if it requires drafting a great email, building a deck overnight, getting a reporter on the phone, or chasing a no-reply until it becomes a yes, it lands on this desk.
Primary Responsibilities:
Outbound Outreach and Lead Generation (~50%)
• Build and execute outbound email and telephone campaigns to generate qualified meetings for the CEO, Chief of Strategy & Marketing and Communications teams.
• Conduct prospect research across target lists and execute against growth needs of USA Fencing in media, social media, collaborations, creators, brand partnerships, advertising partnerships, commercial partnerships and associated growth areas.
• Draft outreach, including tailored hooks tied to USA Fencing’s demographic thesis
• Maintain CRM hygiene with religious discipline so the pipeline remains a trustworthy single source of truth
Pitching, Media and Earned Media (~25%)
• Pitch tier-one and trade media; if unsuccessful, try again.
• Inform and collate media needs across the USA Fencing team, becoming intimately familiar with USA Fencing athlete interests, history and unusual angles necessary to place a media story.
• Build and maintain reporter and editor relationships across sport, business, fashion, lifestyle and Olympic & Paralympic verticals
• Support the architecture of USA Fencing’s media campaign and amplify earned wins across owned channels
Commercial Partnership Support (~25%)
• Prepare prospect research memos, briefing books and tailored decks ahead of partnership meetings
• Build follow-up materials and one-pagers, and execute follow-up communications with discipline after every external meeting
• Research brand marketing priorities, recent campaigns and reported sponsorship deals to ensure pitches are sharply targeted
• Support partner communications and light activation execution for signed deals, including hospitality coordination at marquee USA Fencing events
• Maintain commercial CRM hygiene, deal-stage tracking and pipeline reporting in partnership with the Chief of Strategy & Marketing
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
• 1–4 years of experience in business development, partnerships, communications, public relations, marketing, agency or sports property roles
• Excellent writing skills — ability to draft cold outreach emails, media pitches, executive memos and partnership one-pagers without handholding (writing samples will be requested)
• Comfort with cold outreach and the rejection that comes with it; persistence through multiple follow-ups
• Proficient skills with the Microsoft Office and Google Workspace suites, including Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets and PowerPoint/Slides
• Genuine interest in sport, fashion, luxury, technology or adjacent consumer culture. Interest in Fencing preferred but not required.
• Sophistication and polish to represent USA Fencing in conversations with brands, technology partners, people of note, creators and elite media
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, able to manage multiple high-priority projects and tasks simultaneously
• Versatility, flexibility and willingness to work in an environment where priorities may change frequently, and doing so with enthusiasm
• Build and execute outbound email and telephone campaigns to generate qualified meetings for the CEO, Chief of Strategy & Marketing and Communications teams.
• Conduct prospect research across target lists and execute against growth needs of USA Fencing in media, social media, collaborations, creators, brand partnerships, advertising partnerships, commercial partnerships and associated growth areas.
• Draft outreach, including tailored hooks tied to USA Fencing’s demographic thesis
• Maintain CRM hygiene with religious discipline so the pipeline remains a trustworthy single source of truth
Pitching, Media and Earned Media (~25%)
• Pitch tier-one and trade media; if unsuccessful, try again.
• Inform and collate media needs across the USA Fencing team, becoming intimately familiar with USA Fencing athlete interests, history and unusual angles necessary to place a media story.
• Build and maintain reporter and editor relationships across sport, business, fashion, lifestyle and Olympic & Paralympic verticals
• Support the architecture of USA Fencing’s media campaign and amplify earned wins across owned channels
Commercial Partnership Support (~25%)
• Prepare prospect research memos, briefing books and tailored decks ahead of partnership meetings
• Build follow-up materials and one-pagers, and execute follow-up communications with discipline after every external meeting
• Research brand marketing priorities, recent campaigns and reported sponsorship deals to ensure pitches are sharply targeted
• Support partner communications and light activation execution for signed deals, including hospitality coordination at marquee USA Fencing events
• Maintain commercial CRM hygiene, deal-stage tracking and pipeline reporting in partnership with the Chief of Strategy & Marketing
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
• 1–4 years of experience in business development, partnerships, communications, public relations, marketing, agency or sports property roles
• Excellent writing skills — ability to draft cold outreach emails, media pitches, executive memos and partnership one-pagers without handholding (writing samples will be requested)
• Comfort with cold outreach and the rejection that comes with it; persistence through multiple follow-ups
• Proficient skills with the Microsoft Office and Google Workspace suites, including Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets and PowerPoint/Slides
• Genuine interest in sport, fashion, luxury, technology or adjacent consumer culture. Interest in Fencing preferred but not required.
• Sophistication and polish to represent USA Fencing in conversations with brands, technology partners, people of note, creators and elite media
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, able to manage multiple high-priority projects and tasks simultaneously
• Versatility, flexibility and willingness to work in an environment where priorities may change frequently, and doing so with enthusiasm
- Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in sport
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Prior experience at a sports property, sports property, agency, PR firm or consumer/lifestyle brand highly desirable
• Existing media relationships and familiarity with the fencing or Olympic & Paralympic ecosystem are all preferred
Starting Salary Range:
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience and location.
Flexible Location.
Benefits Offered
• Unlimited Paid vacation, personal and sick time
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Extra week off during August and between Christmas and New Years
• 401(k) retirement plan
• 401(k) Retirement match up to 4%
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance
Application Process
To be considered, applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. Strong candidates are encouraged to include three short writing samples (a creative growth idea, one cold outreach email and one media pitch) and any links to decks, campaigns or placements they are especially proud of. This position will start August 17th, 2026
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Prior experience at a sports property, sports property, agency, PR firm or consumer/lifestyle brand highly desirable
• Existing media relationships and familiarity with the fencing or Olympic & Paralympic ecosystem are all preferred
Starting Salary Range:
Salary: $60,000 – $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience and location.
Flexible Location.
Benefits Offered
• Unlimited Paid vacation, personal and sick time
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Extra week off during August and between Christmas and New Years
• 401(k) retirement plan
• 401(k) Retirement match up to 4%
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance
Application Process
To be considered, applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. Strong candidates are encouraged to include three short writing samples (a creative growth idea, one cold outreach email and one media pitch) and any links to decks, campaigns or placements they are especially proud of. This position will start August 17th, 2026
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
