The Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) is an American professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top U.S. domestic league. Founded on October 8, 1997, on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Club began play in 1998 as one of the League’s first expansion franchises. The Fire have won six major domestic titles, including the 1998 MLS Cup; the 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups; as well as the 2003 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
The Club recently announced plans to build a $750M+ privately financed downtown stadium in Chicago in 2028. The stadium will anchor Chicago’s newest neighborhood, the 78, a 62-acre development and entertainment district located along the Chicago River just south of Roosevelt Road. For more information on our bold plans, visit
DearChicago.com.
Additionally, the Club recently opened the state-of-the-art $100M Endeavor Health Performance Center in March 2025 that has set the standard for North American training facilities. With tremendous growth and expansion, the Club is laying the foundation for an audacious and ambitious vision that will transform the brand and the company in the coming years.
At Chicago Fire FC, we’re on a mission to entertain, serve, and unite Chicago by delivering excellence on and off the pitch to ensure a world-class experience. As a club we let our values guide everything we do: we uphold uncompromising integrity, show respect for all at all times, never settle for less, constantly innovate, and hold ourselves relentlessly accountable.
Position Overview:
Chicago Fire FC is seeking a Vice President, Partnership Sales to lead corporate revenue growth and elevate the Club’s commercial impact in the Chicago market and beyond. This role is a senior sales leader responsible for driving new business, closing marquee partnerships, and building a high-performing partnership sales team.
Reporting to the SVP of Corporate Partnerships, the VP of Partnership Sales will set the vision for how the Club identifies, sells, and activates corporate partnerships—balancing hands-on selling with strategic leadership. The ideal candidate is a proven seller of complex, high-value partnerships who thrives in the market, commands a room, and knows how to develop talent into consistent performers.
This is a critical leadership role within the organization and a key contributor to the Club’s long-term growth strategy.
Job Responsibilities:
- Revenue Leadership & New Business
- Serve as a senior, frontline seller responsible for sourcing, structuring, and closing high-value, multi-year corporate partnerships, including marquee and entitlement assets.
- Personally lead and support pitches to C-suite decision-makers, agencies, and brand leaders.
- Identify and pursue emerging sponsorship categories, with an emphasis on forward-thinking brands and innovative partnership models.
- Build and execute a strategic plan to engage Chicago’s corporate and agency communities, expanding the Club’s presence and relevance in the market.
- Negotiate complex partnership agreements to meet and exceed annual revenue targets.
- Sales Strategy & Commercial Development
- Partner with the SVP of Corporate Partnerships to shape and execute the department’s commercial strategy.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Foundation, Communications, and Soccer Business to develop compelling, integrated partnership platforms.
- Translate data, insights, and industry trends into persuasive sales narratives, proposals, and presentations.
- Maintain a strong understanding of market dynamics, competitive offerings, and evolving sponsorship trends to effectively position Club assets.
- Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop the Partnership Sales team, establishing clear performance expectations, accountability, and a culture of excellence.
- Provide ongoing mentorship and feedback, identifying skill gaps and supporting individual growth plans.
- Oversee the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of sales staff, ensuring the team is equipped with the tools, training, and support needed to succeed.
- Foster a collaborative, results-driven environment that balances ambition with professionalism.
- Organizational Leadership
- Develop and present strategic revenue plans, forecasts, and performance updates to senior leadership.
- Coordinate sponsor-related projects as assigned and ensure seamless execution across departments.
- Act as a trusted leader within the organization, modeling integrity, ownership, and a commitment to the Club’s values.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in sports sponsorship sales or partnership development.
- Proven track record of closing complex, multi-year, seven-figure partnerships.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and motivate sales professionals in a high-performance environment.
- Strong market presence with experience building and maintaining senior-level relationships with brands and agencies.
- Exceptional presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong financial acumen and experience managing diversified revenue streams.
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while juggling multiple priorities.
- Willingness to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and all home matches.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience recruiting, managing, and developing sales teams.
- Deep familiarity with the Chicago corporate and agency market.
- Experience interpreting data and insights for storytelling and sales presentations.
- Prior experience presenting revenue strategies to senior leadership or ownership.
Compensation:
- This role offers a salary range of $150,000-$200,000 Final salary is determined by carefully considering the applicant's background, experience, and qualifications. Base pay may vary significantly based on geographic location, job-specific knowledge, skills, and overall experience. This role is classified as Full-time, exempt
- This role is bonus eligible based on club-wide goals
- Additional benefits & perks: Official Chicago Fire FC Website
Please note:
- Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we’d like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.
- CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
- If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the People & Culture Department at [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
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