NJ/NY Gotham FC (“Gotham FC” or “the Club”) is a National Women’s Soccer League (“NWSL”) team representing New Jersey and New York. The team plays at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. At Gotham FC, we don’t just play soccer; we set trends, challenge the status quo, and lead with bold creativity. While our roots are grounded in the tradition of the beautiful game, everything else about us is fiercely original. We’re here to redefine expectations, break boundaries, and build something that hasn’t been done before. If you’re ready to push the limits and make an impact, you belong at Gotham FC.
The Role:
Gotham FC is seeking a seasoned leader to join our executive team as Vice President of Partnerships. This executive will be responsible for leading the strategy, development, and execution of all corporate partnership programs, thereby helping the team achieve its revenue and broader organizational goals. This individual will focus on managing, expanding upon, and renewing existing partnership agreements. In addition, they will be accountable for identifying and developing new partnerships. They will work closely with other departments and external vendors to ensure success.
Reporting to Gotham FC’s Chief Revenue Officer, this leader will play a critical role in driving long-term revenue growth for the team, enhancing the fan experience, and expanding our brand presence in the market. This executive will be directly responsible for leading a dynamic partnership marketing team, driving partnership strategy, and supporting new business development.
In order to be successful, this leader must bring extensive experience in building and activating mutually sports partnerships. The Vice President will need to understand sports marketing and partnership marketing from a brand, sports property, and customer point of view. In addition, they will have a strong perspective on women’s sports, Gotham FC’s brand and how to promote them in the NY/NJ market. This individual must bring a creative approach and leverage Gotham FC’s full range of assets in order to deliver maximum value via existing and prospective partnerships.
Key Responsibilities:
- Partnership Activation / Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all corporate partners, overseeing all parts of partnership management and activation.
- Collaborate internally with brand, marketing, fan experience, communications, gameday operations, community, and other functions in order to ensure flawless activation of partnerships for both Gotham FC and the NWSL
- Monitor the performance of partnership obligations, using data / insights to track key metrics and results and adjust approach accordingly
- Identify opportunities to cultivate / expand upon existing relationships with partners and drive renewals
- Partnership Strategy
- Contribute to the design and implementation a comprehensive multi-year partnership strategy to effectively meet Gotham FC’s revenue goals
- Partnership Sales
- Help identify potential new partnership opportunities across industries that align with Gotham FC’s brand and broader strategy
- Contribute to the development of pitch materials leveraging data, case studies, and other insights that are tailored to partner’s brand / marketing goals and that leverage a range of Gotham FC assets
- Assist with negotiations with partners, ensuring that all deals are mutually beneficial and financially sound, maximizing returns for Gotham FC
- Help manage a team of internal and third party sales resources
- Team Management
- Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing Partnerships team
- Provide critical learning opportunities for all individuals and set high standards for results and accountability
- Foster a culture of collaboration and collegiality between the Partnerships team and other Gotham FC business and sporting teams
- Other
- Work closely with other executive leaders to provide commercial updates and adjust strategy based on revenue goals
- Liaise with NWSL in order to ensure coordination of partnership efforts with league and effective execution of NWSL partnerships at club level
- Help drive greater brand awareness and fan development via efforts, building the next generation of Gotham FC supporters
- Represent Gotham FC at league and industry events and conferences, serving as an effective steward for the organization
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Marketing, Business, or a related field; MBA preferred
- 10+ years of experience managing sports partnerships, preferably with sports teams or leagues
- Proven track record of sourcing, developing, and closing high-value, multi-year sponsorship deals with leading brands across industries
- Established connections with senior leaders at top companies across industries, with the ability to leverage these relationships to develop new partnerships
- 7+ years of experience leading teams, with a proven ability to recruit, motivate, and develop team members
Capability & Other Characteristics:
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with a range of stakeholders (internally and externally) and work cross-functionally to drive results
- Experience managing a portfolio of partnerships requiring high touch and flawless delivery of partnership programs and assets
- Strong new business development skills including negotiation skills and ability to mediate / arbitrate to allow for the structuring of mutually beneficial partnerships
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills
- Results-orientation, with a focus on driving revenue growth and hitting broader organizational goals
- Ability to work in a fast-moving, dynamic work environment
- High level of professionalism and accountability
- Exceptional project management and attention to detail
- Passionate about women’s sports and growing women’s soccer
- Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as needed
Location:
Based at Gotham FC’s business office, which is located at 15 Exchange Place Jersey City, New Jersey, on a hybrid working schedule which consists of three core in-office/in-person days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and two non-core days (Monday and Friday), with the option of being in the business office or remote. Ability to attend all home games and any mandatory events as well as away games, as necessary. A willingness to travel for other business-related needs, as they arise. Ability to work at the team’s soccer operations office in Whippany, New Jersey, as needed. Gotham FC requires its associates to live in its market, that is, within reasonable commuting distance of Gotham FC’s offices, practice facility and Sports Illustrated Stadium.
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Gotham FC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. We are committed to broadening the pool of qualified talent for consideration, including those who have been historically underrepresented. We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Job type: Full-time Exempt position
Salary range: $175,000 - $200,000 annually & Discretionary bonus
Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision benefit plans available for Employee and Family, Employee funded 401(k) option
This job description is a broad summary of the essential job functions and general duties for this position, the additional job duties that may be required from time-to-time, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. The person in this role may be required to and must be willing to perform other duties as assigned, to meet organizational needs. This job description may be modified from time to time, at the sole discretion of Gotham FC.
This employee must follow and enforce all policies and procedures formulated by Gotham FC and be a role model for the organization.
The existence of this job description does not modify the employee’s “at-will” status. That is, unless a signed employment contract specifying a term of employment exists between Gotham FC and the employee or his/her/their representative, both Gotham FC and the employee will have the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without reason or notice, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
