Orange County Soccer Club General Internship Opportunities
Orange County Soccer Club, the 2021 USL Championship Champion, is looking for energetic, outgoing and passionate individuals to help us build brand awareness through marketing and promotion, assist with sponsorship sales efforts and local community outreach, help create the home game day experience, research sports industry best practices and generate innovative ideas for revenue growth. Interns may request to focus on one of the below areas per their interests but will be expected to pitch in where needed. Internships are available year-round, and candidates are evaluated on a rolling basis. Internships are for academic credit only. Interns will be required to perform some or all tasks in person, with prevailing health and safety protocols in place.
1) MARKETING
Objective:
The Orange County Soccer Club’s Marketing Team’s main goal is to promote OCSC and establish brand awareness in the community.
Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
Marketing
- Assist in generating ideas, content and/or campaigns to help drive engagement on our social media channels.
- Research other professional sports teams’ strategies relating to ticket specials, social media, marketing, etc.
- Assist OCSC’s Street Team with various in-person events to help promote OCSC throughout OC.
2) TICKET AND SPONSORSHIP SALES AND ACTIVATION
Objective:
Orange County Soccer Club’s Sales Team focuses on driving revenue growth through ticket and sponsorship sales. With an emphasis on season ticket sales packages and multi-year sponsorship deals, this department is responsible for long-term revenue growth strategies.
Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Assist in collecting examples of various sponsor assets by reviewing game film, social media posts, email campaigns, etc.
- Research various business industries and compile lists of companies and key contacts within those industries
- Research various SoCal organizations, such as youth sports leagues and teams; school clubs and PTAs, etc.
- Assist in planning theme nights and ticket initiatives by contributing ideas and compiling outlines and overviews for various projects
3) MERCHANDISE
- Objective: Orange County Soccer Club has a large and growing merchandise business, with items sold both through our online store as well as in stadium. The Merchandise team develops new merchandise designs, creates various pricing strategies, works with the Marketing team to promote the items, and fulfills orders.
Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Help to brainstorm new designs and items.
- Perform analyses of different merchandise offerings and pricing strategies.
- Survey the competitive landscape.
- Assist with fulfillment.
4) HOME GAME DAY EXPERIENCE (typically March-November)
Objective: Orange County Soccer Club’s home games take place at the beautiful Championship Soccer Stadium at the Great Park in Irvine. On home game days, we transform an empty stadium into an impressive game day experience for OCSC fans. Interns will help OCSC staff create this experience.
Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
- Assist with set up and tear down on home game days.
- Generate new ideas for in-stadium fan engagement.
- Help to create a smooth operational flow during games.
5) OCSC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Objective: The Orange County Soccer Club Community Foundation is the charitable arm of Orange County Soccer Club. We are a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2020 to serve the greater OC community. Our mission: To use soccer as a vehicle to promote health and wellness, develop youth leadership, advance social change, and create positive community impact. Interns will help us build our presence in the OC community through outreach, partnerships with other nonprofits, events, and program initiatives.
Duties will include, but are not limited to the following:
Community Outreach
- Assist in creating a multicultural outreach strategy to different communities within Orange County.
- Execute and monitor virtual and live community programs (e.g. soccer clinics and classes).
- Identify key nonprofits and organizations to work with in Orange County in order to strengthen ties to the community and identify new short-term and long-term initiatives to partner on.
General Intern Requirements
- Enthusiastic, creative, hard-working, organized and outgoing
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Strong communication skills both verbal and written
- Able to work in a team environment
- Must be a self-starter and comfortable doing online research
- Must be well organized with an eye for detail
- Must be able to work flexible hours (including evenings, weekends, and holidays)
- Experience with event production/promotions/game presentation is a plus
- Local market knowledge is a plus
- Experience in Photoshop or other programs with ability to create basic graphics is a major PLUS
About Orange County Soccer Club:
Orange County Soccer Club is a professional soccer team in the United Soccer League (USL) and the highest level of pro soccer in Orange County. The USL Championship is the world’s largest Division II professional soccer league, with representation in 35 markets across the U.S. and one division below the MLS.
- Games are played at the new Championship Soccer Stadium at the Orange County Great Park.
- Championship Soccer Stadium is a professional soccer facility that opened in 2017.
- The 2018 season was the club’s first full season playing at the 5,000+ seat capacity stadium.
- The stadium has played host to USL, MLS, Liga MX, and TJ League team exhibitions.
- Club Achievements
- OCSC won its first USL Championship Champion title in 2021.
- In November 2021, OCSC’s 17-year-old center back, Kobi Henry, became the first active USL player to be called up to the full US Men’s National Team for a friendly game against Bosnia and Herzegovina and in June of 2021 Henry was transferred to Ligue 1 side, Stade de Reims in the largest transfer in USL history.
- Premiered “Path to Glory” docuseries on CBS Sports Network, highlighting the groundbreaking partnership between OCSC and European powerhouse Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League (2020).
- Transferred Aaron Cervantes to Glasgow Rangers (2020). Aaron (age 18) signed with OCSC at the age of 15. Cervantes was a member of the U17 Men’s National Team (2019) and part of USL’s 20 under 20 list.
- Executed first ever player move from USL to the German Bundesliga with Bryang Kayo (2020).
- Announced first ever local TV Broadcast Partnership with COX and Spanish Radio Broadcast Partnership with Tu Liga 1120 AM KTMZ (2020).
- Launched Orange County Soccer Club Community Foundation (2020).
- OCSC’s 14-year-old phenom Francis Jacobs competed with Glasgow Rangers’ U16 Academy Team in Alkass International Cup (2020).
- 2021 USL Western Conference Winner. 2016 and 2018 USL Western Conference Finalist.
- Signed 16-year-old US U-17 International Kobe Henry (2020).
- Signed Sean “Ugo” Okoli, former USL 2016 MVP with Cincinnati (2020).
- Announced strategic partnership with Scotland-based Rangers Football Club (2019).
- Signed youngest pro soccer player in U.S. history Francis Jacobs (2019).
- Signed U.S. U-17 International, Diego Lopez (2019) from Atlanta United.
- Signed Michael Orozco, former member of the U.S. Men’s National Team and Liga MX stalwart (2019).
- Re-signed Thomas Enevoldsen (2019), 2018 USL Championship All-League First Team member.
- Social Media Handles
- IG: @orangecountysoccer
- FB: @orangecountysoccer
- Twitter: @orangecountysc
- TikTok: @orangecountysc
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.
