ABOUT THE CLUB
Minnesota Aurora FC is a community-owned women’s soccer team based in the Twin Cities with over 5000 community owners across all 50 states and 19 countries. The club plays in the pre-professional USL W League, featuring the best amateur and aspiring professional players from Minnesota and across the globe. The club is operated by a women-led front office and coaching staff.
CLUB VALUES
Inclusivity: We uphold and defend the right for all people to live without hatred, violence, and discrimination by committing to and prioritizing equality in every decision we make.
Empowerment: We champion the advancement and freedom of women and gender-expansive individuals by investing in their greatness on and off the field.
Accessibility: We ensure soccer is for everyone by removing barriers and creating more equitable access to soccer for players and fans.
Transformation: We spark positive change in soccer, women’s sports, and communities by fostering transparency, humility, innovation, and collaboration.
The Director / VP of Partnerships position is full time, year-round. The Director / VP of Partnerships reports to the Chief of Staff. Our office is located in
Eagan, MN, with training and home games at
TCO Stadium. The selected candidate must have the ability to work gamedays, weekends and holidays as needed, and execute sponsor activations which may require physical demands and mobility around the stadium. Travel is minimal but may be required for partner away trips, industry research, and prospect meetings. Attendance at events around the Twin Cities during non-traditional work hours should be expected.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Minnesota Aurora FC seeks a driven and experienced seller who excels in crafting partnerships that reflect our club’s values, match our ambitions, and resonate with our passionate fan base. Under the direction of the Chief of Staff, the Director / Vice President of Partnerships is responsible for generating revenue through the pursuit of innovative and high-value partnerships and leading up-sell opportunities for key accounts while enhancing the Aurora FC brand. This role involves identifying, negotiating, and cultivating relationships with partners to create mutually beneficial opportunities that drive business results and result in unique partnerships that enhance Aurora FC’s mission.
The ideal candidate will have proven experience and success in partnership sales, a strong understanding of the sports business landscape, and a passion for the growth of women’s sports.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Drive the full sponsorship sales process from prospecting to closing, utilizing strategic marketing solutions and innovative sales concepts to efficiently and effectively maximize revenue, meet or exceed agreed-upon revenue targets, and achieve the budget approved by the Board.
- Develop new strategic partnerships through proactive outreach, discovery, meetings, presentations, negotiations, and closing; identify and pursue prospective partners by researching business trends, conducting category analysis, and adhering to industry best practices; maximize outward-facing activities and time with prospects; and cultivate and maintain a strong network of both prospective and existing Aurora FC partners.
- Monitor and track the performance of activations, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments to ensure maximum partner satisfaction; manage all sponsor touchpoints from pre-event planning through on-the-day execution and post-event reporting; and create and deliver sponsor recaps within 60 days of the end of the season or sponsored event (i.e., camps).
- Create Rate Card to ensure consistency across sales, and manage available inventory and assets to ensure deliverability of sold assets. Maximize value of assets while maintaining a fair market value for sponsors.
- Negotiate deal terms in collaboration with the Chief of Staff.
- Collaborate with other functional areas to ensure clear communication and understanding with key stakeholders, including ensuring that all sold assets are executed at a high level.
- Ensure contracts are delivered to the Finance team for processing, track and ensure sponsors pay all invoices in a timely manner.
- Utilize and maintain regular CRM touch-points and deal sheets for each prospect/account, as well as regular reporting of pipeline to Chief of Staff.
- Represent Aurora FC at local and industry events by regularly attending and hosting clients.
- Independently manage the logistics and on-site execution of sponsor activations at matches, events, and special programs, ensuring flawless delivery. This includes but is not limited to:
- Acting as the main point of contact for sponsors during activation, maintaining regular communication to address needs, updates, and feedback.
- Providing hands-on management of all sponsor touchpoints — from pre-event planning to on-the-day execution and post-event reporting.
- Working with the marketing team to ensure all sponsorship assets (e.g., branding, advertising, digital content) are created and delivered on time.
- Taking ownership of all digital and social media activations, coordinating with the marketing team to ensure content is delivered to sponsors’ specifications.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to work in-person minimum three (3) days per week in the off season, and five (5) days per week plus gamedays during the season.
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in partnership sales, business development, or related roles, with strong negotiation skills, a proven track record of driving partnership revenue, and a commitment to excellence that positions Aurora FC as the preferred partner to prospects and accounts.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to facilitate cross-team collaboration; exceptional attention to detail and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to drive decision-making and familiarity with standard value tracking and measurement tools.
- Highly organized self-starter, capable of managing both strategic planning and day-to-day execution.
- Experience working within a small team and limited budget, with a demonstrated ability to creatively maximize resources and deliver high-impact results.
- Existing knowledge of and relationships with Twin Cities business leaders and corporate landscape.
- Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel.
- Hubspot experience preferred.
TITLE & COMPENSATION
Final title and compensation will be determined based on qualifications of the selected applicant. This role is base + commission. Base salary range is expected to be between $50,000-$70,000, depending on title and experience.
