Senior Manager, Partnership Management

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top professional women's soccer league in the USA, with 14 teams and +300 of the best soccer players in the world. In its 12th season, the league continues to grow exponentially, with 2024 attendance topping 2 million fans for the first time- the third straight year the league surpassed 1 million in total attendance. Viewership across all broadcast media partners - Amazon, CBS, ESPN and Scripps - was up 285% year over year, and team valuations continue to soar. This growth underscores the league's expanding fan base and growing presence in both the sports media landscape and in pop culture. The future of the NWSL has never looked brighter.

Reporting to the Director, Partnership Management, the Senior Manager, Partnership Management will be a leader within the NWSL's growing partnerships team and an important driver in the relationship between the league and its largest strategic partners. The Senior Manager will be keenly focused on driving partner-specific commercial value among their roster of partners while building, leading and developing a team. This role will also work across the organization to build the NWSL brand, engage fans, and deliver results.

Position Description

The Manager of Media Partner Promotion will play a critical role in overseeing and tracking media partner promotion of the NWSL, ensuring alignment with league objectives and maximizing visibility across platforms. Reporting to the Director of Media Partnerships, this position requires strong attention to detail, project management skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. The role will be essential in managing media partner activations, tracking promotional commitments, and ensuring seamless execution of league-wide media initiatives.

Main Responsibilities: This individual will be a key contributor on a team 100% focused on growth and retention of current NWSL partnerships including, but not limited to:

• Owning day-to-day relationships: Lead the NWSL's relationships with a portfolio of strategic partners; develop and implement creative and high-impact activations that help all parties achieve their goals, including integration with our media partners to build and strengthen long-term strategic relationships.
• Navigating internal stakeholders: Work closely across Marketing, Broadcast, PR, Partner Activation, etc. teams internally to develop and execute best-in-class marketing solutions.
• Leading a dynamic team: As the partnership business grows, this individual will build, develop and inspire a team that is driven to deliver on both our partners' and NWSL business objectives while demonstrating a consistent level of intellectual curiosity.
• Establishing new platforms and upsell opportunities: Work collaboratively with NWSL colleagues across all departments to help create and implement sellable programming and identify ways that current partners can be authentically integrated to help accomplish their goals and support NWSL growth projections.
• Renewing existing relationships: Lean on industry trends, deep category knowledge, evolving partner objectives and meaningful relationships to drive long-term partner extensions and increased investment.
• Securing and onboarding new partners: Assist business development initiatives and the growth of the NWSL by reviewing proposals; developing innovative concepts that support prospective partner objectives and supporting a creative announcement plan and seamless onboarding upon contractual agreement.

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes:

• 6+ years of experience in strategic brand and partnership marketing
• Overall professional presence that is warm and approachable and embodies the culture of caring, respect, diversity, inclusivity, and openness.
• Pro-active and curious with a bias for action to maximize partner value
• Proven organizational, leadership and project management skills are required. Must be able to lead a team, think strategically, and handle multiple projects.
• Strong analytical skills and experience understanding and interpreting quantitative and qualitative research
• Creative strategist with the ability to open doors
• Relationships with senior level marketing executives at agency and client level
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent events through multi-tasking and managing priorities efficiently
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent computer skills, including Google Suite, Outlook, MS Word, PowerPoint and advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities
• Experience with Adobe suite or a similar program is preferred
• A background in, and passion for, soccer, sports and entertainment is preferred
• Experience in sports marketing
• Desire to be part of a team
• "Student of the Game" mentality and desire for continual growth
• Accountable for actions/decisions and does not make excuses
• Multi-lingual a plus
• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of expertise
• Able and willing to travel up to 35% of the time
• Able and willing to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends & holidays

What we offer

• An incredible inclusive culture that is committed to diversity.
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Mental health benefits for employees and dependents.
• FSA for employees and dependents.
• Commuter benefits.
• Short and Long-term disability and life insurance paid by the company.
• Unlimited paid time off, sick days and end of the year office closure.
• 401k with employer match, safe harbor contributions from the company in addition to the employer match.
• Voluntary pet insurance.
• Hybrid work schedule.

NWSL observes a hybrid work schedule of three working days in the physical office and two remote working days.

NWSL salaries are contingent upon candidates' qualifications, functional business needs, and market financials.

Salary Range: $85,000 - $115,000.

NWSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.