VP of Partnerships

Job description

NCAA Olympic & Youth Sports League – Build Transformational Relationships

About Us

We are launching a revolutionary professional and youth sports league with $2.5 billion in equity capital being raised . Our mission is to transform Olympic sports in America by creating a sustainable ecosystem that spans professional competition, comprehensive youth development, and world‑class infrastructure.

Our Scope & Scale:

School Partnerships: Licensing NCAA Division I brands from 50 schools in Year 1, scaling to 300 schools by Year 6

Sports Coverage: 12 Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, softball, and more)

Geographic Reach: 4 regions, 200+ teams competing across the United States

Youth Development: Comprehensive programs from Grassroots (U10) through U23

Revenue Target: $3B in Year 1, scaling to $13B+ by Year 6

Infrastructure: $5B+ campus development with hotels, training facilities, and commercial space

The Partnership Opportunity:

School Partnerships: 300 NCAA Division I institutions across the United States

Corporate Sponsorships: $1B+ annually at scale across league, regional, and team levels

Equipment/Apparel: Major partnerships (e.g., Adidas) worth $100M+ annually

Media Partners: Broadcast and streaming deals with ESPN, NBC, Amazon, Apple

Youth Sports Organizations: Partnerships with AAU, club sports, and development programs

Campus Commercial: Hotel chains, restaurant groups, retail partners for campus operations

Tournament Partners: Host cities, venues, and local organizations

Technology Partners: Sports tech, analytics, streaming, and fan engagement platforms

This is an unprecedented partnership‑building opportunity that will reshape the landscape of Olympic sports in America.

Position Overview

The VP of Partnerships will be the senior executive responsible for building, negotiating, and managing all strategic partnerships that are critical to the league’s success. Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer (or CEO), you will be the architect of relationships with NCAA schools, corporate sponsors, equipment manufacturers, media partners, and commercial partners.

This role combines business development, relationship management, contract negotiation, and strategic thinking to create partnerships that drive revenue, enhance brand value, and support operational excellence.

Compensation Package: $1,100,000 total compensation

Base Salary: $600,000

Performance Bonus: $250,000 (target, tied to partnership revenue and deal closures)

Equity Grant: $250,000 annually (vesting over 4 years)

Key Responsibilities

1. NCAA School Partnerships & Licensing

School Licensing Strategy: Lead strategy and execution for licensing NCAA Division I school brands for Olympic sports teams

Partnership Targets: Year 1: Secure 50 school partnerships (already identified target schools)

Year 2: Add 50 additional schools (100 total)

Years 3-6: Scale to 300 total school partnerships

School Selection: Work with leadership to prioritize schools based on brand strength, athletic success, geographic distribution, and strategic fit

Deal Negotiation: Negotiate licensing agreements including:Brand usage rights and restrictions

Revenue sharing structures

Term lengths (10-20 year deals)

Performance requirements and KPIs

Renewal and expansion options

Relationship Management: Build deep relationships with athletic directors, university presidents, and NCAA conference commissioners

Compliance: Ensure all partnerships comply with NCAA regulations and university policies

Conference Alignment: Work with major conferences (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Pac‑12, Big 12) to secure conference‑wide partnerships where beneficial

2. Corporate Sponsorships

Sponsorship Strategy: Develop comprehensive sponsorship strategy across league, regional, and team levels

Revenue Targets: Year 1: Secure $300M+ in sponsorship commitments

Year 3: Scale to $500M+ annually

Year 6: Achieve $1B+ annually

Sponsorship Tiers: Presenting Partners: 3-5 major partners ($50M+ annually each)

Platinum Sponsors: 10-15 partners ($10M-$25M annually)

Gold Sponsors: 20-30 partners ($5M-$10M annually)

Category Sponsors: 50+ partners ($1M-$5M annually)

Target Categories: Automotive, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, insurance, consumer goods, QSR, technology, travel, energy drinks/nutrition

Rights & Benefits: Design compelling sponsorship packages including:Logo placement (jerseys, venues, broadcasts, digital)

Hospitality and event access

Data and analytics partnerships

Content creation rights

Experiential marketing opportunities

Category exclusivity

Activation Support: Partner with sponsors on activation strategies that deliver ROI

Partnership Sales Team: Build and lead team of 8-12 partnership sales professionals

3. Equipment & Apparel Partnerships

Premier Partnership: Negotiate and manage partnership with major equipment/apparel brand (e.g., Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, New Balance)

Deal Structure: Year 1 Target: $40M-$60M annually in cash and product

Long‑term Target: $100M+ annually at full scale

Rights: Exclusive outfitting rights for all athletes, coaches, and staff across 12 sports

Product: Competition uniforms, training gear, footwear, equipment

Marketing: Co‑branded campaigns, athlete endorsements, retail partnerships

Sport‑Specific Equipment: Secure partnerships for sport‑specific equipment (e.g., Warrior for lacrosse, Louisville Slugger for baseball)

Technology Integration: Negotiate for embedded performance tracking technology in apparel/equipment

Revenue Opportunities: Structure deals to include retail revenue sharing for branded merchandise

4. Media & Broadcast Partnerships

Strategic Support: Partner with CRO on media rights negotiations with broadcast and streaming partners

Partnership Elements: Beyond rights fees, negotiate:Production partnerships and content creation

Promotional commitments and marketing support

Digital streaming rights and platforms

Archive content and highlight rights

Data and analytics sharing

Technology platform integration

Streaming Partners: Build relationships with emerging streaming platforms for supplemental content

Regional Media: Secure regional broadcast partnerships to maximize local exposure

5. Campus Commercial Partnerships

Hotel Partnerships: Negotiate partnerships with hotel chains for on‑campus hotels (Marriott, Hilton, IHG)

Deal Structure: Management agreements vs. franchise agreements

Revenue sharing and guarantee structures

Brand standards and service levels

Customer loyalty program integration

Restaurant Partnerships: Secure partnerships for campus dining and restaurants

Retail Partners: Negotiate partnerships for campus retail (sports merchandise, convenience, services)

Fitness & Wellness: Partner with fitness brands for campus wellness facilities

Target Revenue: $50M+ annually from campus commercial partnerships at scale

6. Youth Sports & Development Partnerships

Club Partnerships: Build partnerships with elite club programs (soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey)

AAU & Governing Bodies: Establish relationships with AAU, USA Volleyball, USA Hockey, etc.

Pathway Programs: Create development pathways from grassroots through professional level

Tournament Partnerships: Partner on major youth tournaments and showcases

Coaching Education: Partner with coaching certification organizations

Technology Partners: Secure partnerships with recruiting platforms and development tracking tools

7. Venue & Host City Partnerships

Tournament Venues: Negotiate partnerships with cities and venues for championship tournaments

Benefits: Reduced facility costs, marketing support, hospitality, community engagement

Spring Training Sites: Secure partnerships for pre‑season training locations

International Venues: Develop international partnerships for global events and training camps

Municipal Partnerships: Build relationships with city governments for permits, infrastructure, and promotional support

8. Technology & Innovation Partnerships

Sports Tech: Partner with companies providing:Performance tracking and analytics (Catapult, Kinexon, STATSports)

Video analysis platforms (Hudl, Krossover)

Fan engagement apps

Ticketing platforms

Streaming technology

Data Partnerships: Establish partnerships for data collection, analysis, and distribution

Esports & Gaming: Explore partnerships with gaming companies for virtual league experiences

Innovation Lab: Create partnership framework for testing emerging sports technologies

9. Partnership Operations & Management

Contract Management: Oversee all partnership contracts, renewals, and compliance

Partner Servicing: Ensure excellent partner experience through dedicated account management

Performance Tracking: Monitor partnership ROI, activation quality, and partner satisfaction

Quarterly Business Reviews: Conduct QBRs with major partners to review performance and identify expansion opportunities

Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Revenue Operations, Legal, and Finance on partnership execution

Renewal Strategy: Develop and execute renewal strategies to maintain 90%+ partnership retention

Required Qualifications

Experience:

12+ years of progressive partnerships, business development, or sponsorship sales experience

5+ years in senior partnerships leadership roles (VP, SVP level)

Proven track record closing major partnership deals ($10M+ annually)

Experience managing complex, multi‑year partnership agreements

Demonstrated success building and leading partnerships teams (8-15 people)

Partnership Expertise:

Deep expertise in corporate sponsorship sales and activation

Strong knowledge of sports marketing, media rights, and licensing

Experience negotiating major partnership deals with Fortune 500 companies

Understanding of partnership economics, valuation, and ROI measurement

Expertise in creating innovative partnership structures and benefits packages

Relationship Building:

Exceptional relationship‑building skills with C‑suite executives

Strong network within sports industry (leagues, teams, NCAA, brands)

Ability to build trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders

Experience managing high‑profile partnerships and sponsor relationships

Business & Negotiation Skills:

Outstanding negotiation skills with track record of win‑win outcomes

Strategic thinker who connects partnerships to broader business objectives

Strong business acumen and financial modeling capabilities

Excellent executive presence and communication skills (written and verbal)

Data‑driven decision maker who uses analytics to inform strategy

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Marketing, Sports Management, or related field)

MBA preferred

Preferred Qualifications

Sports League Experience: Previous partnerships leadership in professional sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, NWSL)

NCAA Experience: Relationships within NCAA athletic departments, conferences, or college sports properties

Startup/Scale‑up: Led partnerships for venture‑backed startups through growth phase

Olympic Sports: Experience with Olympic sports properties or sponsorships

Major Brand Relationships: Existing relationships with potential sponsors (Adidas, Nike, Coca‑Cola, PepsiCo, major banks, automotive, telecom)

Media Partnerships: Experience negotiating with broadcast and streaming platforms

International: Experience with international partnerships and global brands

Youth Sports: Understanding of youth sports market and development pathways

Success Metrics – First 18 Months

First 90 Days:

Complete partnership strategy and roadmap for Year 1‑3

Build partnerships team (5‑8 initial hires: directors, managers, coordinators)

Initiate conversations with top 20 target schools

Develop sponsorship packages and sales materials

Begin equipment/apparel partnership negotiations

Create partnership deal tracking and pipeline management system

Establish partnership revenue targets and KPIs

Months 4‑6 (Q2):

Close 25‑30 school partnership agreements (50% of Year 1 target)

Secure 2‑3 Presenting Partner commitments ($50M+ each)

Close equipment/apparel partnership (target: $40M+ annually)

Sign 5‑10 Platinum sponsors ($10M‑$25M each)

Finalize campus commercial partnership strategy

Support CRO on initial media partnership negotiations

Months 7‑12 (Q3‑Q4):

Complete all 50 Year 1 school partnerships

Achieve $300M+ in total sponsorship commitments

Deliver $400M+ in total partnership revenue (sponsorship + equipment + other)

Launch 10+ activated partnerships with strong ROI

Begin Year 2 school partnership pipeline (target 50 additional schools)

Achieve 95%+ partner satisfaction scores

Build pipeline of $500M+ for Year 2

Months 13‑18 (Year 2, Q1‑Q2):

Close 30+ additional school partnerships (80 total schools)

Scale sponsorship revenue to $400M+ annually

Renew all Year 1 partnerships at 100%+ of original value

Expand equipment partnership to include additional sports/categories

Launch campus commercial partnerships (hotels, dining, retail)

Expand partnerships team to 12‑15 professionals

Create partnership innovation lab for new revenue streams

Why This Role is Exceptional

Build the Foundation:

This is the partnership role that will define the league’s success

You’ll negotiate the deals that drive $1B+ in annual revenue at scale

Opportunity to create partnership models that become industry standard

Unprecedented Deal Flow:

300 school partnerships to negotiate and manage

$1B+ in corporate sponsorships at scale

$100M+ equipment/apparel deals

Major media partnership support

Dozens of commercial partnerships

Resources & Support:

$2.5B in equity funding demonstrates credibility to partners

Strong executive support for partnership‑first culture

Premium inventory (12 sports, 300+ teams, 500K+ athletes)

Compelling story: transforming Olympic sports in America

Compensation & Upside:

Highly competitive compensation package ($1.1M total)

Significant performance bonus tied to partnership revenue

Substantial equity upside as company grows

Potential for advancement to Chief Partnerships Officer or CRO

Professional Growth:

Build relationships across NCAA, corporate America, and sports industry

Negotiating career‑defining partnerships

Position yourself as thought leader in sports partnerships

Expand skill set across multiple partnership categories

Application Process

Timeline:

Applications Reviewed: Rolling basis, priority given to early applications

First Round: Virtual interviews with CRO and Chief Marketing Officer (1 hour)

Second Round: Full‑day onsite with executive team including CEO, COO, CFO

Final Round: Case presentation on Year 1 partnership strategy including:School partnership approach and prioritization

Sponsorship sales strategy and target list

Equipment/apparel partnership negotiation framework

12‑month partnership revenue projections

Offer: Anticipated in Q3 2026

What to Include:

Resume highlighting partnership leadership and major deal closures

Cover letter addressing:Your most significant partnership accomplishments (deal size, complexity, impact)

Your approach to building the partnership function from the ground up

Why you’re passionate about Olympic sports and this opportunity

Any existing relationships that would benefit the league

3‑5 professional references (please do not contact without permission)

Confidentiality: Please indicate in your cover letter if you require discretion during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization that reflects the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

This is a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity to build transformational partnerships. Let’s create something extraordinary together.

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Worksite address

charleston, SC, 29408, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.