Vice President of Partnerships

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.

Gotham FC is one of the premier clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), representing the dynamic and diverse communities of New Jersey and New York. With a bold vision for the future of women’s soccer, Gotham FC is redefining the way teams engage with fans, brands, and culture. The club has recently added exciting new partners such as CarMax, LaCroix, and Aligne and secured a record-breaking deal with Dove, signaling strong momentum and a growing commercial presence.

The Role

Gotham FC is seeking a strategic, innovative, and results-driven leader to join our executive team as Vice President of Partnerships. This is not just a sponsorship role—this is a chance to build something transformative in one of the fastest-growing sports industries.

This executive will drive partnership strategy, business development, and activation—leading the charge to secure new brand alliances, renew and expand existing relationships, and maximize the impact of Gotham FC’s partnerships. The VP will work cross-functionally to ensure that partnerships don’t just meet contractual obligations but create real cultural and business impact.

Key Responsibilities

As part of Gotham FC’s executive leadership team, reporting to the Chief Business Officer, this role will be pivotal in shaping the club’s commercial success, driving revenue growth, enhancing fan experience, and positioning Gotham FC as a leader in the sports industry.

Partnership Strategy

• Design and execute a bold, multi-year partnership strategy that drives revenue growth and solidifies Gotham FC’s position in the marketplace.
• Utilize data, market insights, and cultural trends to craft Gotham FC’s unique value proposition for potential partners.
• Build and evolve a dynamic sponsorship packaging strategy, including pricing, asset development, and unique brand integrations.
• Identify new, creative ways to construct partnerships that go beyond traditional sponsorship models.
  
  

Business Development

• Identify, engage, and secure high-value, strategic brand partnerships that align with Gotham FC’s mission and elevate the club’s commercial presence.
• Build deep relationships with C-suite executives and key decision-makers across industries.
• Represent Gotham FC as a thought leader at industry events, conferences, and panels.
• Create memorable hospitality experiences that wow partners and bring them deeper into the Gotham FC family.
• Oversee the development of compelling, data-backed pitch materials that showcase Gotham FC’s impact and reach.
• Lead negotiations to structure win-win agreements that maximize long-term value for both Gotham FC and its partners.
  
  

Partnership Activation & Management

• Oversee the seamless execution, measurement, and optimization of all brand partnerships.
• Work cross-functionally with marketing, fan experience, community engagement, communications, and game-day operations to deliver world-class activations.
• Utilize data and insights to track key performance metrics, ensuring partnerships deliver on business objectives.
• Proactively identify upsell and renewal opportunities, strengthening Gotham FC’s brand partnerships.
• Ensure world-class reporting, storytelling, and account management, demonstrating clear ROI to partners.
  
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing partnerships team that is agile, innovative, and relentlessly focused on results.
• Establish a culture of accountability, creativity, and excellence, ensuring team members have opportunities for growth and development.
• Implement a structured performance framework, tracking and reporting on quarterly and annual strategic priorities.
• Manage key third-party agency relationships, ensuring alignment with Gotham FC’s partnership goals.
  
  

Executive Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with other senior leaders to shape club strategy, culture, and growth initiatives.
• Provide regular commercial updates and adjust strategies based on revenue targets and market trends.
• Collaborate with the NWSL league office to ensure Gotham FC’s partnership efforts align with league-wide initiatives.
  
  

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, forward-thinking, and highly connected commercial leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

• 10+ years of experience in corporate partnerships, sponsorship sales, or business development, ideally in sports, media, or entertainment.
• 7+ years of leadership experience, with a track record of building, mentoring, and managing high-performing teams.
• Proven success in securing multi-year, high-value sponsorships with major brands.
• Established executive-level relationships across key industries.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (MBA preferred).
  
  

Capability & Other Characteristics

• A visionary dealmaker – You know how to identify, craft, and sell partnerships that are both innovative and commercially viable.
• A strategic thinker – You combine data, insights, and creativity to build partnerships that resonate with brands and fans alike.
• A relationship builder – You thrive on forging deep, long-term relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• A results-driven leader – You know how to drive revenue, set goals, and execute against them.
• A passionate advocate for women’s sports – You believe in the power of Gotham FC’s mission and are eager to help shape its future.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
  
  

Why This Role?

The growth of women’s soccer is skyrocketing, and Gotham FC is at the forefront of that movement. This is a rare opportunity to build something truly impactful—disrupting traditional sports sponsorship models, creating groundbreaking partnerships, and shaping the future of women’s sports. If you’re a bold, innovative thinker who thrives in a fast-moving, ambitious environment, this is your chance to make history.

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.

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

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.