Manager, NIL Business Development – Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties (Full Time)

Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties is the locally based LEARFIELD team committed to extending the affinity of the Arizona brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base. As the exclusive multimedia rightsholder, Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties manages all aspects of the rights relationship, providing corporate partners both traditional and new media opportunities with the University of Arizona. Corporate partners can bolster their own brand and garner maximum exposure through inventory such as venue signage, event sponsorships and promotion, corporate hospitality, radio and television, digital engagement, and visibility via the official athletics website.

Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties is looking to add a high impact team member who will focus on leading and navigating the property through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). With the NCAA policy change in July 2021, student-athletes across the country, for the first time ever, can receive payments for NIL. This has provided a new opportunity for student-athletes and brands to collaborate on endorsement agreements, appearances, and more.

In this role, you will support Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties with business development and NIL deal activation with student-athletes. The Manager – NIL Business Development will be asked to achieve pre-defined KPIs centered around revenue generation for Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties (via property new business or existing partner upsells), student-athlete NIL involvement/activation, and other metrics as the role and NIL evolve. This role will report to the General Manager of Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties, who leads the LEARFIELD team and will work closely with the Director of Business Development. This role will also have key relationships with the Arizona Athletic Department staff.

Responsibilities

• Help lead, manage, and facilitate deal sourcing with current and new partners for student-athletes NIL agreements. This will include opportunities for new and existing partners as well as collaborative agreements (combined NIL + MMR agreements) with Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties
• Primary responsibility will be to increase team and student-athlete NIL opportunities by working closely with local and regional brands to understand their marketing needs and align them with opportunities for student-athletes
• Responsible for supporting activation of LEARFIELD NIL agreements, leveraging Opendorse & INFLCR platform where applicable, ensuring student-athletes participate and fulfill obligations with brand partners
• Work with proper Arizona Athletics Department staff to ensure student-athlete compliance through NIL agreements secured. This includes ensuring the submissions of information associated with NIL agreements.
• Stay informed on NIL news, including student-athlete agreements across the country, legislation changes (at State and National levels), and ongoing trends. You will also work closely with the LEARFIELD corporate NIL working group and Arizona Athletic Department staff focused on NIL
• Review all ongoing NIL activity and focus on protecting property/school partner IP value while also monitoring student-athlete NIL IP usage
• Manage sponsorship relationship with Arizona Athletics endorsed external NIL entities (Collectives, etc.), including their sponsorship activation with Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties as well as their sponsorship conservations with student-athletes
• Coordinate and liaise between Arizona Athletics, student-athletes, Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties, brands, and Arizona Athletics endorsed external NIL entities
• Represent Arizona Wildcat Sports Properties with existing brand partners and Arizona Athletics staff to align resources and priorities
• Complete other sales and fulfillment responsibilities including assisting with gameday operations including home football and basketball games as directed
• As NIL is an evolving topic, the responsibilities for this role and the work completed in coordination with Arizona Athletics will continue to be defined over time

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of client-facing and/or business development focused work
• Experience in Sports / NIL / College Athletics and/or sponsorship is a plus, but not required
• Ability to take end-to-end responsibility of sales cycle from pitch development to sponsor activation
• Must possess a high level of professionalism and discretion due to access to sensitive student-athlete and NIL compensation information  
• Ability to establish a deep understanding of client’s objectives and goals, and the ability to problem solve as needed
• Experience working with brand image (IP, etc.) and promoting value through client activation
• Ability to operate effectively and autonomously across multiple projects in situations of ambiguity, with only high-level direction
• Proven history of developing and maintaining strong, lasting relationships with partners
• Manage time effectively, oversee multiple tasks simultaneously and maintain a flexible work schedule based on the rigor of this role
• Effective communication (both verbal and written), organizational, presentation, and listening skills
• Strong commitment to leading by example and contributing to a learning culture that benefits yourself and your colleagues