Vice President of Corporate Sponsorships
Santa Barbara Sky FC
5 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Santa Barbara, California, United States
Title: Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
Department: Sales
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)
The United Soccer League (USL) is shaping the future of soccer in America. We are the nation’s largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization, bringing the world’s game to more communities across the United States and Canada. Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL oversees multiple professional and elite pre-professional leagues, including the USL Championship, USL Super League, USL League One, USL League Two, USL W League, USL Academy, and Super Y League. We are authentic to the spirit of the game, honoring the dedication of the players, the passion of the supporters, and the culture of SKY FCs. We believe in the power of soccer to unite people, provide unique life experiences, and have a meaningful impact in local communities. We work as a team, challenge the status quo, and strive to make everyone feel welcome.
Overview of Santa Barbara Sky FC
Santa Barbara Sky FC is a professional soccer organization that will begin competing within the United Soccer League One (USL1) ecosystem in the 2027 season. SKY FC’s ambition is to become a cornerstone of its local community and a catalyst for the continued growth of the sport in the region. As a start-up franchise, SKY FC combines a data-driven commercial approach with a deep commitment to fan engagement, accessibility, and community impact. It aims to deliver a high-quality matchday experience, foster a passionate supporter culture, and build lasting relationships with local businesses, institutions, and fans. Positioned within one of the fastest-growing soccer platforms in the country, SKY FC represents both a compelling sports property and a dynamic entertainment brand with significant upside across ticketing, partnerships, and broader regional engagement.
Position Summary
The Vice President of Corporate Partnerships is responsible for leading all sponsorship and corporate revenue generation for SKY FC, including naming rights, jersey/front‑of‑shirt, stadium assets, hospitality, and community/grassroots programs. This role will build and manage the partnerships team, develop the long‑term commercial strategy, and serve as a key external face of SKY FC in the Santa Barbara and broader Central Coast business community.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and own SKY FC’s multi‑year corporate partnerships strategy, revenue targets, and annual budget.
- Identify, prospect, and close new corporate partners across key categories (healthcare, financial services, hospitality, automotive, tech, tourism, etc.).
- Design and price integrated partnership packages, including: naming rights, jersey and kit assets, in‑stadium signage, digital and social assets, media, community programs, hospitality, and on‑site activation.
- Lead and mentor a partnerships staff (sales and activation), establish clear KPIs, and drive a high‑performance, relationship‑based sales culture.
- Oversee the full sales cycle: research, pipeline building, outreach, needs analysis, proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Ensure world‑class partner service and renewal strategy, including recap reporting, measurement of ROI, and ongoing optimization of assets.
- Partner closely with Marketing, Ticketing, and Community Relations to build integrated platforms that deliver value to partners and grow SKY FC’s brand.
- Collaborate with Stadium/Operations on partner visibility and in‑venue execution (signage, experiential zones, hospitality, concourse activations).
- Develop best‑in‑class sales collateral, case studies, and presentations tailored to the Santa Barbara and Central Coast markets (tourism, wine, outdoor lifestyle, university ecosystem).
- Track sponsorship and sports‑marketing trends, benchmark against other USL/MLS clubs, and continually refine inventory and pricing strategy.
- Represent SKY FC at business and civic events, chambers, networking groups, and league meetings as a senior executive.
- Provide regular reporting and forecasts to ownership and the executive leadership team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sports Management, or related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate partnerships/sponsorship sales, preferably in professional sports or major entertainment properties.
- Proven track record of closing six‑ and seven‑figure partnerships and meeting or exceeding annual revenue targets.
- Experience building and managing a team (hiring, coaching, performance management).
- Strong network in Southern California or demonstrable ability to build executive‑level relationships quickly.
- Excellent negotiation, presentation, and storytelling skills; comfortable in boardrooms and with C‑suite decision‑makers.
- Data‑driven mindset with ability to interpret research, audience data, and marketing metrics to craft compelling partner solutions.
- Familiarity with US soccer landscape (USL, MLS, grassroots, youth) and comfort selling the growth story of a League One club.
- Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in support of matches and partner events.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, plus performance‑based bonus tied to new business, renewals, and total partnership revenue.
- Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan participation, paid time off, and club‑level perks (tickets, hospitality access).
- Reports directly to SKY FC CEO and serves on the senior leadership team.
Santa Barbara Sky is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.